Data Analyst (HEO)

Job summary

We are looking for someone who can turn complex data into clear, actionable insight to support Estyn’s work as an evidence-informed regulator. Working closely with statisticians, researchers, and other analysts, you will manage, analyse, and visualise data from multiple sources to ensure Estyn’s evidence base is accurate, accessible, and robust. You will help develop dashboards, analytical tools, and data workflows that inform inspection, evaluation, and decision-making, and play a key role in strengthening Estyn’s analytical capability and promoting a consistent, data-driven approach across the organisation. If you’re motivated by public service and interested in strengthening a proactive, intelligence led approach to using data across Estyn, we’d be pleased to hear from you.

Job description

You will be responsible for managing, analysing and visualising data across Estyn, producing clear, actionable insights that support inspection, evaluation and a proactive, intelligence-led approach to decision-making.

Key tasks include:

• Source, clean, and integrate data from multiple systems; including inspection evidence, learner outcomes, deprivation indices, and provider-level metrics.
• Identify, monitor, and address data inconsistencies or corruption issues.
• Devise and implement methods of ensuring data is refreshed at appropriate times ensuring change control protocols are adhered to.
• Maintain metadata, data dictionaries, and documentation to support transparency and version control.
• Ensure data management processes comply with GDPR, information governance, and Estyn’s data policies.

Working under the direction of the statisticians, you will:

• Conduct descriptive, diagnostic, and exploratory analyses to identify trends and risks across education sectors.
• Produce pre-inspection data packs and analytical briefings highlighting contextual factors and emerging issues.
• Create interactive dashboards and reports (e.g., Power BI) to support inspectors, researchers, and senior leaders.
• Develop performance indicators to track Estyn’s corporate and strategic impact.
• Develop and maintain reproducible data workflows and automated reports.
• Support the design and implementation of shared analytical tools and platforms (e.g., Power BI workspaces, data warehouse).
• Contribute to the creation of a “single source of truth” for inspection and performance data.
• Work closely with statisticians to verify the quality and comparability of datasets.
• Collaborate with researchers to supply quantitative evidence and help contextualise findings.
• Translate analytical results into clear visuals and summaries accessible to non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to Estyn’s analytical community by sharing knowledge, tools, and good practice.
• Work with partner organisations to maintain consistency of definitions and alignment of datasets across the education system.

Person specification

It’s essential that you have:

• Proven experience in data analysis, data management, or statistical work.
• Strong technical skills in data manipulation and visualisation, e.g. Excel, SQL, Power BI.
• Excellent analytical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including the ability to present technical information clearly.
• A degree or equivalent level qualification in a numerate, analytical, or technical subject or equivalent professional experience demonstrating robust analytical capability.
• Attention to detail and commitment to data integrity.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Understanding of confidentiality, ethics, and data protection requirements.

It’s desirable that you have:

• Experience working with education datasets.
• Experience with reproducible analytical pipelines or code repositories (e.g., GitHub, SharePoint).
• Ability to work through the medium of Welsh.

Qualifications

A degree or equivalent level qualification in a numerate, analytical, or technical subject or equivalent professional experience demonstrating robust analytical capability.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,129, ESTYN contributes £10,756 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Competitive salary and incremental points meaning that you will normally reach the maximum of the pay scale within two/three years of joining us.
• Generous holiday entitlement – 41 days away from work each year (made up of 31 days of annual leave, plus 10 public/privilege holidays (pro-rated for those who work part-time).
• Flexible working - We operate a flexi-time system, giving you the freedom to shape your working day in a way that suits you and meets business needs.
• Support for your wellbeing – We provide an hour of wellbeing time per week (pro-rated) for staff. We also provide an employee assistance programme, free annual health checks, seasonal flu jabs, a free eye care scheme and access to Health Insurance Plans through Civil Service Healthcare.
• Support for your family life – generous family friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption leave.
• Tax-free savings – Access to a cycle to work scheme.
• Special offers and discounts – Access to a range of discounts and exclusive offers through the Civil Service Social Club – Sports and Leisure, the Civil Service Motoring Association, the Civil Service Insurance Society and the Charity for Civil Servants.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

The selection process includes:

• A sift of applications: The panel will consider all complete applications. The information you give us in your application is important in deciding whether we will invite you to the next selection stage. Candidates will be assessed at sift on all essential criteria as per the person specification. Desirable criteria will be assessed at sift where there is a strong field of candidates as a second stage after essential criteria have been considered.
• Assessment and Interview: Candidates invited to assessment and interview will again be assessed on their skills, experience and behaviours in relation to the person specification. The assessment will consist of an exercise designed to test analytical capability, data handling, and the ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences. The interview will consist of a panel interview, including structured and scenario-based questions focusing on experience of data analysis, data governance, and the application of analytical tools to support decision-making. The interview will consist of a panel interview. This will take place on 12 February in Cardiff.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Rhidian Dafydd
• Email : rhidian.dafydd@estyn.gov.uk
• Telephone : 02920 446336

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@estyn.gov.wales

Further information

https://www.estyn.gov.wales/working-us/current-vacancies

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