Data Analyst

Data Analyst
Salary: £37,841 per annum.
Grade: UKRI Band D.
Hours: Full Time.
Contract Type: Fixed Term until 15th August 2027.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time, please refer to the Recruitment Policy and associated guidance (link) for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer, please ensure you liaise with your line manager and the designated HR team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood, prior to a move taking place.  

Organisational Position

The role sits within the Portfolio Management and Insights team, which provides a range of key portfolio, governance, and assurance functions across the AHRC. The Analyst will work alongside colleagues specialising in data, reporting, and planning, working with the Senior Data Strategy Manager.

The team is overseen by the Head of Portfolio Management and Insights, with the role requiring extensive collaboration across AHRC directorates, project leads, and the wider UKRI community.

Team Purpose

The Portfolio Management and Insights team has a wide range or responsibilities within AHRC. The team provides a crucial support role to the organisation, managing and improving reporting processes as well as providing support to assurances and risk processes. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion along with policy also sits within the team and it helps to drive continuous improvement. The management of data and analysis also sits within the team and they are responsible for ensuring data is effectively and consistently used across the organisation.

Job Purpose

This role will support AHRC’s portfolio, project, and programme management processes, ensuring consistent, accurate, and timely information flows across the organisation.

The Analyst will:

• Maintain and develop AHRC’s portfolio reporting dashboards.
• Support governance and assurance activities.
• Facilitate project planning, risk management, and monitoring processes.
• Provide guidance to teams on project management standards, templates, and reporting expectations.
• Help embed standard methodology in delivery approaches, enabling more consistent and effective project execution.
• Produce high‑quality portfolio insights to support strategic decision making.
• The postholder will also work closely with other UKRI PMO and portfolio teams to share good practice and support harmonisation.

Main Outputs & Activities

• Maintain AHRC’s portfolio, project, and programme reporting tools and dashboards.
• Coordinate and quality‑assure project status reports, risk logs, benefit tracking, and delivery plans.
• Support governance meetings by preparing papers, performance summaries, and portfolio insights.
• Facilitate the development, rollout, and continuous improvement of project and programme management standards, templates, and guidance.
• Provide guidance and training to project leads on reporting requirements, planning expectations, and governance processes.
• Support on portfolio‑level analysis for  strategic planning and decision making.
• Record and track delivery achievements across AHRC projects, raising risks where required.
• Support evaluation and lessons‑learned activities to drive continuous improvement.
• Engage with other Research Councils to align processes and share best practice.

Equality and Diversity

• The Research Council values the diverse skills and experience of its employee and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all.
• Job descriptions should be reviewed annually. Any changes should be made and agreed between the post holder and the line manager.

The above lists are not exhaustive, and the job holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, co-operatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the Research Council.

Person Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines (S).
• Ability to collect and interpret reporting requirements and translate these into clear PMO outputs (S).
• Experience working with project or portfolio reporting tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) (S).
• Solid attention to detail with the ability to produce consistent, high‑quality reports (S).
• Ability to support and maintain repeatable PMO processes (S).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage confidently with colleagues at all levels (I).
• Ability to think creatively, propose solutions, and support decision making (I).
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, enabling productive relationships across teams (I).
• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team (I).
• Confidence in explaining PMO processes to non‑technical colleagues and supporting their adoption (I).

About hybrid working

We support a hybrid approach, and you can expect a mix of working from home, the office, and occasionally at other UK locations.

AHRC staff will be assigned to Tier 2 meaning a standard expectation of 40–60% onsite attendance (pro-rated against working time) including those hosted by AHRC. This will come into effect on 1st October 2026.

At times, this may involve overnight stays and/or occasional work outside of standard office hours.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. Committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org

Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org. 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

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 rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.