At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse data to improve housing asset management and support project delivery.
- Company: Harlow District Council, a vibrant local government with a focus on community.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic town with great transport links and career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in housing while developing your analytical skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in data analysis, preferably in housing or local government.
Location: Harlow
Full time, Temporary 6 Months Contract
£350.877 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella per day
Closing Date: Monday 17th August 2026
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Harlow Council to recruit a temporary Data Analyst on a 6-month, temporary contract. Please note that this post requires the successful individual to be based on site 2 days per week.
Harlow is a district of contrasts and an ideal location to both live and work. The town itself is thriving, with excellent shopping and leisure facilities for all ages. We have good road links to the M11 and M25 and excellent rail connections to London and Stansted Airport, just 35 minutes and 20 minutes away from Harlow respectively.
Requirements
- Experience as a data analyst ideally within housing, local government, asset management, or a similar public sector environment
- Strong data analysis reporting and data quality skills
- Ability to manage and monitor multiple work streams/projects simultaneously
- Good project management and organisational skills with experience tracking milestones, risks, actions and dependencies
- Comfortable holding project leads accountable for delivery and providing regular progress updates
Responsibilities
- Work closely with our lead analyst on the priority data cleansing and improvement project related to MRI our housing asset management system
- Support data validation, cleansing and quality improvement activities
- Monitor and report on the progress of projects due to be delivered across the team
- Support accountability for project delivery by following up on actions and highlighting slippage where required
- Assist with project coordination reporting and stakeholder engagement for the asset management system improvement programme.
Ideal Candidate Profile / Skills
- Previous experience with asset data systems e.g. (MRI Asset Management, Orchard) or similar is desirable
- Strong analytical skills, with proficiency in data analysis and reporting tools (e.g. Excel, Power BI).
- Ability to work independently while also supporting a wider team
- Competent communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Project management experience is ideal
If you are interested in finding out more about this role, we would love to hear from you. Please apply via the Working for Essex website. If you have any queries relating to this post please email Ashleigh.Drake@essex.gov.uk
Data Analyst (Housing) – Harlow District Council employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, staff are encouraged to grow within their roles, all while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Chelmsford.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Analyst (Housing) – Harlow District Council
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like Essex County Council before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
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✨Leverage University Resources
If you're currently at uni or recently graduated, tap into your school's career services. They often have connections with companies looking for temporary data science interns or contract workers, and they might even host job fairs with employers like Essex County Council.
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at Essex County Council, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to Essex County Council, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab Essex County Council’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at Essex County Council.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at Essex County Council.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at Essex County Council.
