At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape data infrastructure and analytical products for education and skills in Greater Manchester.
- Company: Join the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, driving positive change in your community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating an inclusive city region.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on policy and investment decisions that affect lives in your city.
- Qualifications: Experience in SQL, Python, data modelling, and a passion for public service.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
Your role: Help shape the data infrastructure and analytical products that support decisions across education, work and skills in Greater Manchester. This is an opportunity to shape the technical foundations of a data function as it is being built. The Education, Work and Skills Directorate at Greater Manchester Combined Authority is developing the data and MI capability that underpins how skills, employment and youth/technical/adult education are delivered across the city region, and we are looking for an Analytics Engineer to lead its technical delivery.
You will design and build the pipelines, data models and reporting products that turn raw data from providers, local authorities and government departments into insight that shapes policy and investment decisions. Working across SQL Server, Python, APIs, Power BI and Microsoft Fabric, you will automate reporting that is currently manual / semi-automated and build architecture that will serve the directorate for years to come. You will also lead a small team of data officers, setting priorities, supporting their development and establishing a shared standard of practice across the function.
As technical lead for the Greater Manchester Information Tracker, our core participant data system, you will hold the day-to-day relationship with the platform and the integrations that connect it to our wider reporting environment.
About you: You are a hands-on engineer who takes pride in building things that work reliably and are understood by the people who depend on them. You know SQL Server, data modelling and ETL, Power BI and you are comfortable automating with Python preferably, and you think carefully about how data is modelled rather than reaching for the quickest fix. You have led or supervised others and you enjoy it. You are the person colleagues come to when something breaks, and you explain what happened. You are at ease with technical and non-technical audiences, and you can tell the difference between what someone has asked for and what they actually need. You will bring curiosity, sound judgement and a commitment to doing things properly, alongside a genuine interest in public service. Experience of education, skills or employment data would be welcome, but we are more interested in how you think than in the sector you have worked in.
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds who want to apply their skills to support Greater Manchester’s mission to be a thriving, inclusive city region where everyone can live a good life.
Selection process: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a technical exercise using synthetic data and discuss their approach at interview. The assessment will test technical reasoning, data modelling, automation, reporting and judgement. We do not expect a highly polished production solution. We are interested in clear decisions, sensible trade-offs and your ability to explain and adapt your work. Reasonable adjustments will be available throughout the process.
About us: The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) brings together the city region’s ten councils and key partners including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) - to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. Our shared vision is to create a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life. We work to grow an inclusive economy and ensure people have what they need to live happy, healthy lives, tackling inequalities.
Our policy department includes Digital, Economy, Education, Work & Skills, Environment, Place Making, Public Service Reform, and Safer & Stronger Communities - who are supported by our essential corporate functions like Finance, Legal & Governance, People Services, Procurement and Communications. We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people’s age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.
Our offer: In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here: Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Home | greater.jobs
Mandatory Information: Artificial Intelligence (AI) We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success. Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.
Privacy Notice Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome. For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.
Hybrid working This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our on-site locations with remote working, typically from home; the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.
ENHANCED DBS The role holder will be subject to an Enhanced level check by the Disclosure & Barring Service. This post involves working with children, young people or vulnerable adults and is therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Failure to disclose information when asked within this application could result in dismissal but will not necessarily be a bar to employment with us. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provides that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.
Analytics Engineer in Manchester employer: GMCA
At Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions creativity, innovation, and professional growth. Our supportive work culture fosters collaboration and inclusivity, allowing you to make a meaningful impact on the community while enjoying flexible hybrid working arrangements. Join us in shaping the narrative of one of the UK's most vibrant city-regions, where your contributions will resonate with millions and help drive positive change.
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We think this is how you could land Analytics Engineer in Manchester
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We think you need these skills to ace Analytics Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
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Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at GMCA, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at GMCA. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at GMCA
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
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Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at GMCA!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
