At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data reporting and quality initiatives in a dynamic university environment.
- Company: A large, complex university committed to data excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, hybrid work model, and opportunity for impactful leadership.
- Other info: Join a passionate team focused on continuous improvement and strategic projects.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in higher education through data-driven decision-making.
- Qualifications: Experience in higher education data management and strong leadership skills.
Day Rate: £400-£500 (Negotiable) per day - Inside IR35
Contract: Interim - 3 Months Initially
Location: West Yorkshire - Hybrid (1 day onsite a month)
Hours: Full Time
The Opportunity
We're seeking an experienced higher education data professional to lead external reporting and data quality across a large, complex university environment. This senior role will take ownership of statutory student data returns, data governance, reporting frameworks and institutional data quality, ensuring compliance, accuracy and insight that supports strategic decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of statutory student data returns, including HESA, ESFA, Student Loans Company and other regulatory submissions.
- Drive data quality improvement initiatives across the institution.
- Develop and maintain reporting frameworks, data models and management information solutions.
- Act as the institutional expert on student data, funding and regulatory reporting requirements.
- Strengthen data governance, standards and quality assurance processes.
- Build strong relationships with academic and professional service stakeholders.
- Lead, develop and manage a specialist data team.
- Contribute to strategic projects, systems development and continuous improvement initiatives.
About You
You'll bring:
- Experience in student data, management information or external reporting leadership within Higher Education.
- Expert knowledge of HESA reporting and student data returns.
- Strong data analysis, reporting and data quality management skills.
- Experience leading teams and driving organisational change.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a passion for data excellence.
Head of Reporting and Data (Education) in Slough employer: Harvey Nash
As a leading institution in higher education, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to excel. With a strong focus on professional development and growth opportunities, our team members are encouraged to enhance their skills while contributing to meaningful projects that shape the future of education. Located in West Yorkshire, our hybrid working model offers flexibility, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life effectively.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Reporting and Data (Education) in Slough
✨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 Harvey Nash 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.
✨Check Out Specialist Job Boards
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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 Harvey Nash.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Reporting and Data (Education) in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at Harvey Nash, 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 Harvey Nash, 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 Harvey Nash’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash
✨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 Harvey Nash.
✨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 Harvey Nash.
✨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 Harvey Nash.
