At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform data analytics with AI, delivering insights in real-time and automating workflows.
- Company: Join NEXT, a leading FTSE-100 retail company with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, flexible working, and access to health and wellbeing services.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI innovation, making impactful decisions that shape the future.
- Qualifications: Strong SQL and Python skills, with a passion for AI and problem-solving.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for growth and learning.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Senior Web Analytics Lead to transform our data landscape from reactive into proactive analytics. Based from NEXT Head Office in Leicester.
The Data Team enables the department and the business to elevate understanding of customer behaviours and sales performance — what is working and what is not by articulating actionable insights from complex data. We value curiosity, inspire ideas and unlock new opportunities. You will access advanced AI tools and data platforms, and grow fast with support.
As Lead Analyst, you will achieve ‘Insight Velocity’ by collapsing the time between anomaly detection and executive action from weeks to minutes. You will replace manual workflows with automated, "try fast, fail fast" AI solutions that synthesise web, customer and market data into instant, natural-language business hypotheses. By bridging the gap between technical Data teams and commercial Trading units, you will move beyond standard reporting to deliver AI-driven argumentation and automated documentation that answers the "why" behind performance in real time.
Responsibilities and capabilities- AI-Enhanced Business Intelligence: Deliver AI in BI solutions, moving beyond static dashboards to conversational and also predictive and prescriptive analytics that provide ‘argumentation’ - explaining the why behind the data, not just the what.
- Speed to insight: Develop capabilities such as AI agents capable of ‘talking to data’ - allowing non-technical users to query complex databases using natural language to receive instant, visualised insights.
- Rapid Prototyping: Design and test proof-of-concept models using LLMs, computer vision. Validate whether a tool delivers high-accuracy insights or if it’s just noise, moving on quickly if the value isn’t there.
- Automation for Scalability: Build and implement automated workflows that handle data cleaning, anomaly detection, and trend reporting, allowing the team to focus on high-level strategy.
- Innovation Deployment: Help take AI features into production, working with engineers to meet reliability and security needs. Contribute to data preparation and feature engineering for AI use cases.
- Innovation mindset: Track record of taking vague business problems and turning them into structured AI experiments. A genuine desire to learn fast and grow your skills in applied AI and agentic tooling.
- Problem solving mindset: Intellectual curiosity and problem-solving instincts that drive you to figure things out.
- Experimental mindset: A "fail fast" approach with a focus on high-impact, scalable results.
- Communication: Refine the technical requirements to specifically highlight the AI frameworks or prompt engineering skills and then communicate. The ability to explain AI logic, visualise complex data findings and articulate model behaviour to non-technical stakeholders.
- Technical skills: Great SQL and Python skills and the ability to write code that others can understand and maintain. Practical knowledge of APIs, services and development practices like version control, code reviews and testing. Exposure to GCP, Databricks, Azure AI services or similar cloud AI platforms along with agent frameworks, RAG patterns or orchestration tools are beneficial.
- AI and data pipeline skills: Understanding of basic ML and AI concepts like prompting, evaluation, embeddings and how models and data workflows work.
- Ecommerce and web analytics knowledge: Understanding of key metrics of web analytics and having business acumen for ecommerce.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email headoffice_careers@next.co.uk (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.
Lead Analyst - AI Innovation in Leicester employer: Next
Contact Detail:
Next Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Analyst - AI Innovation in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to AI and data analytics. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your projects! Whether it's a personal project or something from your previous job, having tangible examples of your work with AI tools and data analysis can really impress potential employers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Analyst - AI Innovation in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Curiosity: We love a curious mind! When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your passion for data and AI. Share examples of how you've tackled complex problems and turned them into actionable insights.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep it simple! Use clear language to explain your technical skills and experiences. Remember, we want to see how you can communicate complex ideas to non-technical folks, so don’t get too bogged down in jargon.
Highlight Your Experimental Mindset: We value a 'fail fast' approach, so don’t shy away from sharing your experiments! Talk about projects where you tried something new, what you learned, and how you adapted based on the results.
Apply Through Our Website: Ready to take the plunge? Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Next
✨Know Your Data Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the data landscape of the company. Familiarise yourself with their key metrics and analytics tools. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you articulate how you can transform their data from reactive to proactive.
✨Showcase Your AI Mindset
Prepare examples of how you've previously turned vague business problems into structured AI experiments. Be ready to discuss your experimental mindset and how you approach 'fail fast' scenarios, as this aligns perfectly with the role's innovation focus.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Simply
Practice explaining complex data findings in a way that non-technical stakeholders can understand. Use visuals or analogies if necessary. This skill is crucial for bridging the gap between technical teams and commercial units, so make sure to highlight it during your interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Skills
Brush up on your SQL and Python skills before the interview. Be prepared to discuss your coding practices and how you ensure your code is maintainable. If you have experience with cloud AI platforms or APIs, be sure to mention that too, as it will set you apart from other candidates.