Data Officer

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world‑class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits, including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pension scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.

Campaigns and Alumni Relations (CAR) at the University of Sheffield is dedicated to inspiring alumni (former students) and supporters to stay connected with the University, make donations and volunteer their time. A gift to the University can change lives, from supporting students in financial need to furthering world‑leading research. This role is key to the success of the Data and Gifts team, which consists of nine staff managing approximately 400,000 records in the CRM supporter database (Raisers Edge). We are looking for someone who shares our passion for data and has the skills to provide insight and drive strategic projects. The role requires excellent communication and collaboration skills, an ability to understand the needs of both users of the database and our supporters, and the capacity to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines. The post reports to the Head of Data and Systems and includes line‑management responsibilities.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Prioritise, plan and coordinate the delivery of data requests from within CAR and the wider University.
• Provide advice, support and guidance to CAR and the wider university staff on complex data queries.
• Support fundraising and alumni engagement through data management by suggesting use of and enhancements to the supporter database.
• Oversee the import of new data into the supporter database from a wide range of sources.
• Work with Data and Gift team members to plan, coordinate and deliver data projects.
• Work with staff in CAR and across the University to understand and interpret their data and reporting requirements to ensure data supports strategic objectives.
• Build and maintain reports using Power BI to provide monitoring, insight and analysis of fundraising, alumni engagement and campaign performance.
• Ensure there is up‑to‑date documentation for data processes, reporting and systems.
• Line‑manage team members, providing advice and supporting their development.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

Person Specification

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, reflecting our commitment to diversity and inclusion. You may not have all the listed qualifications, but if you can demonstrate transferable skills and a willingness to learn, you are encouraged to apply. Refer to the application criteria in your application statement.

Criteria Essential

• A degree or equivalent experience in a relevant area.
• Significant experience of working with a CRM database.
• Strong skills in using and manipulating data.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritise and progress work activities.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff at all levels.
• Experience of working effectively both independently and in a team.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Able to motivate high performance in others.
• Able to learn quickly and to be flexible, adapting to changing situations.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection law.
• Experience of report writing in Power BI or a similar reporting tool.

Further Information

• Grade: 6
• Salary: £32,080 per annum (pro‑rata) with potential to progress to £39,906 through sustained exceptional contribution.
• Work arrangement: Full time (35 hours)
• Line manager: Head of Data and Systems
• Direct reports: Data Assistants × 2
• Our website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/alumni

Work Benefits

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro‑rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development.
• Recognition awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development with access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family‑friendly policies:
• Paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• Access to menopause support in the workplace
• Paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• And more

Criminal Record Check

A basic DBS check will be required for this role. Possession of a criminal record is not an automatic bar to employment at the University of Sheffield.