Assistant Data Analyst (Airlock) in Manchester

Application Deadline: 7 June 2026

Department: Data Policy

Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract

Location: Cheadle

Reporting To: Airlock Platform Manager

Compensation: £30,599 / year

Description: Help protect and enable one of the world’s richest health research datasets. At UK Biobank, we manage the most widely used and most richly categorised database on human health in the world. Supporting over 20,000 researchers across more than 4,000 projects, our platforms enable scientific discoveries that help improve the understanding of disease, prevention, and treatment. As secure access to this data continues to grow, so does the importance of ensuring outputs can be reviewed safely, efficiently, and responsibly. This role sits at the centre of that process.

As an Assistant Data Analyst, on a 12 month Fixed Term contract, you’ll help support the development and operation of UK Biobank’s ‘airlock’ capability, a critical function within our Research Analysis Platform and Trusted Research Environment.

This role combines data analysis, governance, and operational review within a highly secure research environment. You’ll support the review of complex research outputs generated by researchers working across UK Biobank’s platforms, helping ensure that valuable findings can be exported safely while protecting pseudonymised participant data. Alongside reviewing outputs, you’ll help document processes, identify opportunities for automation and efficiency improvements, and contribute to the development of a capability that is still evolving across the wider research landscape. This is an opportunity to work closely with globally significant health data while helping establish something genuinely new and innovative.

You will be responsible for:

• Playing a key role in establishing and running an effective airlock process to facilitate efficient export and import of data.
• Conducting the review of data outputs from the platform, alongside wider reviews such as public code repositories.
• Facilitating quick and efficient turn‑around times for responses on requests submitted by researchers.
• Identifying opportunities to streamline, automate processes and where possible improve policies and governance.
• Working with relevant subject matter experts or champions across UKB and the relevant Boards to help advise on issues related to the Airlock process.

Is this you? To be successful, you will have:

• A degree in a scientific or numerate subject, or ability to demonstrate equivalent experience.
• Experience with R and python, or another statistical software package, so that you are confident to run established code and perform minor modifications.
• Basic familiarity with healthcare data and structure and the ability to understand and interpret it appropriately.
• Excellent attention to detail, with ability to prioritise workload and to work under pressure.
• Ability to prepare and maintain detailed documentation.

Working hours are 35-hours per week, Monday to Friday with some flexibility, 3 days onsite with hybrid working available. Located in Greater Manchester (Park Square).

Our passion for diversity and equality means creating a work environment for all employees that is welcoming, respectful, engaging, and enriched with opportunities for personal and professional development. We actively welcome applications from people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, neurodivergent candidates, and those with diverse thinking styles. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and in the workplace so that everyone can perform at their best. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Tommy Wilson jobs@ukbiobank.ac.uk so we can support you.

Your Wellbeing Matters to Us: Our wellbeing score on Indeed is rated as 77%, (High) reflecting how people experience working here day-to-day. Colleagues often highlight a strong sense of purpose, supportive team culture, and the opportunity to grow. There’s a real focus on learning, flexibility, and feeling valued whether that’s developing new skills, contributing ideas, or building a career within Data Management.

Benefits:

• 26 Days’ Annual Leave – Plus Bank Holidays
• Holiday Buy Scheme
• Birthday Leave
• USS Pension Scheme
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Professional Subscriptions
• £500 annual training budget
• Free On-Site Gym
• Subsidised Canteen Lunches
• Free Car Parking
• Employee Discounts Portal
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Annual Flu Vaccination
• Life Assurance Cover