At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of business intelligence and reporting strategies to transform data into actionable insights.
- Company: Join UKCEH, a leading independent research institute focused on environmental science.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, flexible working, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Be part of a purpose-driven team dedicated to improving society and the planet.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on environmental research while advancing your career in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in business intelligence, data modelling, and stakeholder management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 50447 - 53535 £ per year.
Salary: £50,447 - £53,535 + excellent benefits
Contract type: Permanent
Hybrid working 50/50
Working pattern: Full-time (37 hrs per week) or part-time (0.8FTE, 4x days per week)
Location: Wallingford, Lancaster, Bangor or Edinburgh
Closing date: Sunday 2 August 2026. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.
About UKCEH
UKCEH is a leading independent research institute with over 600 scientists studying how the natural world works. We take a connected approach across land, water and air to understand environmental systems and build resilience for people and the planet.
About This Role
At UKCEH, trusted, high-quality data underpins both our environmental research and the way we operate as an organisation. As our project portfolio grows, so does the need for consistent, well-governed and accessible insight that supports confident, evidence-based decision-making. We are seeking an experienced and inquisitive Business Intelligence (BI) Manager to provide leadership and oversight of our organisational reporting, ensuring data can be transformed into trusted, decision-ready insights. This is a new and impactful role, focused on strengthening how we manage and use data beyond scientific systems, particularly across project and financial reporting.
Your main responsibilities will include:
- Leading and shaping UKCEH’s business intelligence and reporting strategy, defining how data is governed, trusted and used
- Establishing authoritative data sources, shared definitions and key metrics to create a consistent organisational data foundation
- Overseeing the Power BI platform, ensuring high standards of data quality, security and appropriate access control
- Defining and maintaining the BI operating model, including standards, governance and best practice for reporting
- Designing and developing trusted datasets, semantic models and dashboards that support organisational decision-making
- Transforming reporting by reducing reliance on manual processes, duplicated spreadsheets and high-risk workarounds
- Partnering with senior stakeholders within Finance, People, Workplace, IT and system owners to prioritise reporting needs and deliver measurable business value
- Building organisational capability through training, guidance and best practice, while acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders
What we’re looking for:
- Significant experience in business intelligence, analytics or management information
- Strong understanding of data modelling, reporting best practice and dashboard design
- Experience establishing standards, governance and quality controls for data and reporting
- Experience designing or building data warehouses or data lakes
- Proficiency in data extraction, storage and maintenance and integrating data from multiple systems for reporting
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and Board members
- Ability to communicate complex data concepts clearly to non-technical audiences
- A proactive, analytical approach with excellent attention to detail
- Demonstrates initiative and creativity, generating innovative ideas to enhance reporting, performance management, data governance and operational efficiency
What will help you stand out:
- Experience with Power BI and Microsoft data platforms
- Experience working in a federated or matrix organisational environment, working closely with a variety of teams and datasets reporting teams
- Background in project-based or research-focused organisations
- Knowledge of Azure, Fabric or similar technologies
- Experience improving processes through automation
- Exposure to advanced analytics or AI-enabled tools
How to apply and what happens next
If you’re interested in this role, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll be directed to our Workday portal where you’ll create an account and upload your CV and your responses to the questions below (approx. 8 mins). Your responses are an important part of our assessment process, so please take the time to complete them thoughtfully:
- A separate cover letter is not required
- Use clear, concise examples that demonstrate your personal contribution, relevant skills, qualifications (if applicable) and impact
- Limit your responses to a maximum of 150 words per question
Working at UKCEH is genuinely rewarding. You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute, where your work will have real impact. Our science helps people and the environment to prosper and informs decisions that benefit society as a whole. We’re proud to be custodians of over 60 years of environmental data, and just as proud of the people behind it. You’ll be supported to develop your career, grow your skills and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.
What we offer
At UKCEH, we recognise your dedication and provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both at work and at home. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:
- Generous annual leave - 27 days (rising to 29 days after 5 years) +3 for Christmas closure
- 10% employer pension contribution
- Financial protection through life assurance and income protection
- Enhanced family-friendly policies
- Flexible and hybrid working options (depending on your role)
- Lifestyle perks including dental, gym, retail and cycling discounts
- A commitment to wellbeing, supported by a range of internal initiatives
- Employee Assistance Programme and health benefits, including 24/7 support with remote GP access, mental health, physiotherapy and lifestyle services
- Peer recognition and rewards that celebrate your contribution
- Salary sacrifice agreement benefits including Electric & Plug-in Hybrid vehicle and Cycle2Work schemes
- Interest-free annual travel season ticket loans (terms apply)
Our commitment to inclusion
At UKCEH, we believe everyone should feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. We warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re happy to support you with any adjustments you may need throughout the recruitment process.
A note on sponsorship
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.
Business Intelligence (BI) Manager in Edinburgh employer: UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
UKCEH is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to lead impactful fundraising initiatives in a collaborative and purpose-driven environment. With generous benefits, including flexible working options and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, you will thrive while contributing to vital environmental research that shapes the future. Join us in making a difference, where your work directly supports the planet and its people.
Contact Details:
UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Intelligence (BI) Manager in Edinburgh
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Intelligence (BI) Manager in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
