Data and Evaluation Officer (Wessex Inspiration Network)

The Wessex Inspiration Network (WIN) is seeking an exceptional Data and Evaluation Officer to join our team and play a key role in demonstrating the impact of outreach activity across the South West. This is an opportunity to work at the heart of a regional partnership that is making a tangible difference to the lives of young people. Your work will directly influence strategic decision-making, strengthen the evidence base for widening participation, and help ensure that outreach activity is targeted, effective and impactful.

You will join a collaborative, diverse and supportive team committed to improving educational opportunities and driving social mobility across the region.

WIN is the regional Uni Connect partnership funded by the Office for Students. We bring together universities, colleges, schools and community partners to support young people from underrepresented groups to make informed decisions about their future education and career pathways.

As our Data and Evaluation Officer, you will lead the development and implementation of WIN's evaluation plan, ensuring our work is guided by robust evidence and aligned with Uni Connect requirements, TASO guidance and recognised higher education evaluation frameworks. This is a unique opportunity to combine data analysis, evaluation and stakeholder engagement in a role that directly contributes to reducing educational inequalities and improving opportunities for young people.

You will be responsible for evaluating the reach, effectiveness and impact of WIN's programmes and interventions. Using a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, you will generate evidence that helps us understand what works, for whom, and why. Working closely with the Head of WIN, consortium partners and external stakeholders, you will embed evaluation across the project lifecycle and ensure findings are translated into practical recommendations that improve future programme design and delivery.

You will take the lead on the collection, management, quality assurance, analysis and reporting of project data, including responsibility for the accurate recording and submission of participant information to the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) database. The role will also play an important part in helping partners develop a shared regional Theory of Change and contribute to the development and ongoing review of the Equality of Opportunity Risk Register (EORR). This work will strengthen the regional evidence base and support a collective understanding of the barriers affecting underrepresented learners.

We are looking for someone who is highly analytical, evidence-focused and passionate about using data to drive positive change. You will be able to work confidently with large datasets, communicate complex information clearly, and build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of quantitative research and advanced data analysis.
• Experience of developing or using Theory of Change approaches and Equality of Opportunity Risk Registers.
• Experience of interrogating datasets to support planning, monitoring and decision-making.
• Experience of writing reports and presenting findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced Excel and data management skills.
• Ability to collect, clean and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands.
• Knowledge of widening participation and current issues within higher education.

This is a full-time role, working 36.5 hours per week, for a fixed-term period until October 2027. This role offers hybrid working, with a base at the University of Bath's Claverton Down campus. You will normally be expected to work on campus at least one day per week, with additional attendance required throughout the year to support WIN events, partnership meetings and other key activities across the region. The role will involve occasional travel to partner organisations across the South West and therefore a UK driving licence is required. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role.

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equity and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university.

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you and enhance your experience with us. Some of the many great benefits we offer include:

• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days.
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme.
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym.
• Local discounts, including free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath.
• A family-friendly workplace.
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce.
• Relocation allowance.
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses.
• Employee assistance services through Health Assured.

We’re committed to creating a health-supporting working environment where everyone can thrive and be at their best. We offer a range of resources to enable you to do that from your first day here, including staff support groups and networks.