Performance and Data Lead in Preston

37 hours per week / permanent / based on site at our Hove office, with some travel across Sussex and Surrey. Hybrid - three days from our office in Hove and up to two days working from home, working Monday to Friday (hours to be discussed at interview).

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice. We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen. We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

Working within the Impact and Improvement Team, you will be responsible for championing data-driven decision making. You will analyse and report on risk and performance across large and complex datasets, translating this into actionable insights to inform strategic decision making. In delivering the role, you will develop the organisation's data strategy and oversee the creation of engaging dashboards and efficient data models in Microsoft Power BI, Pyramid, In-Form/Salesforce, MS Business Central, HealthBoxHR and other analytics platforms.

With excellent people skills, you will act as a mentor in the development of the Data C Systems Support Officer and will help to improve data literacy skills across the organisation as a whole.

Key responsibilities:

• Insights, analytics and reporting
• Use data visualisation tools to regularly present and communicate insights and complex analysis to a range of audiences in a clear, concise, and compelling way.
• Lead on small analysis projects and support on larger analysis projects throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Work with the Head of Impact and Improvement, identify and proactively exploit opportunities to streamline or automate data collection processes for greater efficiency.
• Data systems and processes
• Lead on data migration and system deployment for the upgrades in 2026 for our key system In-Form, contribute to defining and setting up of new reporting, dashboards, and process mapping where needed.
• Reporting to the Digital Manager and working closely with business system owners, the Head of Impact and Improvement and IT Managed Service Provider, establishing high quality systems and tools for capturing, organising and using data.
• Act the lead for our build on the Salesforce platform, dashboards and reports. Working with service managers, support the design, production, and continuous improvement of this client management system.
• Lead the design and delivery of a regular programme of induction and training sessions to build organisational knowledge and capabilities around our data systems.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

You will already have experience of complex data analysis and reporting on performance across large datasets, along with experience of building engaging dashboards and efficient data models in Microsoft Power BI, Salesforce, or similar analytics platforms. You have analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret and present complex data, along with expert digital skills around use of MS Office 365 and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel to summarise and graphically represent data. You will understand data migration across systems and how to map effective reporting requirements. Experience with MS Fabric or similar data lakes/warehouses would be very beneficial.

You are a team player who can work with others to deliver a service and challenge colleagues appropriately where required. You have strong planning and time management skills, with ability to deal with competing priorities and deliver results to tight deadlines. You will already have a good understanding of the importance of data and information security, with experience of managing and working with information, systems and databases, designing and producing reports from them.

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday 23 June 2026 at midnight.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace: We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.

Accessibility: If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.