"Data Scientist"

University of Southampton - Strategic Planning and Analytics

Location: Southampton

Salary: £36,636 to £39,906 per annum

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 20th January 2026

Closes: 16th February 2026

Job Ref: 3316126JT

The University of Southampton is a world leading research-intensive university with a high-quality educational offering and is ranked in the Top 100 universities worldwide.

The role

We are looking for a Data Scientist to provide expertise to help drive the development of the University’s portfolio of programmes, including leading on market viability assessments and data analysis to support this process. You will be an excellent communicator able to engage effectively with both academic and professional services colleagues often on complex topics. You must be willing to be flexible and use your analytical and literacy skills on a range of topics.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the key university process of programme and portfolio assessment and review, acting as the primary point of contact between the department and colleagues across both professional services and academic faculties.
• Contributing to the understanding of our student population using data analysis of a variety of information sources and sharing findings across several different mediums to senior audiences.
• Be the expert at the University on your areas of work, able to not only provide analysis but advise senior leaders ensuring decisions are being made effectively.

About you

We are looking for:

• You must be confident working with data and generating robust analysis and actionable insight from it with minimal supervision. You don’t need professional experience but you’ll be expected to hit the ground running and be producing high impact work from day one.
• You must be comfortable both presenting data and insight in several formats to meet the needs of a wide number of different audiences. Comfortable talking to nuance and context when providing predictive work.
• Able to work collaboratively and communicate and negotiate with senior stakeholders with confidence.
• An ability to influence others, use judgement and have excellent written and verbal communication skills to explain complex data to a range of audiences.
• You have an interest in driving forward Higher Education and a desire to learn more about the sector and our University.

What it’s like to work here

We are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone can thrive and fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We encourage applications from candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people with disabilities. We are open to a flexible working approach and we have adopted a hybrid working model across the university combining working from home with regular time on campus.

We offer a holiday allowance of 30 days plus bank holidays and six additional university closure days, as well as access to a pension scheme, subsidised health and fitness facilities, and a range of discounts.

Check out the staff benefits and why you should join us at The University of Southampton.

Further details:

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

Apply by 11.59 pm GMT on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on +44(0)2380 592750 or recruitment@soton.ac.uk quoting the job number.