Funding Analyst

Purpose of the role

As a Funding Analyst at Research England, you will be in a key position to design, deliver and operate analytical tools and processes that directly support the allocation of £2 billion of strategic institutional research funding and knowledge exchange funding to higher education providers in England. Working as a member of a fast-paced team committed to innovation and continuous improvement, you will be responsible for undertaking work from design and development, through the crucial quality assurance processes, to delivery. These work areas include the effective and timely delivery of funding operations, providing analysis and dashboarding to support senior and executive leaders in their decision making, and supporting data operations to ensure that underlying datasets are up to date and reliable.

A sound understanding of an analytical product development cycle is crucial for this role, including significant experience of coding in R, analysing data and presenting findings. Equally important is experience of quality assurance processes, and an awareness of how these minimise errors in analytical outputs.

Alongside these specific tasks, you will also support other analytical work within the team by processing and analysing large and complex databases to address research policy questions and improve analytics operations.

Responsibilities

To support the algorithm-driven allocation of research funds to higher education providers by:

• Developing a sound knowledge of the Higher Education sector data used by the analyst team to underpin funding allocations.
• Developing a sound knowledge of the algorithm-driven (formula-based) research funding methods used by Research England and collaborating with colleagues to develop, maintain and implement funding models.
• Supporting the team by challenging assumptions, considering data and methodological limitations, and suggesting solutions.
• Engaging with quality assurance and publication processes for disseminating outcomes.

To provide broader sector analysis by:

• Supporting the development of new approaches and analytical models that underpin sector benchmarking activities.
• Investigating available datasets and determining possible metrics for use in sector analysis.
• Collaborating with colleagues on ways to gain sector insight from datasets, and how to visualise this data to aid in supplying insight to internal and external stakeholders.

To assist with quality assurance (QA) checks when required:

• Ensuring that the team QA process is always followed.
• Making sure that QA approvals are escalated as necessary.

Other responsibilities include:

• Supporting the development and maintenance of analytical tools to facilitate the teams’ activities.
• Supporting wider areas of the funding operations and funding systems teams’ activities as they arise.

Essential skills, qualifications and experience

The following criteria will be assessed at shortlisting (S), at interview (I) or both (S/I).

• Qualifications: An RQF level 3 qualification (equivalent to A-level) in a numerate subject, or relevant experience. (S)
• Analytical expertise: Knowledge of the practical application of analytical methodologies, with ability to develop new approaches for analysing and utilising data, rather than relying on rote application of standard methods. (S/I)
• Critical evaluation and problem solving: Ability to critically review and assess data, methods, and processes in a careful and systematic way, identify potential issues or limitations, and suggest practical improvements or alternative approaches. (S/I)
• Programming and data handling: Experience of coding in the R language to manipulate datasets. (S/I)
• Quality assurance and coding standards: Experience of checking the accuracy and reliability of analytical work, including writing well-structured code and following good practices to ensure outputs are correct and easy to maintain. (S/I)
• Collaboration and project management: Ability to collaborate with colleagues on the development of work areas and contribute to high-profile processes or projects. (S/I)
• Workload management: Ability to plan and manage a varied workload, adapting to changing priorities effectively. (S/I)
• Communication and influence: Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain data and analysis to non-specialists, ask clarifying questions, and engage in constructive discussions with colleagues to explore ideas and develop solutions. (S/I)

UKRI values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

Please note: if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you (and any dependants travelling with you) will be required to pay costs directly to the UK Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee, and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs or contact Recruitment@ukri.org.

Please apply via the ‘Apply’ button above.