Career Story: Delivery Data Analyst

What does a day in your shoes feel like? And what are the key skills that can make or break a career in your field?

We’ve asked a diverse group of Apolitical members to share their career stories with us and the tips they have for junior public servants. In this article, a delivery data analyst tells us why they love having a big picture view of policy.

What did you do before?

I've been an analyst or held similar knowledge & performance management type roles for a long while now. In the past, I’ve worked with children and young people's services, academies funding, and more latterly on the academy trust landscape.

What does an average day look like for you?

There is no average day, which is what I like. My regular tasks include analysing new statistical releases, e.g. data on pupil numbers or school performance outcomes. I also report on delivery metrics and targets and constantly keep up to date with new inspection reports and outcomes.

What's the best part of your job?

The variety of my work and being able to join things up by having a 'big picture' view of policies. I can see if there are any consistent key indicators of a good school or a strong academy trust and if there is a correlation between geographic deprivation and the outcomes we see for the children and young people within that location.

What have you done to advance your career or gain a promotion at work?

I’ve kept learning. There is always an opportunity to learn about a new area of work or to learn a new skill. Use every opportunity to expand your knowledge.

What advice would you give to future public servants interested in a career in your field?

For the UK civil service at least, there are very clear job opportunities and a large variety of roles and professions — communications, finance and audit, commercial and property services, policy and operational delivery, etc. Within my analysis field, there are colleagues who are researchers, economists, statisticians, digital and data technicians, etc.

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