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Senior Insight Analyst (Student Number Planning & Projection) (1775)

Senior Insight Analyst (Student Number Planning & Projection) (1775)

Senior Insight Analyst (Student Number Planning & Projection)

Full Time – Permanent – High Wycombe

Salary -  £38,249 - £42,882

 

 

 

Buckinghamshire New University is an ambitious, modern university that is always open to fresh ideas and thinking. We believe in the transformative power of education, and in doing the right thing by our students, people and local community. That’s why our BNU community is a special place to work and study, and where people who want to make a difference can contribute and succeed. 

 

Our University’s DRIVE values and are at the heart of all that we do.  We are united in being dynamic, responsible, inclusive, visionary and empowering to ensure that we provide the best experience to our learners and offer excellent service to our partners and to each other as colleagues. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that you require.

 

An exciting new post has been created at BNU in the Business Intelligence team. The Senior Insight Analyst (Student Number Planning and Projection) will be responsible for ensuring the University has a complete picture of student numbers at all stages of the student journey and will use modelling to project these into the future. The post holder will work with key stakeholders throughout the year to monitor progress against targets and share insights from analysis and market intelligence to inform the University’s data-driven strategy.

 

It is a great time to join the growing Business Intelligence team which is central to delivering reliable and timely data for decision making. The University is keen to invest in talent and the Business Intelligence programme strongly advocates innovation and growth, welcoming new ideas to improve outcomes and make best use of all resources whilst responding to the needs of stakeholders.

 

We are looking for an excellent problem solver with a passion for data and strong grasp of Business Intelligence systems (eg. Tableau, Alteryx, SQL) who is driven to innovate and achieve results. The post holder will ideally have a background in student number planning and being a strong communicator to non-technical audiences is essential.

 

What we offer: 

  • a generous holiday entitlement (30 days per annum, plus bank holidays & closure days)  
  • Hybrid working (dependant on business needs)
  • training & development support opportunities  
  • contributory pension scheme 
  • discounted gym membership for our on-site gym  
  • a range of staff discounts with major retailers. 

 

Please click here to see our wide range of benefits available for employees.
Please click here for our behavioural based interview question bank.
Please click here to view our employee handbook.

 

If you have the qualities and attributes representative of the University’s values and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.   

  

For further information about this role please contact Benedict Watling on benedict.watling@bnu.ac.uk

  

All applications are to be made in full and online. 

 

BNU is proud to have a diverse community and a strong track record of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our aim is to continue to build an environment where everyone thrives and can be themselves. We therefore ensure that our interview/shortlisting Chairs complete the relevant e-learning and/or inclusive recruitment training.

 

We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in BNU’S workforce. These include people from global majority backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people, particularly in more senior roles.

 

 

Closing Date: 1 June 2025

Interview Date:  w/c 16 June 2025

  

 

If you are successful in securing an interview for the role, you will be required to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.  

  

BNU is a Disability Confident employer and as such you will be given the opportunity to declare a disability as part of the application process. The University is also committed to achieving the Race Equality Charter.  

 

 

Location
High Wycombe
Contract Type
Permanent
Salary Range
Ł38,249 - Ł42,882
Hours per week
37
Closing Date
01/06/2025
Ref No
1775

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION 

Job Title:   

Senior Insight Analyst (Student Number Planning and Projection) 

Directorate:   

Business Intelligence 

Grade:  G 

Location:   

High Wycombe 

Hours:  37 

Responsible to:   

Business Intelligence Manager 

Responsible for:   

N/A 

Job Purpose:  

Responsible for overseeing all aspects of student number planning. This includes specifying data requirements, providing insights, and contributing to system design. The role involves setting and agreeing on recruitment targets, reliably projecting total student numbers, and developing accurate reporting procedures. Observing, analysing, and reporting on patterns of student applications, enrolments, and progression to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement. 

 

 

Main Duties & Responsibilities of the role:  

  1. Provide specialist advice and insights to agree and set student number targets including ensuring any new and developing provision is informed by the latest available market and business intelligence. 

  1. Support key stakeholders (e.g., Marketing & Student Recruitment, Finance, Registry, Colleges) to specify and shape data requirements, provide insights and deliver processes for reporting and in-year forecasting for all delivery modes. 

  1. Analyse and advise on market insights in higher education and report on subject trends to stakeholders using internal and external data (eg. HEIDI+) to stay up to date with sector trends. 

  1. Manage a database of recruitment targets, recording adjustments and contributing to the development of the database and connected processes. 

  1. Operationalise the student number planning model, continuously improving its accuracy and sophistication, iterating throughout the year as predictions come into focus. 

  1. Support the development of scenario planning related to financial and recruitment targets conveying the assumptions and recommended courses of action to senior leaders  

  1. Provide specialist advice to the Finance directorate to ensure that projections are correctly adopted into budgets and financial forecasting, with appropriate assumptions for tuition fee income. 

  1. Provide in-depth analysis and reporting on student number trends across the full student lifecycle from applicants to enrolment, continuation and completion. Critically evaluate and communicate the predictive analysis results to manage risks to student retention and success. 

  1. Offer expert advice on data architecture; understand the data warehouse and student record system to resolve data queries and quality issues with key stakeholders to ensure reliable and accurate information. 

  1. Network internally and externally with sector bodies to draw insights for best practice   

  1. To comply with relevant legislative and other requirements (e.g., the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR; Health and Safety; UKVI; and Equality and Diversity) in all working practices. 

  1. Such other duties temporarily or on a continuing basis, as may reasonably be required. 

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

A = Application     T = Test     I = Interview  

Education, Qualifications & Training 

Means of Testing 

Educated to a relevant degree or postgraduate level, or equivalent professional qualification in a discipline with substantial statistical content 

A 

Knowledge & Experience 

 

Experience of conducting time series forecasting procedures and knowledge of time series forecasting to produce potential future scenarios 

A 

Experience of using business intelligence and data manipulation tools (eg. Tableau, PowerBI, Alteryx) to perform predictive analytics and to convey the results through a variety of formats 

I 

Experience of using data processing and retrieval tools (eg. SQL, Alteryx, Tableau Prep) to create structured data sources from a data warehouse. 

A/I 

Knowledge of AI and Machine Learning for use in predictive analytics and innovation 

I 

A detailed understanding of the higher education sector, regulatory frameworks and its drivers for financial sustainability 

I 

Experience of analysing complex matters and communicating findings to different audiences 

A/I 

Experience of working towards and delivering to a timescale 

I 

Knowledge of Data Protection and confidentiality issues 

I 

Skills 

 

Verbal and non-verbal communication skills   

I 

Ability to influence and build relationships with senior stakeholders and to negotiate successful outcomes 

I 

Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail 

I 

Curiosity and creativity to drive new insights into student number planning  

I 

Ability to explain complex information and analysis to non-experts to inform decision making 

I 

Digitally able and proficient in Microsoft tools 

I 

Proficiency in Business Intelligence tools (eg. Tableau, PowerBI) and data manipulation software (eg. SQL, Alteryx) 

 

Special Requirements 

 

May be required to travel across campuses with occasional evening events 

I 

 

  

 

BBF (Top 3 key behavioural categories most applicable to the role) 

Finding solutions - Taking a holistic view and working enthusiastically to analyse problems and to develop workable solutions. Identifying opportunities for innovation. 

Achieving results - Consistently meeting agreed objectives and success criteria. Taking personal responsibility for getting things done. 

Working together - Working collaboratively and across boundaries with others in order to achieve objectives. Recognising and valuing the different contributions people bring to this process. 

 

 

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