Data and Performance Analyst

Council - NERC  
Band: UKRI Band D 
Full time / Part Time (0.8 FTE Minimum)
Salary: £37,841 per annum 
Location: Polaris House, Swindon  - Hybrid working Available 
Contract: Open Ended  
Closing Date: 23:55 Sunday 8th February 2026 
Interview Date: Week of the 23rd February 

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the dynamic, multi-disciplinary Business Insight and Performance Team within the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The team works across NERC, providing data, analytical and evaluation products and support to colleagues across NERC and UKRI.

The role requires an agile and flexible performer whose work will help maintain and develop NERC’s robust evidence base and high-quality analytical products to underpin strategic decision making. As part of the role, you will have the opportunity to work in a range of areas, and targeted projects, with opportunities to grow yours skills and build additional competencies prioritised for your development.  

As part of NERC’s Business Insight and Performance function of NERC’s Strategy and Performance Directorate, this role will be based within the Performance and Data Team and will involve matrix working with colleagues in the Analysis and Insight team this role will include :  

• Publishing, managing and maintaining various data visualisations and dashboards for NERC to support decision making and improve holistic portfolio visibility.
• Supporting the development of Machine Learning NERC Science Taxonomy to develop the thematic analysis of our investments, aligning with UKRI priorities 
• Contributing to the continuous improvement and enhancement of NERCs reporting and data processes
• Preparing and processing of data and information to meet regular reporting requirements, including the use of business systems.
• Co-ordinating NERCs responses to requests for data and information, for e.g., FoI’s.
• Working as part of a team, developing your own technical and non-technical skills, and being an active member of the wider analytical community.
• Promoting use of data to colleagues across the organisation, particular those at senior level to ensure the wider use of evidence-based decision making
• Producing ad-hoc support across NERC using a variety of analytical and statistical methods.  

Person Specification

The below criteria will be assessed at both shortlisting and interview (S&I).

Applicants are invited to submit a CV and a cover letter. The cover letter should include evidence to support your application and demonstrate your experience against:  

Essential

• Educated to a minimum of degree level or offer equivalent experience with data analysis. (S&I)
• Exhibits strong technical proficiency, including advanced Excel capabilities, and working knowledge of data management and analytics tools, software, and programming languages such as Power BI, Tableau, SQL, Alteryx, R, and Python.(S/I) 
• Sound numeric, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with experience of independently preparing data as evidence to support decisions. (S&I)
• Proven ability to collect reporting requirements from a variety of stakeholders and producing data reports that meet the needs of the stakeholder. (S&I)
• Ability to explain technical information to non-technical stakeholders. (I)
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workloads. (I)
• Strong attention to detail and can produce clear, replicable data reports. (I)
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. (I)
• Strong interpersonal skills with confidence to engage a range of internal stakeholders. (S&I)

Desirable

• You have an understanding and knowledge of the UK Research Funding landscape. (S&I)
• Interest in environmental science or related field. (S&I)
• Experience of working with/querying relational databases using SQL. (S&I) 
• Experience or creating interactive dashboards using PowerBI or Tableau. (S&I)

Interviews are planned to take place in person at Polaris House during the week commencing 23rd February.

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact [email protected]

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 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 [email protected].
 

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.  For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role.  UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.