Data Manager

Salary: £35,116 to £37,174 with progression to £45,413 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 30th April 2025

The Role

We are looking to appoint a fixed term Student Data Manager who will support the Senior Student Data and Systems Manager with the co-ordination, monitoring and management of student data held on the University’s corporate databases and systems, with particular focus on student assessment and progression records. 
  
You will provide a key role in managing the University’s NESS system (the current in-house web-based system) supporting a number of teaching and academic administration functions with a particular focus on assessment and the recording of marks.  

Your role will provide support for all users across the University, including the development and delivery of training, guidance, fixing data errors and responding to queries about complex assessment records and issues. 

In order to be successful, you should have demonstratable expertise as a “super user” of a data management system. You should have proven experience delivering informative and engaging systems training to a variety of users and key stake holders. Your role will work closely with NUIT (University IT department) who are a key stakeholder in respect of system development, faults and requests so experience of a similar successful working relationship is essential. 

The Post is fixed term until 29 May 2026 (commencing not before 3rd June) 

To apply please upload your CV and cover letter evidencing how you meet the criteria as outlined within person specification within job description. 

Informal enquiries can be made to Jonathan Gray, Senior Student Data and Systems Manager (jonathan.gray@ncl.ac.uk). 

Key Accountabilities

• To use detailed knowledge of the NESS system, the associated business processes and their application in the University’s learning and teaching environment to provide support to users of the system

• To produce and maintain NESS user documentation, as well as design, schedule and deliver training sufficient for NESS users to make effective use of the system in carrying out their duties. The postholder will work with key stakeholders in monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of NESS documentation and training through appropriate evaluation and feedback mechanisms

• With a thorough understanding of the evolving business process requirements of academic units, the postholder will submit fully documented development requests to the appropriate governance body to ensure that there is suitable alignment between NESS development and University learning and teaching needs, to carry out system knowledge transfer activities as required to members of the NESS development team and other appropriate stakeholders

• To develop and maintain accurate test scripts for use during system development and upgrade testing

• To coordinate colleagues in the resolution of database queries in a professional and timely manner, e.g., prompt anomalous record resolution prior to Boards of Examiners, correcting erroneous action by standard users

• To produce periodic and ad-hoc management reports and statistics on student achievement that are timely and accurate and meet University needs to monitor and manage performance

• To represent the Student Progress section in meetings to discuss process and systems changes to ensure that all relevant issues are included in those discussions

• To deputise, as required, for the Senior Student Data and Systems Manager, on all matters related to corporate student data

• To help members of the Student Progress Service with a range of work, as necessary - e.g.: registration, congregations and other annual exercises

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Technical aptitude through an in-depth understanding of a number of IT systems
• Knowledge of Higher Education Regulations and Student Admin Processes
• Knowledge of database structures and systems, especially relating to student records
• Ability to determine priorities and use initiative
• Excellent IT skills, particularly manipulating large datasets in spreadsheets or databases
• Excellent analysis, communication, influencing, presentational and inter-personal skills required to deliver training to audiences with a wide range of skills and abilities
• Ability to acquire knowledge of an IT system and related business processes and document these in a structured format
• Experience of systematically and methodically testing software to ensure compliance against a specification
• Customer service experience
•  

Attributes and Behaviour

• Demonstrable ability to build strong and positive relationships with a wide range of customers and stakeholders
• Uses systems and tools to ensure records and audit trails are clear and up to date
• Work through problems from first principles rather than relying upon specific knowledge
• Ensures that others know how process and systems work, while respecting contribution and expertise of others
• Confidently deals with a broad range of information

Qualifications

• A degree or significant experience in an equivalent post

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a silver Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 28088

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