Senior Business Data Analyst

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Enterprise Data Architect

Department: IT

Click here to read the full job description and view our excellent benefits here

This role operates primarily on a remote working arrangement that may require occasional travel (once per month) into one of our UK sites. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

Unfortunately we are unable to sponsor skilled worker visas for this role.

About Arden University:

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

About our Department:

The Senior Business Data Analyst joins Arden University's Technology Department at an exciting time of growth and innovation. Technology is at the heart of our strategy, enabling us to deliver an outstanding experience for students and colleagues while supporting our ambitious global expansion.

Our Technology team of around 65 specialists spans Software Development, Business Systems, Infrastructure, Cyber Security, Data and IT Operations. Together, we deliver the solutions and services that keep the University running while driving continuous digital improvement.

We're also embarking on a significant AI transformation, embedding AI across the University to enhance the way we work, improve decision-making and deliver even better experiences for our students and staff. As part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives, shape the future of our IT platforms, and play a key role in our evolving digital landscape.

We're committed to developing our people and are proud of our strong culture of learning, collaboration and internal career progression.

About the Opportunity:

As a Senior Business Data Analyst, you'll play a key role in shaping how data is managed and used across Arden University. Working within our Enterprise Data Architecture team, you'll support the delivery of strategic data initiatives, helping to improve data quality, governance and standards while ensuring our data is trusted, accessible and ready to support business insight and AI-driven innovation.

You'll work closely with stakeholders across the University to understand business needs, identify opportunities for improvement, and translate requirements into effective data solutions. Alongside managing a small team, you'll contribute to enterprise-wide transformation projects, driving continuous improvement and helping to build the strong data foundations that support Arden's future growth.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in a growing organisation where data is central to decision-making, digital transformation, and delivering an outstanding experience for our students and colleagues.

About You:

You'll be a proactive and analytical professional with a passion for using data to solve problems and drive improvement. A confident communicator, you'll build strong relationships with stakeholders, work collaboratively across teams, and thrive in a fast-paced environment where you can make a real impact.

Essential Skills / Experience:

• Ongoing professional development in data analysis, business analysis, or a related field.

• Advanced data analysis techniques, requirements gathering, and stakeholder engagement.

• Strong understanding of cloud-based data technologies, integrations, and modern data platforms.

• Excellent knowledge of data quality principles, governance, and best practice.

• Expert application of Business Analysis methodologies, tools, and techniques.

• Data mapping, process analysis, and process re-engineering using recognised modelling tools.

• Gathering and documenting business requirements using techniques such as workshops, user stories, use cases, and process mapping.

• Translating complex technical concepts into clear, business-focused recommendations for non-technical stakeholders.

• Supporting strategic data initiatives and identifying opportunities to improve business processes and data management.

• Strong understanding of testing approaches, including User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex or incomplete information and make evidence-based recommendations.

• Leadership capability, including mentoring colleagues, sharing expertise, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing team culture.

• Sound understanding of professional, legal, and regulatory requirements relating to data management and information governance.

• Working knowledge of enterprise data systems and their application within a complex organisation.

Why Arden:

At Arden, you will become a part of a passionate and dedicated team who are committed to removing unnecessary barriers to learning and making education more accessible. Our people work hard to ensure our students journeys are the best they can possibly be, as such we want to reward our people with fantastic benefits. Employees benefit from:

• 30 days holiday + bank holidays on-top, and even a Christmas closure!

• A generous Aviva pension plan, company contributions starting from 7%

• BUPA Cash Plan

• Private Medical Insurance coverage (applies to certain job roles)

• Access to Perkbox benefits

• Study any Arden course for free, with a discount for all family and friends

• Plus, other excellent benefits

• Our ‘Golden Ticket’ which allows you to gift anyone in your life a free Arden education
  

Our Values:

Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness, reflect who we are as an institution, a team and as individuals. If they also reflect you and you are excited by the chance to be the driving, creative force within a growing business, we want to hear from you.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines and locations.

Closing Date: 19th August

We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the specified closing date should we receive sufficient applications or in order to respond to business needs. In order to avoid missing an opportunity to apply please submit your application as early as possible.

If you are a current Arden student or have an upcoming course with us, you are not eligible to apply for Student Experience roles due to a conflict of interest related to system access.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion:

Arden University is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. This means that if you have a disability, as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. By doing so, you are also consenting for this information to be shared with the hiring team. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, please refer to the guidance

As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. Therefore, we make sure that our recruitment and selection processes never discriminate based upon people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances, and actively welcome applications from all groups.

Sponsorship statement:

Please be aware that some roles may not meet the points requirement for a sponsored Skilled Worker visa, or fulfil the criteria we have for providing sponsorship.  However we welcome applications from candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK but may be eligible for a visa through an alternative route.