Data Loader - Junior Analytics Engineer at Department for Education, Remote/Coventry, 6 Months, £Contract Rate

Role Overview

The role ensures that data is accurately collected, transformed, validated, and made available across organisational systems while maintaining high standards of data quality, governance, and security.

Working closely with business stakeholders, analysts, and technical teams, the postholder will contribute to the development of scalable data pipelines, support data platform administration, and drive continuous improvements in data management processes.

This is a role that would be suited to a graduate or entry level person. The core of this role is carrying out the business-as-usual daily activities needed to load data for the Department. 

Key Responsibilities

Data Integration and Loading

• Support to Develop and optimise automated data pipelines, scripts, and workflows to improve efficiency, reliability, and performance.
• Manage and support batch and scheduled data processing activities, ensuring successful completion and issue resolution.

Data Quality and Assurance

• Monitor data quality and investigate data-related issues, identifying root causes and escalating.
• Perform data validation, reconciliation, and cleansing activities to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of organisational data.
• Work within controls to improve data integrity and minimise operational risk.

Database and Platform Management

• Support the administration and maintenance of databases, data warehouses, and cloud-based data platforms.
• Assist with performance monitoring, optimisation, and capacity planning to ensure data services remain resilient and effective.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with business analysts, project teams, developers, and other stakeholders to understand data requirements and deliver effective solutions.

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

• Produce and maintain technical documentation, data specifications, process guides, and operating procedures.
• Support knowledge transfer activities and contribute to building organisational capability in analytics engineering and management practices.
• Support colleagues where appropriate, sharing expertise and promoting best practice.

Governance, Security and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with data governance frameworks, information management policies, UKGDPR, and departmental security standards.
• Support auditing, risk management, and compliance activities relating to data management processes.

Essential 

• Experience designing and supporting ETL/data loading processes and automated data pipelines.
• Strong understanding of data quality management, validation, and reconciliation techniques.
• Experience working with databases, SQL, and data warehousing technologies.
• Knowledge of data governance, information security, and GDPR requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve data-related issues.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience producing technical documentation and process guidance.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Azure, AWS, Google Cloud).
• Knowledge of data engineering tools and technologies such as Python, Power BI, Azure Data Factory, SSIS, or equivalent.
• Experience working in Agile project environments.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, The Department for Education guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

Armed Forces Covenant 

The Department for Education guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.