DESCRIPTION

• Hours: 37 hours
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: £37,938 - £40,476
• Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
  The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and to serve the communities and businesses of South Yorkshire. From transport to housing, from business growth to skills, the MCA has a great story to tell. We have ambitions to deliver recovery and renewal for people, businesses and places across South Yorkshire.
  Please note that SYMCA follows a structured salary grading system for all roles, and the offered salary for each post will be at the starting point within the specified grade. We value the skills and experience of potential candidates, and there will be opportunities for salary enhancements as you grow within South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
  South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is currently in the process of reviewing its terms and conditions of employment including pay and grading. As part of this project, the post advertised may be subject to changes in the near future. All changes and any impact on individual posts will be discussed further should you be successfully appointed to the position you have applied for.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

We’re seeking a detail-oriented and analytical professional who is passionate about using data to drive meaningful change. You’ll be someone who thrives on solving complex problems, enjoys working with diverse datasets, and can translate technical insights into clear, actionable intelligence.

• Proven experience in a similar analytical role.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills with experience handling complex datasets.
• Knowledge of data governance and protection standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Office applications.
• Experience with data visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI, Tableau).
• Excellent communication skills—able to explain complex issues clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Accurate data and intelligence are vital to shaping effective policy and evaluating programme delivery. As a Senior Data Analyst at SYMCA, you will work closely with the Lead Analyst to provide analytical support for skills policy across the region. You’ll also have the opportunity to conduct labour market-focused economic analysis on key policy issues such as economic inactivity.
You will join the Data and Intelligence team focused on supporting the Growth, Business and Skills Directorate, where your insights will directly inform the design, delivery, and evaluation of education, skills, labour market, and productivity programmes—including the Adult Skills Fund (ASF).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Analyse data to assess the performance and impact of skills programmes to inform long-term policy and commissioning decisions.
• Produce validated data and performance analysis using Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data.
• Interpret economic and labour market trends to support the development of SYMCA’s Skills Strategy and provide briefings to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Create clear, engaging reports and interactive visualisations to communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborate with government, local authorities, and business partners to gather data and monitor progress against strategic goals.
• Support the development and implementation of management information systems for internal data analysis.
• Ensure data quality, governance, and compliance with legal standards including GDPR and FOI.
• Promote self-service analytics within the Employment and Skills team.