Job Description

Team: Data and Insight
Job Family: Providing - CBG9
Salary: £34,811 - £37,562 per annum pro rata
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: You will be expected to attend a CBC office location as often as needed to carry out your role, which will be no less than once per month.
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity - 12 Months
Closing Date: 1st June 2026
Interview Date: Week commencing 8th June 2026

About the Role

The Data Team delivers both strategic and operational intelligence and data services across the council to drive better outcomes.

This role is essential for providing the capacity needed to produce all statutory reporting datasets for Children’s Services, Education, Early Years, Youth Support and Families. Data Officers play a critical part in ensuring the council meets its statutory obligations by delivering accurate, timely, and efficient workforce information, performance data, and insightful analysis.

The Data Officer supports the delivery of strategic and operational intelligence across Children’s Services and Education. For the wraparound programme, the postholder will be responsible for collecting, validating, analysing, and presenting all data required by the DfE to evidence progress in expanding wraparound childcare places.

By supporting evidence-based decision-making, these roles help achieve organisational and service objectives and contribute to improved outcomes for our communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Analysis & Interpretation – Ability to analyse large datasets, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Statistical Knowledge – Understanding of basic statistical methods for validating data accuracy and reliability.
• Database Management – Experience with SQL or similar tools for querying and managing data.
• Data Visualization – Proficiency in tools like Power BI to present data clearly.
• Data Quality Assurance – Skills in validating, cleaning, and maintaining accurate datasets.
• Statutory Reporting – Knowledge of statutory requirements for Youth Support, Children’s Services and Families.
• Attention to Detail – Ensuring accuracy and completeness in reports and submissions.

About You

You will demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot data issues and propose effective, practical solutions. You will communicate confidently, presenting complex data in a clear and understandable way for non-technical stakeholders.

Excellent time management skills will enable you to meet deadlines for statutory returns and performance reports, even when working to competing priorities. You will also show a collaborative approach, working effectively with service teams and other departments to ensure accurate reporting and shared understanding across the organisation.

Essential

• Statutory Reporting
  Proven experience in preparing and submitting statutory returns within Children’s Services, Families, or similar public sector contexts.
• Data Analysis & Reporting
  Demonstrated ability to analyse complex datasets, produce accurate reports, and present findings to stakeholders.
• Data Quality Management
  Hands-on experience in validating, cleaning, and maintaining high-quality data for compliance and decision-making.
• Use of Reporting Tools
  Practical experience with tools such as Excel (advanced functions) and Power BI for data visualization and dashboards.
• Database & Querying
  Familiarity with SQL or similar querying languages for extracting and manipulating data.

Desirable

• Advanced Excel Skills – Pivot tables, formulas, and data modelling.
• Knowledge of Data Protection & GDPR – Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations.

Our Offer

We have a number of rewards and benefits available to our staff, to view these please visit our Rewards and Benefits page Our aspiration is to be a truly flexible employer.  We welcome discussion on location, hours and working pattern as part of the application process.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You will be expected to demonstrate how you meet the key accountabilities and competencies in this Recruitment Pack.

Our Competency Framework and Qualification Guidance are to be read in conjunction with our Recruitment Pack.

For an informal discussion about this position, please contact: Claire West - Claire.West@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or Sunil Randhawa - Sunil.Randhawa@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To maintain a fair and consistent approach for applicants, it is Central Bedfordshire Council's policy to only consider applications made via our online application system and we therefore thank you for not submitting your application offline.

Our National Careers Service team offer a free monthly workshop covering CV writing and how to complete the statement sections of the Central Bedfordshire Council online application form. This MS Teams workshop is open to anyone from the UK and lasts around 1.5 hours. Please book your place here.

More information about this service can be found here: Support getting into work or learning | Central Bedfordshire Council

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for our roles. Successful applicants that may require a visa will need to consider the options for obtaining and/or maintaining the legal right to live and work in the UK. Please confirm you have right to work in the UK.