Senior Data Administrator (Fixed Term Contract) Dubai Campus

Heriot-Watt University; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Dubai seeks a Senior Data Administrator responsible for managing and analyzing data for regulatory compliance and institutional performance reporting. The role requires expertise in data systems and the ability to ensure accuracy and consistency of university datasets. Candidates should possess strong analytical skills and experience with Power BI and Excel. This position offers opportunities to improve data governance and supports a dynamic environment focused on enhancing student experience.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with dashboards in Power BI and submission portals.
• Excellent MS Office skills with advanced knowledge of Power BI and Excel.
• Demonstrable experience of producing reports and dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Take operational responsibility for regulatory compliance data management.
• Lead the production and quality assurance of retention datasets.
• Maintain and enhance data definitions for transparency and audit readiness.

Skills

Data interpretation

Data analysis

Excellent communication

Problem-solving

Customer service

Education

First degree with significant numerical and analytical content

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Purpose of Role

The Senior Data Administrator will have lead responsibility for supporting Registry & Academic Services (RAS) data requirements with particular emphasis on regulatory compliance datasets and institutional performance reporting. This includes the management, analysis and assurance of annual retention and progression data statutory and regulatory data returns to external regulators and complex ad hoc data requests that support institutional decision‑making.

The role will provide specialist expertise in regulatory and student data ensuring accuracy, consistency and alignment across university systems. Acting with a high degree of autonomy the postholder will support regulatory compliance obligations, mitigate data‑related risk and enable evidence‑based initiatives that enhance the student experience, retention and progression outcomes.

Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities

Working closely with the Academic Quality Manager and Deputy Head of Registry (Dubai) and wider Registry Academic Quality and Professional Services teams the postholder will:

Regulatory and Compliance Data Management

• Take operational responsibility for the collation, validation, reconciliation and assurance of data submissions to:
• Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR)
• Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA)
• Other regulatory bodies as required
• Interpret evolving regulatory data requirements ensuring that institutional datasets remain compliant, accurate and submission ready.
• Act as a key point of contact for regulator‑driven ad hoc data requests exercising judgement in prioritisation and risk management.

Institutional Reporting and Analysis

• Lead the production and quality assurance of retention and progression datasets for the Dubai campus ensuring data integrity.
• Support the development of analytical outputs that inform student experience initiatives, performance monitoring and compliance KPIs.
• Identify data anomalies, trends and risks escalating issues and proposing solutions where appropriate.

Systems Processes and Documentation

• Maintain and enhance data definitions, processes and documentation to ensure transparency, consistency and audit readiness.
• Work with University systems (e.g. Banner and associated reporting tools) applying specialist system knowledge to improve data accuracy and reporting efficiency.
• Proactively keep abreast of developments in data systems, regulatory platforms and reporting tools relevant to the role.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Collaborate with academic and professional service departments requiring complex or sensitive data support, providing expert guidance and interpretation.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues across the global institution particularly teams based in Dubai and Edinburgh to ensure alignment of data standards and reporting expectations.
• Attend and contribute to regulatory data workshops, briefings and training, disseminating key updates and implications to relevant stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement and Project Work

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives that strengthen data governance, reduce compliance risk and improve reporting efficiency.
• Undertake complex data‑related projects as agreed requiring independent planning, analytical judgement and stakeholder coordination.

Education Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• A first degree or equivalent featuring significant relevant numerical and analytical content with experience of working with dashboards in MS Power BI and submission portals.
• Excellent IT skills with experience across the MS Office suite and in particular advanced working knowledge of PowerBI (or similar BI and visual analytics platform) and Excel.
• Demonstrable experience of extracting, analysing and interpreting data to produce reports and dashboards in support of management activities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including data visualisation and presentation skills with the ability to present complex management information in an accessible way for a diverse audience.
• Analytical problem‑solving skills.
• Well‑developed interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable excellent customer service with a professional and proactive approach.
• Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment.

Desirable

• At least two years experience working with a medium level of autonomy and responsibility in a management information role.
• Experience of working in Higher Education in a similar management information / planning environment as outlined above.

Required Experience

Senior IC

Equal Opportunity Statement

Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Application Process

Please submit your CV and a cover letter setting out how you meet the criteria for this role. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to complete an on‑demand video interview as the first stage of the selection process. Successful candidates will then proceed to in‑person formal interviews at our Dubai campus where you will be asked to deliver a brief presentation on a relevant topic. Following the formal interview the preferred candidate will attend a second interview with senior staff at the Dubai campus before a final offer decision is made.