Analytics Specialist

The Christie International; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking a senior analyst to lead analytical projects within the Clinical Outcomes and Data Unit. You will design dashboards, apply advanced analytics, and provide reporting that informs clinical and operational decisions.

You will manage analytics requests, prioritise work, ensure data quality, present findings to diverse audiences, and collaborate with data engineering to improve data repositories and governance.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in informatics/science/mathematics.
• Experience with NHS data and analytics.
• Strong communication and project leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead on key improvement projects and manage the analytics requests service.
• Design Tableau dashboards and statistical reports for diverse audiences.
• Ensure data quality and provide analytical insight to aid decision making.
• Collaborate with data engineering to improve data repositories and governance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Project prioritisation

Education

Postgraduate degree in informatics/science/mathematics

Tools

Tableau

PowerBI

SQL Server

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to become a senior analyst within the Clinical Outcomes and Data Unit at The Christie – one of Europe’s leading cancer hospitals. The unit’s members include analytics, statistics, information governance, audit, and research; working together to use real-world data to improve cancer care. As an analytics specialist you will be the assigned analyst to key projects across the organisation, all working to improve the experience and outcomes of our patients. You will work closely with colleagues to identify the best way of providing insight into clinical and operational data.

In addition to leading on key projects, the post holder will work with other analytics specialists to manage requests for support made to the unit. You should be confident in managing workflows across a team, with strong skills in communication, negotiating and prioritising demands.

The unit strongly encourages the use of innovative approaches. You will be asked to lead on elements of our strategy involving the use of more advanced analytics methodologies and be encouraged to develop your own ideas for improvement.

When completing your application please ensure you have read the attached job description. Clearly evidence how you meet the essential and desirable criteria that are indicated as being assessed via the application form – short listing will be based on this evidence and you will also be asked about these should you be shortlisted for interview.

Main duties of the job

• Be the lead analyst for key improvement projects across the organisations. Provide expert advice on the best data and methodologies to use to enable high quality reporting on clinical and operational outcomes.
• Contribute to the day to day running of the Analytics function:
  • Undertake complex information requests and ad-hoc reporting.
  • Lead on analytics projects around service and outcomes improvements,
  • Help to manage the Analytics requests process.
  • Manage own time - prioritising and planning own work schedules.
• Provide expertise around clinical data quality assurance, taking a lead on the development of tools for monitoring and reporting of data quality.
• Designing and producing analytical and statistical outputs, incorporating data science tools and techniques, where appropriate.
• Presenting findings and analytical products to a wide range of audiences.
• Identifying the most applicable techniques and variables to meet the project’s needs, investigating conflicting information.
• Completing project documentation and delivering projects to agreed specifications.
• Any other duties commensurate with the post and grade that may be requested by Head of Analytics or ADSS Leads

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder will:

• Manage their own day-to-day activities including:
  • Working as part of a team of analytics specialists to manage the requests service. Triaging, prioritising, and delegating requests.
  • Be the lead analyst assigned to support key improvement groups across the trust. Providing analytical insight and guidance to aid complex decision making.
  • Designing and producing Tableau dashboards and statistical reports, incorporating data science tools and techniques, where appropriate.
  • Presenting findings and analytical products to a wide range of audiences (technical and non-technical), including methodologies and recommendations where appropriate
  • Identifying the most applicable techniques and variables to meet the customer’s needs, investigating conflicting information.
  • Investigating outliers and data quality issues. Generate data quality reports and advise on the implications of poor data quality.
  • Completing project documentation and delivering projects to agreed specifications.
• Recommend and lead on delivering improvements in reporting, software, or other systems. Particularly where the improvements contribute to the performance of the system or accuracy of data.
• Be an expert in the trusts reporting requirements and support this function. Identify and lead on opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy of reporting.
• Lead on key projects with data engineering to improve the data repository, escalating where changes may impact on analyst products.
• Post holder must be adept at researching and understanding complex, multi-departmental clinical data flows.
• Test own work and peer-review team member’s work.
• Prioritise and plan own work appropriately.
• Explore and stay up to date with various analytics techniques, advising on those optimal for the purpose and to improve own work area.
• Contact customers and digital colleagues, dealing with issues associated with access to data. Deliver bad news to customers, when necessary, such as delays in provision of data; suggest alternative approaches; provide support to reduce data quality issues. Be point of escalation for concerns.
• Act as expert at understanding problems and utilising various software to provide data insight tools using appropriate analytical techniques.
• With exceptional attention to detail, help ensure high quality and efficient new processes are implemented to help improve CODU functions.
• Work closely with other teams in digital services (software development, data engineering) to understand cross over in work streams, and potential implications.
• Be continuously aware of changes to working practices for colleagues across the trust. Ensure that products are amended to reflect these changes and meet expectations of stakeholders.
• The post holder will be responsible for the direct day to day line management of analysts and senior analysts.
• Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Able to demonstrate ongoing commitment to own personal development.
• Post graduate level of education in an informatics / scientific / mathematical discipline Evidence of formal statistical training
• PRINCE 2 Foundation or equivalent project management

Experience

• Extensive experience in an analytics role involving analysis and visualisation of complex data to inform decision making.
• Extensive experience of querying complex databases. Preferable with SQL server management studio.
• Experience of utilising appropriate statistical techniques to extract insights.
• Experience of managing a data and analytics service to requestors. Including supporting staff and their associated workload
• Experience of using programming languages to solve problems using data e.g. Python, R.
• Experience of using data visualisation software e.g. tableau, PowerBI, shiny.
• Experience of data quality / data integrity monitoring and improvement
• Experience of successfully managing several equally important tasks.
• Experience of a lead role within a project.
• NHS experience involving close working relationships with senior managers, clinicians and multidisciplinary environment

Skills

• Excellent communication skills – verbal, written, presentational and interpersonal.
• Able to manage workload across a team and appraise work of others.
• Advanced analytical skills in data extraction, data analysis and report writing.
• Ability to communicate complex system and technical issues to a variety of staff at different levels within the organisation.
• Ability to think creatively and problem solve.
• Able to negotiate and then work to deadlines, prioritising and managing workload in a busy and changing environment.
• Ability to influence working practices to improve efficiency and quality of outputs.

Knowledge

• Relational Databases
• Knowledge of information governance policies and ensuring these are adhered to.
• In depth knowledge of NHS data definitions

Values

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

Other

• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development
• Hybrid/Office based role – post holder will be expected to be on site 2 days a week.
• Maintain confidentiality relating to patient data and sensitive information relating to the business of the Trust
• Ability to work flexibly to meet key deadlines and core service coverage.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
Application Information - If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

If You’re Offered the Role - you will be agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Additional Information - We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect.The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.