ITS School Data Systems Specialist

Girls' Day School Trust (GDST); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Professional development

Training grants

Fee discount for GDST schools

Pension

Job summary

Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is seeking an ITS School Data Systems Specialist to support SIMS and school data systems across our network. You will help ensure accurate data, secure governance and effective reporting for decision-making across the Trust.

You will develop data integrations, dashboards and training, working with colleagues in ITS, Data, HR, Finance, Legal, and external suppliers to promote high-quality user support and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of SIMS and strong understanding of school operational data systems.
• Experience of working with data sets, data analysis and/or business intelligence tools in a professional setting.
• Good understanding of how Excel and Power BI can support reporting, analysis and decision-making in an educational setting.
• Experience supporting operational systems in a service-focused environment, ideally within schools or education.
• Ability to support system improvements, integrations, reporting processes and data flows in a complex organisation.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective relationships with school colleagues, Trust Office teams and external suppliers.
• Experience of CRM systems, online admissions systems or wider reporting infrastructure would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and practical support on SIMS and school data systems across the GDST.
• Develop integrations, data flows, reports and dashboards.
• Build user confidence through training, guidance and user groups.
• Collaborate across ITS, Data, HR, Finance, Legal, Innovation and Learning, and with external suppliers.

Skills

SIMS knowledge

Data analysis

Power BI

Excel

Interpersonal skills

CRM systems

Stakeholder communication

Tools

SIMS

Excel

Power BI

CRM systems

Job description

We are pioneers in girls’ education, united by a shared purpose: to help girls learn without limits. As part of our ITS team, you will help ensure colleagues across our family of schools can rely on accurate, well-managed data and effective systems to support confident decision-making and excellent education.

What you’ll be doing

As ITS School Data Systems Specialist, you will play an important role in supporting the school operational data systems used across the GDST. Working with platforms including SIMS and related systems, you will provide specialist advice, guidance and practical support to schools and Trust Office colleagues, helping to ensure our data is accurate, secure, well governed and used effectively.

You will act as a subject matter expert for SIMS and wider school data systems, supporting more complex queries, improving processes and contributing to the development of integrations, data flows, reports and dashboards. You will also help build user confidence through training, guidance and user groups, working collaboratively with colleagues across schools, ITS, Data, HR, Finance, Legal, Innovation and Learning, and external suppliers to support consistent and effective practice across the Trust.

What skills and experience you’ll bring to the role

You will bring strong technical knowledge, sound judgement and a collaborative, service-focused approach. You will be confident working with school data systems and able to communicate clearly with colleagues who have different levels of technical knowledge and experience.

You will need:

• In-depth knowledge of SIMS and strong understanding of school operational data systems.
• Experience of working with data sets, data analysis and/or business intelligence tools in a professional setting.
• A good understanding of how tools such as Excel and Power BI can be used to support reporting, analysis and decision-making in an educational setting.
• Experience supporting operational systems in a service-focused environment, ideally within schools or education.
• The ability to support system improvements, integrations, reporting processes and data flows in a complex organisation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with school colleagues, Trust Office teams and external suppliers.
• A calm, professional and solutions-focused approach, with a commitment to high-quality user support and continuous improvement.
• Experience of CRM systems, online admissions systems or wider reporting infrastructure would be advantageous.

We are open to applications from candidates based outside London. While this is a hybrid role, there may be flexibility to agree an alternative pattern of attendance at our Trust Office for the right candidate, taking account of the needs of the role and team.

Interviews will be taking place Thursday 24th September.

Who we are

The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) is the UK’s leading group of 23 independent girls’ schools and two academies across England and Wales. We educate around 19,000 students and employ 4,000 staff, all united for a shared purpose: to help girls learn without limits, so they can go on to lead lives without limits and make the world a better place for us all.

The organisation’s values serve as guiding principles:

• We put girls first
• We think and act fearlessly
• We embrace a forward-thinking mindset that shapes the educational offer for girls
• We are a family of schools
• We provide careers that are fulfilling and purposeful for our staff

As recognised global leaders in girls’ education, we combine over 150 years of expertise and experience with a progressive and pace-setting vision for the future. We are dedicated to giving our students the tools to thrive, offering them access to innovative educational practices, excellent facilities, and an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued.

Why join us

As part of the GDST, the UK's leading network of independent girls' schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Generous pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

There are many other good reasons to work with us. Each of our schools and our Trust Office has its own sense of community, and you’ll be part of it. You’ll be in the company of some of the best and brightest people in independent education. Most importantly, no matter what your role, you’ll be playing a major part in the highly regarded education we give our girls.

Our commitment

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change. We want every colleague to feel valued, respected and supported, and we actively welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.