Senior Analyst

Salary: £38,510 - £41,177 a yearHours: 37 hours per weekContract Type: PermanentLocation: The Council House/HybridDBS Requirement: NoClosing Date: 21st October 2026Are you an experienced analyst who enjoys turning complex data into clear, meaningful insight?

We are looking for a Senior Analyst to join Derby City Council’s SEND Sufficiency, Partnership and Compliance service. This is an opportunity to use your analytical and business intelligence skills to support decision-making across SEND, inclusion and related services, helping managers and senior leaders understand performance, identify trends and use evidence to improve services for children, young people and families.
You will work with a wide range of data, including SEND, education, inclusion, children’s and adult social care and health information. You will extract and transform data, undertake analysis, produce statutory returns and develop reports and dashboards that turn complex information into something accessible and useful.
You’ll also have the opportunity to work directly with managers and senior colleagues, helping them develop their understanding of data and how it can be used to inform service planning, sufficiency, commissioning and improvement. All of this during the incredibly exciting SEND Reforms.

The Opportunity
In the role of Senior Analyst , here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:
- Provide clear, accessible analysis and insight across SEND, inclusion and related services.
- Work with managers and senior leaders to understand performance, activity, trends and emerging issues.
- Extract, transform and analyse complex datasets from a range of systems and sources.
- Develop and maintain reports and interactive dashboards using Power BI and other business intelligence tools.
Use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to extract and interrogate data.
Complete important statutory data returns, including the SEND2 return, - Alternative Provision Census and Client Level Data returns.
Support improvements in data quality by identifying issues, investigating their causes and providing information to support corrective action.
Bring together data from SEND, education, children’s and adult social care and health to provide meaningful insight across services.
Produce concise reports, presentations and briefings for different audiences, including senior managers.
Support strategic projects and programmes through robust analysis and evidence.
Deputise for senior colleagues, including the Commissioning and Finance Manager, Statutory SEND Service Manager and Designated Social Care Manager, as appropriate.

This is a varied role where your analysis will have a direct connection to how services are understood, planned and improved.
About You
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have...

• Experience working in a management information, performance or business intelligence environment, ideally within local government or another complex public service organisation.
Experience producing performance and management information for managers and senior leaders.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify, quality assure, interpret and explain complex data.
Experience extracting and manipulating data from a range of databases and information systems.
Experience developing reports and dashboards using Power BI or an equivalent business intelligence tool.
Knowledge of statistical techniques and their practical application.
The ability to produce clear, concise reports and presentations for a range of audiences.
Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately to challenging deadlines.
The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues who have different levels of data and analytical expertise.

Experience of working with SEND, education, children’s social care, adult social care, health, neighbourhoods or housing data would be advantageous.

Most importantly, we’re looking for someone who is curious about what the data is telling us, can challenge and explore information constructively, and can translate analysis into insight that helps people make better-informed decisions.

Who We AreAt Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do. Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference. Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future. Why join Derby City Council? At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including: Financial Benefits• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle Work-Life Balance• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)• The option to purchase additional annual leave• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles• Flexible retirement options, where eligible• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities Learning and Development• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing Health and Wellbeing• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar•Free annual flu vaccinations• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training Community and Inclusion• Up to 1 hours of volunteering leave each year• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve. Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service. How to applyIf you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via theDerby City Council website. The closing date for this vacancy is specified at the top of the advert. Applications received after midnight on the closing date will not be accepted. Interview dates: TBCInterview location: The Council House Applying using your CVWe recognise that people apply for roles in different ways and want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you would prefer to apply using a CV rather than completing an application form, please complete the attached Declaration Form and send it, together with your CV, to[email removed]When applying by CV, please ensure your CV clearly dem