Data Engineer

Reports to: Lead Data Engineer

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm)

Closing date: 08/03/2024 at 10am

Interviews: w/c 18/03/2024 (subject to passing an online task)

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

Ark Schools prides itself on having a sector-leading approach to information systems and data analysis.  With ambitious plans to embed advanced analytical practices, we are looking for a Data Engineer to help us maintain, develop, and optimise our data architecture, pipeline and flows so that they continue to support the network’s analytics and reporting needs.  This is a fantastic opportunity if you would like to:

• Be pivotal in supporting Ark to migrate to the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, and advanced analytical practices
• Join an ambitious team with broad interests in data
• Support an organisation that has strong social purpose

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, build and test data systems and pipelines with our chosen ETL tooling to Ark business requirements
• Perform regular and ad-hoc configuration and optimisation of the data platform
• Support the creation and maintenance of the data dictionary and business data model
• Ensure the security and resilience of Ark Schools data platform
• Build and maintain tests of our data to ensure its quality and integrity
• Work with colleagues with responsibility for data governance to ensure the correct handling of Ark data
• Identify and document requirements to extend or performance tune the Ark data platform
• Contract with stakeholders to agree deliverables, resourcing (inc. spend), and timelines
• Work with colleagues in the Insight team to understand structural database requirements

Key Requirements:

• Working knowledge of relational database systems
• Working knowledge of SQL and procedural scripting
• Understanding of requirements for data storage under DPA and GDPR
• Experience of writing technical documents and release notes
• Experience of ETL and replication technologies
• Experience with data consumption tooling (Tableau/PowerBI/Alteryx)
• Working knowledge of application development environments
• Knowledge of school MIS and other systems
• Able to communicate to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Able to prioritise workloads to reflect business priorities
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both written and oral
• Output driven, with a focus on outcomes and fulfilling requirements

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 8^th March 2024 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.