Data Solutions Project Manager
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000
Benefits: 25 days holiday, company pension scheme, sage benefits, free school lunches in term time, free onsite parking
Disclaimer: Applicant must have the right to work in the UK, no sponsorship available.
Purpose:
To serve as the School Trust's primary architect for data strategy and systems integration. The Data Solutions Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the school's digital infrastructure is not just functional, but intelligent, interconnected, and secure.
This role sits at the intersection of technical engineering and project management. acting as the pivotal link within the School's IT Services team, tasked with transforming complex information into accessible tools for staff. By combining database administration, custom development, and governance, the role will eliminate inefficiencies and ensure that decision-making and operations across the School Trust are grounded in accurate data intelligence.
The role reports directly to the IT Trust Manager and operates as a core technical specialist within the wider IT Services team (alongside the Network Manager and Technical Engineers).
Crucially, the role requires a tight strategic alliance with the School's Director of Innovation & Development to prioritise projects. along with the maintenance of regular dialogue with the CFOO and key operational heads (Admissions, Exams, Pastoral) to understand their evolving requirements.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Database Management
To hold principal responsibility for the configuration, health, and output of the Trust's MIS.
To ensure the system functions as the authoritative backbone of the Trust's operations, maintaining fidelity of information.
To oversee and improve the flow of information between core databases and peripheral platforms (including My School Portal, SOCS, Reach Boarding, and Vectare). The role holder will diagnose and resolve synchronisation errors to ensure a seamless user experience.
Data Analysis
To support staff to interpret data effectively by transforming complex data across the School's systems into actionable insights in the form of summaries, dashboards and visualisations.
To respond to requests for information from the School's Senior Leadership Team, ensuring data is extracted, cleaned, and presented in a format suitable for strategic review or reporting
Strategic Project Management
To take ownership of data projects from inception to completion. Identifying the specific needs of a project, defining the deliverables, and carving out a strategic plan for implementation.
To adopt an evidence-based approach to innovation. Designing and running pilot schemes for new systems or workflows, rigorously evaluating their success against agreed KPIs before authorising wider rollout.
To ensure that technical solutions are sustainable. Managing the formal handover of completed projects to operational staff, providing the necessary documentation and training to ensure the solution functions independently of your direct management.
Programming
To deploy bespoke code to extend the functionality of off-the-shelf software and School database systems.
To identify manual, repetitive administrative tasks and engineer automated replacements. This involves building API connectors that allow systems to trigger actions in one another without human intervention.
To leverage the Google Workspace ecosystem and Gemini AI to build intelligent agents and scripts that augment human capability.
Data Protection
To act as the primary subject matter expert and technical advisor to the School CFOO (the Statutory DPO). Handling the day-to-day management of data protection, conducting the necessary research and the operational groundwork to ensure the Trust meets its obligations.
To design and implement the technical systems that enable the CFOO to maintain oversight. This includes building registers for data processing activities and robust workflows for reporting data breaches.
To manage the operational delivery of SARs. Design and execute a modern, technology-led workflow to search, collate, and redact information efficiently, presenting the final package to the CFOO for sign-off.
To lead the technical side of compliance by conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for new projects. Ensuring that privacy controls are "hard-coded" into systems before they are deployed.
Maintaining the Staff Intranet
To manage the lifecycle and technical structure of the School Staff Intranet site, ensuring this platform remains the primary, up-to-date repository for operational knowledge and internal communication.
To work with departments across the Trust to ensure their intranet presence is current, engaging, and functionally useful for staff.
Training and Professional Development
To train and support staff in the use of the Trust systems including the production of training and support materials as necessary
Primary Interfaces
To collaborate daily with the Network Manager and Technical Engineers to ensure server stability and security protocols support your data projects.
To partner with the Director of Innovation and Development to roll out new digital initiatives and training, ensuring staff are confident in using the tools built.
To report regularly to the CFOO on the status of data compliance, SARs, and data risk assessments.
Professional Development
To take responsibility for improving your own professional practice by engaging in independent professional development; the School's formal professional development programme; and any appraisal processes.
To actively pursue expertise in Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), identifying opportunities to apply these technologies to school administration.
To undertake training and research as required to acquire knowledge and skills that allow you to keep abreast of innovations, emerging technologies and the practice of other organisations.
To maintain a current understanding of data privacy laws and cybersecurity trends.
Values
To promote the Trust's mission and values, within the School and beyond
To promote the inclusive ethos of the school by cultivating a culture of equality, diversity and kindness
Safeguarding
The School complies fully with the DfE Guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The jobholder is expected to share this commitment and comply with all associated internal policies and procedures.
Other Responsibilities
To undertake such other reasonable duties from time to time as the school may reasonably require.
Employee Benefits
Free onsite parking
Free lunch during term time
Free gym membership (after probationary period)
Sage employee benefits
Death in Service benefit
Company Pension scheme
25 days annual leave (not including Bank Holidays) increasing with length of service
Opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects
Skills & Requirements:
Essential:
Deep technical understanding of Google Workspace administration, iSAMS (or equivalent enterprise MIS), and SQL Queries.
Ability to translate datasets into clear, actionable visual reports
Demonstrated success in managing technical projects from conception to deployment.
Experience managing the operational aspects of GDPR compliance (SARs, DPIAs) and advising senior leadership.
Experience curating and managing a corporate intranet or knowledge base.
Ability to explain complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders without jargon.
Able to both work independently using your own initiative and to collaborate as part of a team
Excellent creative problem-solving skills
Be a professional learner who acquires knowledge and skills that allow you to keep abreast of innovations, emerging technologies and the practice of other organisations.
Excellent attendance and punctuality record
High levels of discretion and integrity when handling confidential data
Desirable:
Proven capability in scripting and coding to automate business logic.
Experience configuring API endpoints to link disparate software environments.
Relevant degree or professional certification in IT/Data Management.
Proactive approach to identifying systemic weaknesses and building technical remedies independently.
Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and data security.
All posts are subject to the receipt of a satisfactory DBS certificate, references, medical checks, proof of identity and copies of qualifications, where a requirement of the role.
Additional Information:
- 40 hours a week