Job Details
Salary: £50,000 - £57,000 per annum
Employment type: Permanent
Hours per week: 37
Reporting into: Head of Operational Research
Department: Analysis, Insights and Performance
Working Location
This hybrid role requires travel to one of the following locations at least once a month:
* Coventry head office
* Birmingham campus
* Leeds campus
* Manchester campus
* Nottingham
* Newcastle
* London area (Tower Hill, Holborn & Ealing)
About Arden University
We are an aspirational, multi‑award‑winning university committed to delivering rapid growth and disrupting the higher education sector through innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first‑choice university for career‑focused lifelong learners worldwide.
Department Overview
The Analysis, Insights & Performance department drives data‑driven decisions by providing insights, monitoring performance and promoting innovation, supporting student outcomes and continuous improvement.
Opportunity
As Strategic Insight & Evaluation Manager you will shape how data and insight inform decision‑making across the institution. Working closely with senior leadership, you will lead the development of high‑quality actionable insight that supports governance, performance management and long‑term planning.
Key responsibilities include:
* Delivering a clear and structured reporting suite aligned to the University’s strategic priorities.
* Leading the student survey agenda to embed the student voice into institutional insight.
* Using data to identify trends, risks and opportunities across the organisation.
* Providing expert analysis, challenge and evidence‑based recommendations to drive continuous improvement and informed decision‑making.
About You
Experienced insight and evaluation professional with a strong track record of turning complex data into clear, strategic insight. You are comfortable engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, balancing multiple priorities and delivering impactful, evidence‑based recommendations.
Essential Skills / Experience
* Degree or significant equivalent professional experience in insight, evaluation or analytics roles.
* Advanced analytical and digital capability, including Microsoft 365 and data visualisation tools such as Power BI.
* Strong expertise in research design and evaluation methodologies (quantitative, qualitative and mixed‑method).
* Proven ability to translate complex data into clear, executive‑level insight and strategic recommendations.
* Experience presenting to and influencing stakeholders and executive committees.
* Ability to synthesise cross‑functional data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
* Excellent stakeholder management skills and ability to build credibility and collaborate effectively across teams.
* Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement and manage competing priorities.
* Experience delivering large‑scale, organisation‑wide insight or evaluation projects.
Desirable Skills
* Experience within Higher Education or a similarly regulated environment.
* Exposure to executive‑level committees, including presenting or supporting senior decision‑making forums.
* Experience developing or implementing intervention tracking and evaluation frameworks.
* Knowledge of student lifecycle metrics and sector frameworks (e.g. NSS, OfS, TEF).
* Strong understanding of systems and services within an insight, research or analytics function.
* Awareness of current and emerging trends within the Higher Education sector.
* Broad understanding of the priorities, challenges and future direction of the sector.
Benefits
* 30 days holiday + bank holidays and a Christmas closure.
* Generous Aviva pension plan with company contributions starting from 7%.
* SimplyHealth plan option.
* Private Medical Insurance coverage for eligible roles.
* Access to Perkbox benefits.
* Free study of any Arden course, with discount for family and friends.
* Other excellent benefits.
* ‘Golden Ticket’ to gift a free Arden education to anyone in your life.
Core Values
Our values—Stand out, Progressive, Accessible, Resourceful, Kindness—reflect who we are and who we seek in your future team member.
Closing Date
Thursday 28th May (Midnight)
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or for business needs.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Arden University is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role.
By indicating your eligibility under this scheme through the application form you consent to sharing this information with the hiring team.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer we celebrate diversity and are committed to a non‑discriminatory recruitment and selection process.
Legal Notice
Arden University is a disability confident employer. If you have a disability as defined by the Disability Equality Act 2010, you may be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria for the role. If you wish to be considered under this scheme, you can indicate via the application form below. For more details on what qualifies as a disability under the Disability Equality Act 2010, refer to the guidance here.
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