Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills & Employment and Health, Children & Young Londoners.

About the team

The Skills & Employment Unit is responsible for overseeing adult skills delivery in London following delegation of the Adult Skills Fund from the DfE to the Greater London Authority in 2019 and the introduction of Skills Bootcamps in 2022.

The Skills & Employment Unit’s Funding Policy & Systems Team is responsible for data collection and processing related to London’s adult education and skills programmes and produces a range of data products to support delivery of the Mayor’s priorities in this area.

About the role

Sitting in the wider Funding Policy & Systems Team, the role will lead and support a small team of data analysts to deliver software and data systems to manage our adult skills programmes.

Working mainly in PostgreSQL and Python, alongside Microsoft Office Suite and PowerBI, the role will involve implementing change controls through updated code, using our tools to produce new reports, investigation and implementation of new technologies, designing and implementing quality assurance tests, reviewing the work of colleagues and helping with training.

This is a hybrid working opportunity. The team is based at 169 Union Street, SE1 0LL.

What your day will look like:

• Support the team to deliver software and data systems to collect, store and process programme data and to deliver services and data products required to manage skills programmes and pay providers.
• Design new and adapt existing data solutions to meet programme needs.
• Implement a robust approach to testing and quality assurance for all software changes prior to release.
• Investigate data processing requirements for new programmes and data collections.
• Review workflows and adjust priorities to ensure deadlines are met.

Provide analysis and data processing required to operate key business processes or develop policy, including support for the ASF and Bootcamps data publication, London Learner Survey and evaluation programmes and wider skills programmes as necessary; and provide ad hoc analysis, incorporating statistically robust methodology as needed, working with policy and delivery colleagues, to help ensure ASF funding can best support the Mayor’s priorities.

Skills, knowledge and experience:

• To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
• Ability to read and understand python and SQL code (or similar languages with demonstrated ability to learn new programming languages), and set up and support others to use the appropriate environments and tools.
• Ability to use version control tools such as GitHub to review code and provide feedback to developers.
• Strong proficiency in analysing data and building reproducible processes using code.
• Ability to review code and provide feedback in a constructive manner.
• Ability to explain technical issues to non-technical colleagues.
• A knowledge of adult skills programmes and the national data collection system and key dataset, the Individualised Learner Record, or demonstrated ability to learn new programmes and datasets quickly.

Behavioural competencies

Research and analysis is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Expands networks to gain new information sources for research and policy development
• Identifies and implements methods to ensure intelligence is of a high quality
• Encourages others to analyse data from different angles, using multiple perspectives to identify connections and new insights
• Tailors research investment in line with likely impact for Londoners and policy priorities
• Retains a bigger picture view, ensuring research recommendations are appropriate and practical for the GLA and its stakeholders

Problem solving is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

Strategic thinking is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance:

• Translates GLA vision and strategy into practical and tangible plans for own team or delivery partners
• Consistently takes account of the wider implications of team’s actions for the GLA
• Encourages self and others to think about organisation’s long term potential
• Informs strategy development by identifying gaps in current delivery or evidence
• Takes account of a wide range of public and partner needs to inform team’s work

Communicating and influencing is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Stakeholder focus is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Seeks to understand requirements, gathering extra information when needs are not clear
• Presents the GLA positively by interacting effectively with stakeholders
• Delivers a timely and accurate service
• Understands the differing needs of stakeholders and adapts own service accordingly
• Seeks and uses feedback from a variety of sources to improve the GLA’s service to Londoners

Planning and organising is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance:

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words.
• Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., "CV - applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Phil Vabulas would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at .

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the who support the GLA with recruitment.

Is this role eligible for sponsorship?

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates . click apply for full job details