Data Operations Specialist

Salary: £32,000 - 72,000 per year

Requirements:

• Educated to a good numerate degree level, or equivalent experience.
• Professional practitioner with knowledge and expertise in data operations, structured data processing, and data-driven services.
• Experience participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice and develop strong, productive working relationships.
• Experience delivering and developing data extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) projects to manipulate large, complex numerical datasets.
• Experience providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues.
• Experience implementing policies and procedures and supporting service improvements.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills, including the ability to develop effective working relationships internally and externally.
• Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps, including Linux shell scripting, a modern programming language such as Python, relational databases/SQL, and manipulating data in spreadsheets.
• Commitment to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition.
• Professional knowledge and experience of compliance and regulation, especially an understanding of data protection and data security.
• Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions.
• Ability to play a key role in the delivery of data processing and dissemination projects.
• Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion, and our values.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance relating to your professional area of expertise in line with our policies, regulations, and values.
• Operate as a point of expertise for colleagues and other stakeholders, helping to interpret and resolve complex data processing, data handling, and technical support problems.
• Manage the delivery of Nomis data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) pipelines, including modifying data processing routines, to a high standard.
• Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from colleagues, data suppliers, and Nomis customers, and contribute to ideas and service improvements.
• Provide specialist knowledge and support when interpreting and analysing complex data and information sources.
• Look for ways to improve processes, techniques, and outputs/results, including running and modifying quality assurance scripts, across all areas of your work.
• Plan, manage, and deliver assigned projects and activities using appropriate techniques, tools, and testing procedures to deliver agreed objectives and solve problems.
• Schedule and monitor data processing (ETL), dataset release, and related update activities.
• Seek feedback from colleagues, data suppliers, and Nomis customers so the service is planned and adapted to meet customer expectations and future needs.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of processing routines, checking procedures, and supporting documentation.
• Use operational expertise to lead and participate in business meetings, working groups, and sub-committees.
• Provide regular status reports on projects and ongoing work to colleagues and ONS data providers, highlighting risks and contingency plans.
• Interact and collaborate with other specialists across our University and in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to ensure the integrity and delivery of consistent services, including the use of modern programming practices, technical methods, and standards.
• Promote and encourage a collaborative approach to problem solving and project delivery to motivate, mentor, and coach less experienced project staff.
• Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks, using your networks to increase your knowledge and skills and share information with peers.
• Liaise with internal teams, ONS data suppliers, and Nomis customers where required.
• Assist with responses to customer support messages, particularly where these relate to datasets, data updates, and related technical duties.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties.

Technologies:

• ETL
• Support
• LESS
• Linux
• Python
• SQL
• Security
• Asterisk

More:

We are Durham University, a globally outstanding centre of educational excellence with a collegiate community in a unique and historic setting. We are hiring for our Nomis team, which delivers a national statistical dissemination service on behalf of the Office for National Statistics, supporting major official statistics used widely across the UK. This fixed-term post is for nineteen months and offers the opportunity to work with complex statistical data in a live production environment, contributing to a nationally important service with real public impact. The role is based in the Geography department and offers flexible working across remote and on-site arrangements. We also offer a competitive salary alongside extensive benefits, including 30 days annual leave plus public holidays and customary days, a pension scheme, development opportunities, health and wellbeing support, family-friendly policies, volunteering opportunities, discount schemes, and support with relocation and visa-related practicalities.

last updated 36 week of 2026