About the role
We’re looking for an experienced Insight Lead to help us unlock the power of data and evidence to drive better decision-making across our organisation.
This is a varied, hands-on role where you’ll lead our insight and business intelligence function, delivering high-quality analysis, reporting and research that informs strategy and improves outcomes. Working as part of our small, collaborative Data & Insight Team, you’ll take ownership of the end-to-end insight process – from understanding business needs and sourcing and preparing data, through to analysis, visualisation and presenting actionable recommendations to stakeholders.
You’ll work closely with colleagues across Fundraising, Marketing and Communications, as well as teams including Finance, Programmes, Impact and Digital, building strong relationships and helping colleagues use data with confidence. Alongside leading insight projects, you’ll contribute to the ongoing development of our data warehouse, business intelligence capabilities and data processes, while supporting wider activities such as CRM, marketing data selections and data governance.
Working with the Head of Data, Insight and Supporter Services, you’ll help shape the future direction of insight and business intelligence, championing the use of data across the organisation and identifying opportunities to make the most of emerging technologies, including AI.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys combining technical expertise with collaboration, communication and problem-solving in a role where no two days are the same.
About you
You’ll be an experienced insight or analytics professional with a passion for turning data into meaningful, actionable insight. You’re equally comfortable working hands-on with data as you are partnering with stakeholders, understanding their challenges and helping them make evidence-based decisions.
You’ll bring strong technical expertise in analytical tools and modern data platforms, including SQL and business intelligence tools such as Power BI, alongside experience of developing datasets, reporting solutions and insight projects from concept through to delivery. You’ll also have a solid understanding of data warehousing principles, statistical analysis and data governance.
You’ll be an excellent communicator who can explain complex technical concepts in a clear and engaging way to non-technical audiences, building trusted relationships across the organisation. You’re naturally curious, enjoy asking questions and challenging assumptions, and are motivated by finding better ways of working.
We’re particularly interested in candidates with experience in the charity or non-profit sector, especially those who have worked with fundraising data and understand the regulatory environment, including GDPR, PECR and fundraising compliance.
Above all, you’ll be collaborative, organised and adaptable, with the attention to detail and enthusiasm needed to thrive in a busy team where you’ll have the opportunity to make a genuine organisational impact.
Why join us?
The opportunity to work for an organisation that is taking practical action against poverty and the environmental crises to start the big changes the world urgently needs. A friendly and supportive culture, working with values driven and highly engaged colleagues, work life balance and flexible working – these are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.
In the UK, our open plan offices are in the centre of Rugby and near to Rugby train station but we also offer free parking.
In addition, we offer the following benefits:
- Full time roles are contracted at 35 hours per week.
- It is our normal practice to operate a hybrid working policy, where flexible working hours are enabled as well as remote working.
- 27 days holiday rising with continuous service, in addition to public holidays
- Pension scheme – employer contributes 10.5% of salary and the employee contributes 5%.
- Enhanced family friendly policies, including maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental leave.
- Life assurance (3 x annual salary).
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme – access to our Wellbeing platform
- Learning and Development Opportunities
- Sit / Stand desks available in our modern offices.
About us
We are a global community taking practical action against poverty and today’s environmental crises. Across Africa, Asia and Latin America we partner with people experiencing these challenges, especially those who are unheard and excluded. Our approach is to identify what works on a local level, then adapt and amplify it across different regions, countries and continents. All of Practical Action’s work is focused on two connected areas for action – livelihoods and climate resilience – and we’re working to deliver three big, global changes:
Big change on food – to sustain people and planet
Big change on energy – clean and accessible for everyone
Big change on climate risk – safer lives, stronger livelihoods
Our Values
We are People Centred, striving to create an equal, fair, accessible, dignified and respectful environment for everyone we work with – from colleagues and communities, to supporters, suppliers and stakeholders.
We are Impact Driven, existing to make a positive difference, so everything we do is driven by our energy to create lasting value for the people and communities we serve.
We are Transparent and trustworthy, acting with integrity, honesty, and strong ethics, building mutual trust with everyone we work with to achieve the highest standards.
We are Innovative, and champion learning, curiosity and fresh thinking, bringing local knowledge to create global impact.
We are Resilient changemakers working for sustainable development, meeting challenges head-on, and evolving through the lessons learnt.
Additional information
We treat all applications for employment fairly regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, caste, tribe, belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, caring responsibilities, sexual orientation, or disability.
Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.
To ensure that Practical Action meets its obligations of safer recruitment, appointment to posts within Practical Action will be subject to a satisfactory criminal check. Criminal checks will be conducted for all roles.
The successful applicant must already have the right to both live and work in the country that they are applying for and should be willing and able to travel.
Salary Range: £45,000
How to apply:
If you want to work for an organisation with significant people ambitions, then we would like to hear from you.
Please submit a copy of your CV / duly filled standard application form and a supporting statement that describes your suitability for the role and must include answers to the following questions, by email to [email protected]
- Please provide an example of a time when you have delivered an insight project within the charity sector, ideally within fundraising. Please cover the scoping, design, data analysis, presentation of results and conclusions drawn. What changed as a result of the work?
- A key part of the role will be building relationships with stakeholders across the Organisation, across departments, geographies and levels of seniority. How do you go about building relationships across teams? What is important to consider?
- Please provide examples to illustrate your experience in detailed data work, including building and maintaining datasets, pipelines and models, cleaning and preparation of data, analysing data using statistical techniques, and visualising data to present findings. What systems, tools and approaches have you experience using?
Closing date for applications: Friday 31st July
We are aiming to interview shortlisted candidates in the week commencing 10th August
RECRUITMENT PROCESS PRIVACY NOTICE
Information you need to know:
Your CV/resume, covering letter or supporting statement submitted in support of an application for any position with the Practical Action Group will be used during the recruitment process to shortlist suitable candidates who will be invited to interview.
Practical Action collects a range of information about you. This includes:
- Your name, address and contact details, including email address and telephone number;
- Details of your qualifications, skills, experience and employment history;
- Information about your current level of remuneration, including benefit entitlements;
- Bank details at on-boarding stage to set you up for pay if you are successful in your job application;
- Whether or not you have a disability for which Practical Action needs to make reasonableadjustments during the recruitment process;
- Information about your entitlement to work in the UK;
We sometimes use third party job application platforms to publish and receive applications for roles at the Practical Action Group. When you apply through these portals the organisation’s privacy information will be available to you. We only work alongside other organisations in this way under a contract and if we are satisfied that they will keep your information safely and securely using it only in the same legal ways that we would.
During the recruitment process and with your permission, informing you that we are doing so, Practical Action may also collect personal data about you from third parties, such as references supplied by former employers. We may also perform checks on your identity to establish your right to work in the UK where applicable. We are also obliged to seek information about criminal convictions and offences in meeting our obligations and exercising specific rights in relation to employment.
If your application is successful, personal data gathered during the recruitment process will form part of your electronic personnel file and retained during your employment and afterwards in line with legislation including the storage of personal records and to comply with the requirements of any statutory bodies.
The legal basis for processing personal data is either contract and/or legal obligation when applying for roles and the employment contract between Practical Action and you if you are successful. If we are required by law to share your information, (e.g., in response to a warrant or court order), we will do so.
Practical Action may process information about whether or not applicants have a disability in order to make reasonable adjustments. This is to carry out its obligations and exercise specific rights in relation to employment.
Practical Action is obliged to seek information about criminal convictions and offences. Where Practical Action seeks this information, it does so because it is necessary for it to carry out its obligations and exercise specific rights in relation to employment.
We automatically delete the personal information of unsuccessful applications 12 months after the application process ends, unless a candidate requests that we keep their details for longer. Statistical information like ethnicity, sexuality and disability may be kept ensuring that our recruitment processes are inclusive and not discriminatory, but this information is completely anonymised