MEL Research
Senior Data Solutions Executive (6 month FTC)
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M·E·L Research
M·E·L Research is a social research agency, with expertise in research, evaluation and behavioural insights. With 40 years’ experience in working for the UK’s public services, we have a very strong focus on what we want to achieve as a business.
We believe that all businesses have a duty to be socially responsible to re-invest in society, be active contributors to the local community, and to minimise their environmental impacts. We push for social value – in why we work, how we work and who we work with. Click here to see our recently published Social Value report.
You can read more about what it is like to work at M·E·L Research here.
Our history and journey
Formed in 1985, M·E·L Research has grown steadily to a core in-house team of over 30 research and evaluation staff, plus many more telephone interviewers and external CAPI interviewers and support staff. We are on an exciting growth journey, expanding our research and insights capabilities, enhancing our evaluation services, and embedding our data visualisation tools alongside recognised quality accreditations.
Joining M·E·L Research means becoming part of a confident and forward-looking company, ambitious about the future and committed to broadening the expertise and solutions we offer our clients. At the heart of everything we do is our social purpose: to make a meaningful and lasting difference to society, to the communities we serve, and to our own people.
Benefits
Full details on what it is like to work for M·E·L Research can be found here.
We offer employees a wide range of generous benefits including:
- Flexible working arrangements based around the needs of the employee (such as family commitments/needs/childcare). We are a very family-orientated business and encourage flexible hours and homeworking.
- Provision of employer contributions to Royal London personal pension scheme starting from a 4% contribution and rising to 8% (subject to employee contributions that meet the auto-enrolment requirements)
- In addition, paid annual leave allowance of 33 days per annum, including bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time hours), and your birthday
- 2 paid volunteer days per year
- Life assurance policy at 3x basic annual salary
- Health cashback medical care scheme and employee benefits scheme inc. retail discounts
- Eligibility for annual company profit and performance bonus scheme dependent on company performance
- Annual pay reviews and cost-of-living pay increases (also subject to the company’s financial performance).
Job description
Post: Senior Data Solutions Executive (6 month FTC)
Job Location: Remote (with a requirement to occasionally come into the Birmingham office)
Reporting to: Data Solutions Manager
Salary Range: £29,000-£32,500 depending on experience (37.5 Hours per week) plus potential profit bonus, pension and other benefits.
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Applicants must be UK residents with the right to work in the UK
For the full job specification, please see the Senior Data Solutions Executive briefing pack.
Duties
Survey Scripting, Data Collection and Data Visualisation:
- Script, test and deploy quantitative surveys across multiple methodologies, including CAWI, CATI, CAPI, Postal and mixed-mode projects, including routing, loops, piping, quota controls, validation checks and respondent experience enhancements.
- Prepare, validate and manage client, supplier and sample contact files, including data cleansing, deduplication, variable coding and secure upload to survey platforms.
- Configure and monitor quotas, sample management rules and survey workflows to support efficient fieldwork delivery.
- Support the delivery of projects from inception through to data delivery, working closely with researchers, fieldwork teams, clients and suppliers to ensure successful project outcomes.
- Manage and schedule respondent communications, including email invitations, reminders and SMS campaigns, using approved processes and templates.
- Provide technical support to CATI and CAPI fieldwork teams during live projects, including sample management and survey administration activities.
- Maintain clear technical documentation, including survey specifications, version control records, change logs, workflow documentation and operational procedures.
- Investigate, troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with Forsta where possible, escalating complex issues appropriately and providing clear documentation of findings and resolutions.
- Support the development of interactive dashboards and data visualisations using Forsta Studio, Forsta Viz, Power BI, Tableau and other visualisation platforms to communicate research findings effectively.
Data processing and reporting:
- Support wider research and evaluation teams by preparing high-quality, analysis-ready datasets and delivering outputs to agreed specifications and timescales.
- Conduct routine data validation and quality checks, including identification of duplicates, outliers, inconsistencies, missing data patterns and fieldwork anomalies.
- Perform data cleaning, recoding, variable derivation and data transformation activities using established processes and best practice standards.
- Combine data from multiple sources when required, such as survey waves and collection modes, ensuring robust audit trails and documentation.
- Produce cross-tabulations and standard reporting outputs using agreed formats and methodologies.
- Apply statistical testing and significance measures where appropriate, ensuring outputs are accurate, clearly presented and methodologically sound.
- Generate and deliver data outputs in a variety of formats, including Excel, CSV, SPSS and dashboard-based reporting solutions.
Quality assurance:
- Ensure consistency and high standards when scripting surveys, producing outputs and supporting dashboard/reporting processes
- Complete post-scripting quality assurance tests both internally within the Data Solutions Team and support handover testing with the research team, including logic tests, soft launch checks, mode checks and respondent journey checks.
- Follow agreed QA checklists and record outcomes clearly, including any issues identified, actions taken and sign-off points.
- Work in line with M·E·L Research’s quality, information security and research management standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 20252 and ISO 27001 requirements, where relevant to the role.
- Handle data securely, following UK GDPR, Data Protection Act requirements, ISO 27001 requirements and internal policies (including careful management of contact files and personal data).
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Survey technology, automation and continuous improvement:
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency which could be using automation, workflow redesign and enhanced use of platform functionality.
- Work with the Data Solutions Manager and wider teams to identify and implement innovative technical solutions that improve quality, efficiency and scalability.
- Share knowledge, promote best practice and support skills development across the Data Solutions team and wider business.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and technical excellence.
General duties:
- Provide support to the Field team around Forsta and Snap issues e.g. installing applications required and problem solving issues
- Carry out self-learning of platforms and systems used by M·E·L Research
- Provide support to the Research and Field Ops Teams to help upskill their knowledge of Forsta and Snap Surveys
- Undertake any other duties that may be needed by the company consistent with the postholder’s overall duties, skills and abilities.
Equal opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is fair, transparent and free from discrimination or bias. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process or have any questions about our approach to diversity and inclusion, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Applications
If you are interested in applying for this role, please upload your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and why you are interested in working for M·E·L Research via the section below.
Applications close Tuesday 11th August.
Click here to see our recently published Social Value report
You can read more about what it is like to work at M·E·L Research here
Full details on what it is like to work for M·E·L Research can be found here
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