BI Developer

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department: Data & Student Analytics

Closing Date: 9 August 2026

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 12 months from start date

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

As a BI Developer, you will design, develop and maintain high-quality reporting and dashboard solutions that support evidence-based decision making across the university. The role focuses on translating complex data into clear, actionable insight, via reporting solutions, whilst ensuring analytical accuracy.

The role combines strong reporting and visualisation capability with applied analytical skills to support performance monitoring across the university.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain user focused dashboards and reports using appropriate reporting solutions e.g. Power BI.
• Deliver reporting that tracks performance against agreed indicators, targets and outcomes.
• Ensure reports are robust, consistent and aligned with agreed definitions and metrics.

Analysis & Insight

• Conduct analysis to quality assure reported data and ensure accuracy by applying appropriate analytical techniques to investigate trends, patterns and exceptions.
• Contribute to the development and application of analytical frameworks that link metrics to strategic objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with stakeholders to understand reporting needs and decision-making contexts.
• Translate business questions into effective reporting and analytical solutions.
• Challenge and refine requests where appropriate to improve clarity, relevance and value.
• Present insights clearly to a range of audiences, including non technical users.

Data Management & Governance

• Work with multiple data sources, ensuring appropriate handling, modelling, integration and documentation.
• Adhere to data protection, information security and data retention requirements.
• Promote good practice in data quality and reporting standards.

General responsibilities

• Plan and manage workload independently, meeting deadlines and adapting to changing priorities.
• Contribute effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Work in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.
• Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.

About You

• Degree level qualification in a numerate or analytical discipline or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Strong experience in building reporting and dashboard solutions, particularly using Power BI and/or Excel.
• Proven ability to analyse and interpret complex datasets with a high level of accuracy.
• Experience of working with multiple data sources and understanding data definitions and limitations.
• Ability to communicate insights clearly through effective visuals, written commentary and verbal explanation.
• Experience of working with stakeholders to deliver reporting that supports decision making.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality outputs.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise effectively and respond positively to change.
• Experience using additional analytical or data tools (e.g. SQL, SAS, R, Python).
• Understanding of performance management and outcome focused reporting.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We'd anticipate this to be on average 2 to 3 times per month.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

We anticipate that face-to-face interviews for this role will be taking place onsite at our Milton Keynes campus during the week commencing 24 August 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.