People MI & Data Analytics Manager
People MI & Data Analytics Manager
Job Description
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: People MI & Data Analytics Manager Opportunity
The People Operations team delivers efficient, high-quality HR services across the employee lifecycle, ensuring smooth onboarding, contracts, payroll coordination, and HR systems. They also manage and maintain people data to provide insights for reporting and decision-making, while supporting projects and initiatives that improve processes, drive compliance, and enhance the overall employee experience.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
We’re excited to welcome a People MI & Data Analytics Manager who will develop and lead an effective MI function across the People Team, providing data, analysis, and insight from multiple sources. In this role, you will support the tracking and reporting of key performance indicators and objectives, enabling informed decision-making at both operational and strategic levels. You’ll also act as the subject matter expert in the development, application, interpretation, and governance of people data across the team; using systems such as Dayforce, SAP, PowerBI.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows a 37‑hour, Monday - Friday working pattern, with flexible working options available. The role is primarily home‑based, with occasional travel to Trust locations and meetings as required.
Relevant hubs include: Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Leeds, Newark, Birmingham, Leighton Buzzard & Gloucester.
Role Overview
In this engaging and influential role, you will lead the development of a people analytics function, designing reporting, dashboards, and metrics that maximize the value of people data. You’ll provide clear, data-driven insights to support performance, decision-making, and business planning, while championing a data-led culture across the organisation. Responsible for data quality, governance, and statutory reporting, you’ll use tools such as Dayforce and Power BI to identify trends, drive improvements, and support both operational and strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement, in collaboration with the Trust’s Business Intelligence Team, core analytics and reporting that maximise the value and use of data across the People Team. Use existing and new data sources to develop metrics and reporting that enhance understanding of colleague engagement and performance.
- Produce quarterly executive reports with clear narrative and develop divisional dashboards, delivering data-driven insights to the People Leadership Team to support operational performance, inform priorities, and drive delivery of the People Strategy and wider Trust Business Plan.
- Work with managers and colleagues to promote effective use of data within their areas and processes.
- Partner with the People Leadership Team to develop metrics and analysis that support both operational performance and strategic decision-making.
- Produce and interpret all statutory and required reporting, including ONS reports, internal reporting, and equal pay audits.
- Lead on data governance, ensuring the quality, use, and integrity of people data across the function.
- Utilise Dayforce reporting and analytics to build metrics and support KPI delivery.
- Develop and maintain dashboards, working with system specialists to enhance reporting capability across the People Division and wider Trust.
- Use Power BI and other tools to deliver accessible, impactful reporting that supports decision-making.
- Stay informed on developments in AI and data reporting to enhance capability and insight.
- Maintain data quality across all people systems, including regular audits, cleansing, and integrity checks.
- Deliver performance analysis and reporting to support senior leaders in identifying trends and making informed decisions.
- Identify opportunities to improve performance, compliance, and benchmarking against key performance indicators.
- Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to support problem-solving and continuous improvement.
About You
You bring strong experience in people analytics, with the ability to produce and interpret a wide range of HR metrics to inform decision-making. Confident working with HR systems such as Dayforce (or similar), you have hands-on experience in reporting, data management, and troubleshooting. Highly proficient in Excel and Power BI, you can translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for a range of stakeholders. With excellent communication skills and a continuous improvement mindset, you actively support others in using data effectively to drive performance, accuracy, and better outcomes.
Skills & Qualifications
Technical
- Direct experience working with an HCM/HRIS platform (ideally Dayforce), including reporting, data loads, troubleshooting, and integrations.
- Strong experience with Dayforce reporting and analytics, or similar systems with transferable skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, with strong capability in Power BI (essential) for data visualisation, dashboards, and reporting.
- Extensive experience in data analysis, modelling, and problem-solving, including extracting and compiling data from multiple systems.
- Proven experience in people analytics, producing end-to-end MI such as headcount, FTE, turnover, diversity, and recruitment metrics, along with insight and supporting narrative.
- Experience completing and reviewing Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs).
- Strong technical and reporting capability, with the ability to develop new reporting solutions and tools.
General
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders.
- Excellent written and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, meaningful insights.
- Ability to coach and support others in using data to improve performance and decision-making.
- Continuous improvement mindset, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance processes and the use of data within the function.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your salary of £47,500 - £49,300, you will enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us