We’re seeking a Junior Analyst and Analyst to join us. These roles are part of a flexible team within the Data and Analytics Service providing key stakeholders with the insight and intelligence needed for effective leadership, governance and decision making.
We spoke with Sorin, one of our Analysts who joined us following the Essex Challenge Project 2019 – a collaboration between Data & Analytics and the University of Essex. You can find more information about the vacancies available at the end of this article.
Meet Sorin
I fell in love with the UK when I moved over here six years ago from my home Galati, in Romania, to do a Politics Degree at the University of Essex.
If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be pursuing a career in data and analytics I would have said no way! Believe it or not, philosophy was my first love, followed closely by politics. I was never into maths, so it was a surprise to me when I got interested in and began to enjoy statistics.
While studying I got involved in the Essex Challenge Project during my final year – a programme that ECC runs with the University of Essex to bring together multiple disciplines to tackle shared challenges. During the Challenge Prize I met colleagues from ECC’s Data and Analytics team, they really inspired me, and I was excited to hear about the work they were doing within the profession of data and analytics to improve people’s lives. I learned that as a profession, data, analytics, and insight offers a unique opportunity to investigate and learn from the past to prepare for and shape the future. And in being introduced to ECC I realised I could have a career that combined all my interests, and as soon as I saw the role advertised for Junior Analyst I applied!
The opportunities for personal and professional growth within the Data and Analytics team at ECC are excellent. I first connected with the Data and Analytics team as an Undergraduate in 2019, I joined the team as a Junior Analyst six months later, and within 18 months I was successfully promoted to an Analyst.
I’ve thrived during my time here at ECC, thanks to the opportunities to learn new skills, gain different experiences, and work with such a wide range of experts in data science as well as some exceptional subject matter specialists. When I was a Junior Analyst, I thought I was annoying everyone by asking lots of questions, however, not only was this approach encouraged but it fostered a culture of transparency and collaboration.
Career progression is supported within Data and Analytics, and during my time as a Junior Analyst I had opportunities to understand as much as I could about all the areas that we support and the roles that exist with the team. As an Analyst I’ve been able to take responsibility for directing my skills development and pursuing areas of interest. I have been involved in data analysis, visualising, and publishing open data, and most recently data development. Learning takes places through formal training, shadowing, self-development, and group learning with our peers. And development goes beyond technical skills too because stakeholder engagement, research, communication skills are also vital in our role.
I’m currently focusing on expanding my skills and understanding in data development as we plan to transfer all our internal data to the Azure platform, to improve our data management and enable us to extend our analysis capabilities.
My work is so varied and interesting, from supporting emergency response requests, to enabling partners to unlock the potential of their data for the benefit of the whole county. I have had so many wow moments during my time at ECC. Every time I see how the insight we produce enables colleagues to better understand communities within Essex, and target services so that they support our most vulnerable residents I am reminded of how impactful data analytics can be when it informs decision making. I’m passionate about my job because I’m working shoulder to shoulder with people that are passionate as well. When colleagues see the value in the insight that data analytics generates, and act upon it, it really makes my contribution meaningful because I’m part of a system that is improving people’s lives.
To read more about vacancies in our Data & Analytics team, please click here. To get a further insight into the team, take a look at the Data & Analytics blog here.
If you have any queries regarding this opportunity, please contact the Resourcing team at resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
