Senior Analyst/Developer

The Role

To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.

This role will be based in Information Services (IS). Information Services is a customer-focused converged department servicing the digital, library, and e-learning needs of Aberystwyth University. They will play a crucial role in supporting applications needed for the establishment and ongoing operation of Ar-lein Aber Online, which is a new initiative by Aberystwyth University to offer fully online postgraduate degree schemes in collaboration with an external company, Higher Ed Partners (HEP).

The Senior Analyst / Developer reports the Head of IT Applications and Development or one of the Digital Transformation Managers. They will be responsible for these activities across the range of university systems including the in-house student record system (ASTRA), Finance and HR system (ABW), Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard SaaS), the University’s web site and content management system (T4), Library Management System (Ex-Libris Alma), in-house developed applications, integration between the University’s systems and third party provided software both hosted on premise and cloud based. This will include seamless integration with third-party software provided by HEP.

They should demonstrate experience in support and development of applications, application integration and data migration. In this role, you will be working with other developers to design, build, test and implement business applications. Based on your knowledge and expertise, you will create detailed specifications and build the development solutions that most effectively meet the requirements of the university. You will be a creative, innovative thinker with outstanding problem-solving skills, able to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges. With a keen interest in new and emerging technologies, you are passionate about innovation and excited by the idea of bringing these within our mainstream usage. Your excellent written and oral communication enables you to present ideas clearly and effectively to colleagues, senior management and project partners. You will be required to demonstrate an excellent knowledge of application development technologies and frameworks, Oracle Forms and Oracle Reports together with web interfaces and Unix / SQL scripts, as well as working with Oracle’s SQL relational databases. Increasingly, the Oracle low-code application platform APEX (Application Express) is being used to develop applications in this area. In addition, you should have a good understanding of API-driven development.

What you’ll do

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Software Application Development

• Liaise with users of Aber Online to understand their specific requirements and work with them to design appropriate solutions.
• Work with other systems developers to agree data structures and user interfaces.
• Develop, test, document and support Oracle Forms providing controlled data query and data input functionality.
• Knowledge of APEX Oracle and APEX Office Print Reports.
• Forms and Reports must be developed to conform to a locally defined set of standards and procedures which include the provision of English and Welsh language interfaces.
• Develop additional web functionality using Oracle APEX.
• Develop, test, document, and support data processing functions to assist in maintaining accurate and reliable data in the AStRA system and to support the exchange of such data between AStRA and other associated systems.
• Develop data migration strategies and support the transition to new systems.

Staff Management

• Define the work required, set objectives, organise, and delegate work to reports according to their skills and abilities.
• Coordinate delivery of own and reports’ work with other teams across the University.
• Engage all reports in the planning and delivery of work, ensuring a positive, flexible, and productive environment.

Technology Leadership

• To keep up to date with developments around the University’s core business software to identify potential risks and opportunities relating to business practices and where appropriate make recommendations for future adoption of new systems.
• To foster excellent working relationships with staff in Faculties, academic and service departments at all levels to ensure Information Services is providing well-supported technology that meets the needs of the business.
• To support the establishment and ongoing operation of Ar-lein Aber Online.
• Write and deliver presentations, briefings or workshop sessions to staff, students or external bodies on Ar-lein Aber Online.
• Liaise with external agencies such as HESA, UCAS, UKVI and SLC to develop and maintain interfaces between such systems and AStRA, in relation to Ar-lein Aber Online.

Project Delivery

• Ensure that projects and reports are delivered in line with Agile methodology. Ensure that the work and applications under their responsibility are delivering value through close alignment to business goals, frequent delivery, empowering staff, and close collaboration with the customer.
• To establish and ensure that all their IT application development projects are delivered to the required standards.
• To ensure that relevant documentation is produced as part of the project lifecycle and handover of systems to production.
• Work collaboratively with Higher Ed Partners and with additional external agencies and other HEIs where appropriate.

Service Provision

• To ensure that IT application services in their area of responsibility are operationally effective, meet KPIs and performance indicators as required by the University. This will include setting standards, monitoring services, and adapting them as required.
• To promote continuous improvement across all IT application services related to Ar-lein Aber Online and the development process.
• To foster the highest standards of customer service.
• To maintain the highest standards of security and data protection, keeping up-to date with all relevant legislation, regulation and best practice to ensure that applications and new IT developments are secure.
• To ensure that services provided provide business continuity, are backed up, and can be recovered in the event of a disaster. This includes keeping relevant documentation up-to-date and testing disaster recovery strategies.
• To liaise closely with the IT Infrastructure team on the delivery of IT applications associated with Ar-lein Aber Online.
• To ensure applications are provided in a way that ensures the University meets its obligations under
  • The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the University’s Welsh Language Standards
  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • The University’s Information Security Policy and related legislation
  • The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)

Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required

Essential

1. Degree level qualification in IT, Computer Science or Software Engineering.
2. Experience of software Implementation, Development, Data Migration, Data Mapping, Loading, Transformation.
3. Experience of working with database systems including Oracle and Microsoft.
4. Experience in using one or more applications development languages including PL/SQL, Perl, PHP, JavaScript or HTML/CSS.
5. Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritise and work successfully under pressure.
6. Proven managerial skills with ability to motivate self and others.
7. Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating an ability to communicate effectively with staff of varying levels of seniority as well as with external agencies, suppliers, customers etc.
8. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A1* or evidence to demonstrate an on-going commitment to learn Welsh to this level.

Desirable

1. Prince2/ ITIL/ Agile Certified
2. Experience of working with Higher Education Systems.
3. Experience of Power BI and Microsoft Dynamics.
4. Experience of Generating Data for statutory returns and validating XML.
5. Experience of using Oracle APEX, Oracle Forms and Reports
6. Knowledge security technologies and data protection / GDPR
7. Oral (spoken) and Written Welsh Level A2*

How to apply

Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.

Benefits

• Flexible working policy
• 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
• Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
• Commitment to Professional Development
• Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
• Staff recognition and reward schemes
• Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
• Staff relocation bursary
• Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
• Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.

Employment Visa

We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.

Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.

Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:

• A job offer from a UK licensed sponsor (20 points)
• Job is above the minimum sponsorable skill level (20 points)
• Appointed candidate to have appropriate knowledge of the English language (10 points)

For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa