Substantive Vacancy – Report Developer

Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service - Headquarters

There is an exciting opportunity to join our Performance & Assurance Team, and to help us to influence the decision-making and continuous improvement of Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.  The Performance and Assurance team act as a centralised hub for data within Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.  The department is responsible for monitoring and presenting Service performance data, and providing data externally, to meet the statutory requirements of Freedom of Information requests and collections for national statistics.

Salary:               Grade 8 (£36,648 to £39,186)

Hours:                37 hours per week (Flexible Working Scheme available)

Location:          Based at Service Headquarters, Pirehill, Stone, Staffs, ST15 0BS

Status:               Permanent contract

About the Role

The purpose of the Report Developer role is to develop methods of accessing data and to create regular reporting scripts to assist with the provision of information at a Service wide level; meeting the requirements of departments, contributing to public facing documents, and providing external partners and key stakeholders with important data to shape Service priorities and inform decision making. 

This an important technical role that will utilise SQL and T-SQL skills in the development of views, SQL queries, reports, and associated stored procedures from the databases of key information systems.  It is a responsibility of the role to ensure that SQL database documentation is accurate and updated continuously in line with change.

The service is currently using SSRS (SQL Server Integration Services) for reporting, and previous experience in using this product will be advantageous.  Previous experience in PowerBI is not essential as training will be provided, however, experience in using this product will also be advantageous.

An area of responsibility will be to effectively manage and maintain the Services’ current reporting systems; test and troubleshoot any data issues; and look to improve the accessibility of information within the Service by assisting in the implementation of new reporting technologies.

The role will also require collaborative working within the department and also with end-users to provide understanding, and to improve and amend reporting tools as required. The role will also require the individual to develop expertise in service information systems and to work independently on multiple tasks to assist ongoing project work throughout the Service.

Duties to Include

• To lead the Service in designing and implementing SQL reports using SSRS (SQL Server Reporting Services and Microsoft Visual Studio), and to maintain and review active reports.

• To lead in the creation and maintenance of automated data processes such as stored procedures, utilising SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) and SQL Job agent.

• To take an active role in the understanding, development, and maintenance of the Service’s data warehouse; to ensure that it meets the current needs of the Service and how the management of data and reporting capabilities could be improved in the future.

• To assist with technical development associated with the adoption of PowerBI within the Service, to support implementation and to develop dashboards and reporting. (Training will be provided.)

• To assist in the maintenance and development of supporting systems including SharePoint and Office 356 tools.

• To provide analysts with access to data in order to assist the service in monitoring Key Performance Indicators, Data Quality, and collating data for external regulatory bodies such as the home office and HMICFRS.

• To utilise GIS mapping systems to visualise, manipulate, analyse and present information to support the Service’s decision-making process, and improve the understanding of risk and vulnerabilities within our communities.

• To attend meetings when required and develop effective links with delivery groups, departments and key external partners and stakeholders from a position of expertise; to gain a better understanding of their data requirements to ensure the provision of evidence-based, relevant information which will support the Service’s decision making and continuous improvement.

• To lead in providing reporting to support and monitor the performance of departmental and directorate project work within the Service; contributing towards shaping performance measures and assisting with evaluation on completion.

• To test and troubleshoot any issues with reporting and source data, and to be responsible for report debugging and optimisation to ensure functional reporting capability is maintained throughout periods of change.

• To provide training and support to users and colleagues within the Performance and Assurance Department and guidance at all levels of the Service.

Person Specification:

Education and Training

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in data analytics or similar, or alternatively with significant previous experience in a technical role utilising data interrogation and data management techniques.
• Experience in obtaining and utilising SQL data, designing SQL queries, and the creation of reports from SQL sources is essential.
• Experience of using Microsoft Products, specifically MS Excel and MS Access.

Knowledge and experience

• Experience of communicating and influencing at all levels of an organisation
• Experience of building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders
• Experience of analysis of data, creating reports and presenting information to support objectives
• Experience of querying and manipulation of large data sets using structured query language, e.g. SQL or similar.
• Experience of using T-SQL procedural programming, understanding and developing stored procedures.
• Experience of building effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, and attending meetings.
• Experience of working with sensitive and confidential information, understanding the requirements of GDPR and government security classifications.

Skills abilities and personal qualities

• Communicates effectively and appropriately;  both orally and in writing
• Interacts well  with  colleagues  to  achieve  workable solutions
• Ability to take ownership of tasks; prioritising workloads and displaying self-motivation and an ability to work independently.
• A proven ability to analyse data, identify trends, and to provide and support from a data driven perspective.
• A proven ability to prioritise workload effectively
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Desirable

• Relevant experience of working within a Fire Service, Emergency Services, or public sector environment.
• Knowledge and use of data modelling systems and GIS mapping systems to visualise, manipulate, analyse and present information and provide evidence-based data to inform organisational planning
• Previous experience of using Microsoft PowerBI to develop reporting from SQL sources, including DAX formula language will be a great benefit although training will be provided.
• Experience of using MS Visual Basic / Power Query to query data.
• Experience of Office 365 products and MS SharePoint.

Additional Information:

This vacancy is being advertised internally and externally.

All communication regarding this vacancy will be issued via email, so please check your email account on a regular basis.

If you have any enquiries please contact:-

Recruitment@staffordshirefire.gov.uk, or

Will Parkinson - Data & Assurance Manager, 07967 573588 or

Steph Cooper – HR Officer, 07528 083155