Data Support Officer

Salary £29,071 - £33,119 Per annum | 37 hours per week | Full time, Fixed Term | Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

In return Lancashire County Council offers a range of benefits, which can be found on LCC Vacancies website.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Local Government Reorganisation

The Government has confirmed that local government across Lancashire will be reorganised, with the current 15 councils being replaced by four new unitary councils covering North, South, East and West Lancashire from April 2029.

If you are successful in your application, you will initially join Lancashire County Council. However, as part of the planned transition, your employment will transfer to one of the new unitary councils from April 2029, subject to the implementation of the reorganisation and relevant employment legislation.

Throughout this period, our focus remains on delivering excellent services to our communities. By joining us now, you'll play an important role in shaping the future of local government and helping to build a strong new organisation that will serve residents for years to come.

Please note: that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

Data Support Officer (Grade 6)

Education – School Place Planning Team

Location: County Hall / Hybrid

Salary: £29,071- £33,119

Contract: Fixed-term appointment for 12 months

Please note: This post is being offered on a fixed-term basis for an initial period of 12 months. There is potential for the contract to be extended, subject to service requirements, funding and business need.

Help Shape Lancashire's Future

Lancashire County Council is committed to ensuring every child has access to the right school place at the right time. Accurate data and robust analysis are fundamental to achieving this goal.

We are seeking a highly organised and analytical Data Support Officer to join the School Place Planning Team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working with data, solving problems and supporting strategic decision-making that directly benefits children, families and communities across Lancashire.

About the Role

As a Data Support Officer, you will play a key role in maintaining, analysing and reporting on the data that underpins school place planning across Lancashire.

Working closely with School Place Planning Officers and other colleagues across Education, you will support the collection, validation and analysis of pupil, school and demographic data used to forecast future demand for school places. You will help ensure that information is accurate, accessible and available to support strategic planning, statutory returns and service delivery.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop analytical, technical and project support skills within a supportive and collaborative team environment.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Support the collection, validation and maintenance of school place planning datasets.
• Assist with the preparation of pupil projection data, forecasts and reports.
• Maintain databases, spreadsheets and monitoring systems used by the School Place Planning Team.
• Produce routine and ad-hoc statistical reports and information requests.
• Support the preparation of statutory returns, sufficiency assessments and public-facing documents.
• Analyse data to identify trends and anomalies and highlight findings to colleagues.
• Assist in monitoring school capacities, admissions information and pupil numbers.
• Conduct net capacity assessments for educational establishments in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) methodology, ensuring accurate evaluation of school places and accommodation capacity to support strategic planning and place sufficiency.
• Support the collection and management of information relating to housing developments and education infrastructure.
• Ensure data is handled securely and in accordance with data protection requirements.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Education, Planning and other council services.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of processes, systems and reporting methods.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has strong numerical, analytical and organisational skills.
• Enjoys working with data and interpreting information.
• Can produce accurate work and pay close attention to detail.
• Is confident using Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Can communicate information clearly, both verbally and in writing.
• Is able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Works effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Is committed to providing excellent customer service and support.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Educated to A-Level standard, equivalent qualification, or able to demonstrate relevant experience.
• Experience of working with data, spreadsheets or information systems.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and databases.
• Experience of producing reports and presenting information in a clear format.
• Strong IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Excel.
• Good analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Desirable

• Experience of working within local government, education or a related public sector environment.
• Knowledge of school admissions, school place planning or pupil data systems.
• Experience of working with large datasets and data quality processes.
• Understanding of the requirements of data protection legislation.
• Experience of GIS mapping systems or data visualisation tools.

The Lancashire Mindset

At Lancashire County Council, we are guided by our commitment to:

Growth

Continuously learning, developing and improving.

Ownership

Taking responsibility and delivering high-quality outcomes.

Optimism

Approaching challenges positively and seeking solutions.

Positive Impact

Making a meaningful difference for Lancashire's residents and communities.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Excellent annual leave entitlement.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• The opportunity to contribute to strategic education planning across Lancashire.

Our Values

We are looking for individuals who share our values:

• Supportive – valuing and encouraging others.
• Innovative – seeking better ways to deliver services.
• Respectful – treating everyone fairly and with dignity.
• Collaborative – working together to achieve the best outcomes.

Additional Information

This post is designated as an essential car user post. The successful applicant will be required to provide a vehicle for business use and hold appropriate business insurance cover. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability.

Join Us

If you have a passion for data, analysis and supporting evidence-based decision-making, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and help ensure Lancashire's children have access to the school places they need, where and when they need them.

Apply

Please apply via the Lancashire County Council recruitment website, submitting your application form and supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Closing Date: 30th October 2026

Interviews: 16th November 2026

Job Description and Person Specification