UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

Led by Dave Penney, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. This broad business unit and incorporates the following functions: 

•  UCAS Media education and industry Sales  
•  Education and Industry Marketing 
•  Digital Marketing Operations 
•  Events 
•  Partnerships 
•  Apprenticeships 
•  Public Affairs, Press and Communications 
•  Insights

The business unit is set up to deliver against the objectives of UCAS charity and operate UCAS Media (UCAS’s commercial subsidiary) to help fund UCAS’s charitable operations. For the charity, our objective is to provide everyone with the information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions on their next steps. We deliver on this via our media ecosystem which consists of information, advice and guidance on ucas.com, our social media feeds across various channels, email, live events and webinars,

For UCAS Media, our business objective is to generate revenue through paid collaborations with higher education providers who wish to improve their position in the market, and commercial brands who want to reach students. All brands wishing to use our media ecosystem and insight services must align with our framework. All profits generated are gift aided to UCAS the charity and in turn fund the charitable objectives, such as our recent announcement that students in receipt of free school meals will no longer need to pay the UCAS application fee.  

To support the delivery of market research projects by providing project coordination, survey administration, fieldwork management, data processing and quality assurance activities. The role works closely with internal teams, clients and research partners to ensure projects are delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with agreed timelines and quality standards, while supporting the effective day-to-day operation of the Client Services function.

Key accountabilities:

Project Support & Delivery

• Support the end-to-end management of market research projects

• Assist with project setup, including survey scripting, testing, sampling and fieldwork management

• Conduct thorough data checks to ensure accuracy and quality of outputs

• Help manage timelines and ensure projects are delivered on schedule

• Troubleshoot project issues and escalate where necessary

• Support tracking of project costs and ensure projects are delivered within agreed budgets

Data Quality & Accuracy

• Review and validate incoming data to maintain high quality standards

• Identify and investigate inconsistencies, anomalies, or risks in datasets

• Support implementation and continuous improvement of quality control processes

• Collaborate with internal teams to resolve data-related queries

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

Essential

• 
  Relevant academic background (BA/BSc or equivalent), apprenticeship, or equivalent practical experience
  in a field such as Business, Economics, Maths, Psychology, or similar.

• Strong numerical ability with confidence working with data and data-driven concepts.

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.

• Demonstrable experience in managing multiple tasks and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced
  environment.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.

• Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal.

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of market research, data processing, or survey tools (e.g. Decipher, Qualtrics,
  SurveyMonkey etc.).

• Working knowledge of Excel (e.g. pivot tables, data cleaning, basic formulas).

• Working knowledge of survey scripting or data collection methodologies.

• Demonstrable experience in a client-focused or delivery-oriented environment (e.g. internships,
  placements, or similar).

Behavioural Skills

• Curious and eager to learn, particularly in data and market research.

• Reliable and takes ownership of work and responsibilities.

• Collaborative team player, able to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

• Detail-focused, with pride in the accuracy and quality of work.

• Positive, adaptable mindset with a "can-do" attitude.

Salary - £27,500 - £30,000 DOE

• Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

• Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

• Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

• 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

• Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

• Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

• Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond

Studies have shown that some groups of people are less likely to apply to a role unless they tick every box. At UCAS we recognise that talent comes in various forms and we are committed to delivering a fair and equitable recruitment process where applicants have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still apply.

If you have any questions and would like to find out more about the role before applying please email the Talent Acquisition team via careers@ucas.ac.uk and one of us will be in touch.