Information Centre Specialist

Information Centre Specialist

Salary: National ranging from £51,200 to £60,000 and London from £56,400 to £65,000

Are you interested in understanding how data and information is managed at the FCA?

The team/department

The Data Strategy and Services department, within the Intelligence & Digital Division, drives the FCA’s Data Strategy by enhancing the value of data through data management, governance and analysis activities and providing central co-ordination of all data-related activities. As part of the Data, Technology & Innovation Division, we are leading the FCA in harnessing the power of data and advanced analytics to transform financial regulation.

The Information Centre is part of the Data Acquisition Unit and is responsible for sourcing, providing access to and driving optimal usage of commercial data and information sources. The team supports the use of commercial data as an alternative to firm data requests and challenges suppliers on value for money when acquiring new sources and services. The commercial data and information sources the team manages are critical for the FCA’s work and include markets data, legal information, company data, consumer and market research and news services.

What you will be doing (the role)

• Contract management of key commercial data services and sources

• Engaging effectively with external stakeholders and product vendors, using negotiation and communication skills to drive best value for money and meet business requirements

• Working with Procurement Department on all high-value renewals and acquisitions for data and information sources and, where required, running tender exercises

• Promoting and publicising Information Centre, Data Acquisition and Data services, specifically focussing on data and information sources

• Supporting and delivering projects and initiatives to improve usability, functionality or efficiency of data sources and services provided

• Dealing with queries and undertaking proactive research to understand new sources of data that may be of use to the organisation

What you will get from the role

• Gain a detailed understanding of all elements of how data and information is managed at the FCA, working with partners across the organisation to support regulatory activities and help transform the FCA

• Challenging and varied work in a friendly and collaborative environment as part of a growing team

• Involvement in high-profile areas of the business and strategically important cross-organisation workstreams

• The candidate will enable the FCA to obtain the data it needs in order to regulate effectively

Our competitive flexible benefits scheme gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle. You can use this allowance to purchase additional benefits such as dental or cycle to work or you have the option top up your base salary by taking this as cash.

Core benefits that you will receive as standard are:

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays

• Private healthcare with Bupa

• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8% of basic salary each month (there are several contribution levels that increase depending on your age – up to 12% a month once you reach age 35)

• Life assurance of eight times your basic salary

• Income protection

We support hybrid working which means you will be able to work from home up to 60% of the time over a month with the remainder of your time in one of our three office locations.

The skills and experience you will have

Minimum 

We are a signatory to the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This means that we will offer an interview to disabled candidates entering under the scheme, who best meet the minimum criteria for a role.

• Experience of working with procurement specialists and other procurement exercises from requirements gathering through to implementation

• Evidence of contract management experience

• Experience of stakeholder management

Essential

• Ability to present advice and recommendations in a clear and succinct manner that are tailored for the relevant audience, ensuring that communications are fit for purpose

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly in conducting presentations and concise report writing

• The ability to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders (including relationship management), both internal and external to the FCA

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate to staff at all levels both within and outside the FCA

• Experience of data and information management and dissemination for internal stakeholders

• Ability to balance, prioritise and manage competing demands; a "can-do" attitude and the ability to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines

• Experience of working within data and information provision (to include libraries, information centres or research services) and public sector procurement and an interest in financial services regulation would be desirable

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of nearly 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive. We do this to make sure markets work well for individuals, businesses and the economy as a whole. For more information on what we do, our three-year strategy can be found here.

The FCA's Values & Diversity

Our ambition is to cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

The FCA is committed to achieving greater diversity across all levels of the organisations. Given this, we particularly welcome applications from women, disabled and minority ethnic candidates for our senior associate role.

Flexible working

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want but we won’t judge you for asking.

Multi-location

As part of the FCA’s on-going commitment to develop our national presence, most of our vacancies are now open to working in our Edinburgh, Leeds, or London offices. This means that as part of the application process you will be able to select your preference of which office location you would like to work from.

Useful information

Applications for this role close at 23:59 on 10th November 2024.

This role is graded as Senior Associate – Regulatory

Got a question?

If you are interested in learning more about the role please contact: 

For internal applicants, please contact Sara Holland at [email protected]

For external applicants, please contact Asha Gladis at [email protected]

What to expect from our interview process

The assessment process consists of an initial screening call with one our Recruitment Partners. If successful, you will be invited to attend a technical case study and competency-based interview.

Application support

We want to remove any possible barriers and are committed to providing a wide range of reasonable adjustments so that you can keep the focus on your conversations and be at your best.

If you have an accessibility requirement, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter to discuss this further. Our aim is to make your application as easy and comfortable as possible, and your recruiter will be happy to work with you to make any necessary arrangements where possible. 

Please note that all applications must be submitted through our online portal, applications sent via email will not be accepted.