The Role
This is an entry-level position ideal for someone who has recently finished higher education, or for an individual looking to make a career change into data. We are committed to your growth and will provide full support and training to help you develop your skills and settle into the role. Working alongside senior team members, you will focus on your personal technical development and collaborate with the wider team to deliver first-class results.
At NEXT, we’re not only one of the UK’s largest fashion retailers. We’re also one of the largest listed companies, full-stop. We sell our products and thousands of world-famous brands, both in-store and online. What’s more, we’re growing. Fast. And it’s the kind of growth and investment that is exciting for everyone in our business.
Product Operations is a team that thrives on challenge - are you seeking a role where no two days are the same? We’re looking for talented individuals who love to solve problems, analyse data and find better ways of doing things to drive real business value. From Data Scientists, Solutions Engineers, Data Analysts and Product Owners, who define and scope our systems, to Operational and Merchandising roles; our team is a diverse collection of highly motivated, innovative people. We play a crucial role at the heart of NEXT operations and work on exciting projects at the forefront of strategic vision for a retail business at the top of its game.
The Data Solutions team is responsible for the modernisation of the way we store, access, interrogate and present data to the business and our partners. We are looking for a Junior Data Solutions Engineer who will play a hands-on role in supporting the modernisation of the Product Operations data warehouse using the latest Technologies and Techniques available.
What You’ll Take On
Collaborating with the Team: Contribution to and support of team objectives under the guidance of senior colleagues. Assist in delivering data and reporting for Sustainability, TP Partners & Product teams as you develop your technical skills.
Process Optimisation: Supporting the identification of issues and highlighting areas requiring improvement through detailed understanding and/or analysis. Once opportunities to improve are identified, you will assist in taking action or scoping developments.
System Optimisation: Exploring the latest technologies and selecting the right tools for the job under the guidance of senior engineers. Assisting in seeking opportunities to modernise and de-risk unsupported systems.
Knowledge Optimisation: Seek, enable and facilitate learning opportunities for yourself. Support colleagues by sharing newly acquired knowledge and understanding.
Networking: To build, maintain and grow relationships with all relevant internal and external stakeholders. Giving you access to the people required to deliver your personal and business goals.
The day to day will consist of:
- Assisting with solution design and implementation using Microsoft Azure services and related tools.
- Developing an understanding of business needs, and assisting in designing solutions that deliver value.
- Collaborating with and supporting our Data Analysts and Data Scientists in implementing best practices.
Alongside this, you will also have the opportunity to support and learn about the Machine Learning lifecycle.
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What You’ll Bring
Imagine contributing to transformative business decisions, fueled by your unwavering passion for data and interest in artificial intelligence (AI). You thrive on diving deep into analysis, extracting insights that illuminate the path forward. Your enthusiasm knows no bounds, and you're not one to sit back and wait for opportunities to come knocking. Proactive and self-aware, you understand the power of initiative and seize every chance to make an impact.
But it's not just about numbers and algorithms for you. You're a true people person, relishing the art of relationship building. Whether it's forging connections with internal teams, external stakeholders, or your peers, you excel at fostering collaborative environments where ideas flourish.
You have a knack for distilling complex processes into easily digestible insights, effortlessly bridging the gap between technical jargon and layman's terms. Your ability to convey a simplified view to both technical and non-technical audiences sets you apart.
Key characteristics include:
- Highly organised and adaptable, you navigate through priorities with growing confidence and support.
- You may be a recent graduate from higher education or someone looking to make a career change into data; we value your dedication to continuous learning and growth.
- Eager to begin or progress your journey through the realms of data or retail operations, developing your expertise and perspective with our help and training.
- Foundational knowledge or basic experience with SQL, Python or Azure cloud software (including Databricks, Azure Data Lake etc).
- Any prior academic projects, placement, or professional experience in a data-related role, or basic knowledge of the NEXT Product Operations function, would be ideal.
Ideal, but not necessary:
- Familiarity with data visualisation tools e.g. PowerBI, SSRS, Tableau.
- A basic understanding of the Microsoft Power Platform, or other automation tools.
- Familiarity with Google Apps, Gmail, Drive, Sheets.
An awareness or understanding of the Agile development framework.
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Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. For further information please see: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa .
We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.
At NEXT, we believe the best work happens when there are no barriers to collaboration. That’s why we are a Google-powered workspace. From your very first day, you’ll be using the full Google Workspace suite; Docs, Drive, and Meet, to stay connected and move fast.
If your previous experience is rooted in other software suites, don’t worry! We’ll point you to a digital Google toolkit the moment you join, packed with handy guides and insider tips to help you transition smoothly and hit the ground running.
#LI-Onsite
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
