Job Description

Job Category: Specialist/Professional
:
Position Details
IT Services
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range 33,002 to 35,608 with potential progression once in post to 39,906
Grade: 6
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 4th January 2026
Interviews Scheduled: W/c 12th January 2026
This role is also open as an internal secondment opportunity which would need to be agreed by your current line manager.
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the
Background
The role of IT Services is to ensure that the University of Birmingham community has access to responsive, resilient, secure and accessible systems and support. Our technologies enable our students, staff, researchers, visitors, and partners to confidently and creatively use digital services, technology and data for the benefit of their learning, teaching, research or work.
IT Services are building a culture of innovation, collaboration, openness, and inclusivity, and we apply the principles of customer focus and continuous improvement to everything we do. We want to attract outstanding, inspirational, and talented people, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. Our IT Services division has an active People and Culture network and Women in IT group, bi-annual making IT happen awards recognition programme, and Social Committee which arranges regular activities and events for colleagues.
With a new Digital Strategy, this is an exciting opportunity to join the team making IT happen at the University of Birmingham.
Role Summary
The primary responsibility of the Developer (Personal Learner Profile) will be to work collaboratively as part of a Product Team to meet the needs of users by iteratively developing a quality Learning Analytics product.
Whilst applicants should have some experience with Python development, a hunger to learn and develop a specialist understanding of data engineering practices within a high performing team is key. An interest in developing Continuous Integration pipelines (CI-CD) to provide valuable insights into student learning at the University is also vital.
Main Duties

• Develop tactical and strategically significant information and digital solutions utilising multiple technologies.
• Assist the team in identifying potential solutions to user problems through Agile development practices.
• Enhance the product according to the product backlog through the design, coding, and testing of the product with the team.
• Assist in the configuration of automated testing, implementing resolutions and retests to agreed standards.
• Apply Agile Scrum techniques to develop the product.
• Work within (and be part of evolving) the Team Charter to ensure technical and documentation standards are met.
• Grow knowledge of specific technical specialists as required for the product.
• Assist in collection of feedback on the developing design - from end users and other representative sources.
• Support in the identification of accessibility requirements and develop the product accordingly.
• Provide ongoing technical support and advice for the product.
• Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.
• Supports the University's sustainability agenda through resource efficient working.
• Any other duties commensurate with the grade.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) or relevant technical qualification and relevant experience - where no equivalent qualification is held, extensive proven practical and technical experience in a similar role will be required.
• Extensive proven practical experience in a relevant IT specialism.
• Working experience of Python.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of data manipulation and analysis.
• Good communication skills.
• Capable of responding to changing user needs.
• Ability to work iteratively, focusing on problem solving.
• Familiarity with SQL, CI-CD and cloud computing concepts would be ideal.
• Previous experience of Agile and/or working with a Product Owner are beneficial.
• An aptitude for anticipating and communicating user needs to ensure solutions developed meet those needs.
• Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to analyse information and data.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquiries to Julian Kobylarz, email:
View our staff values and behaviours
We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone .

Skills Required