MSc Data Insights Analyst Work Placement Student

Commitment: 25 hours a week, August 2026 to May 2027

Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR

Department: First Team Coaching

We are looking for a proactive individual with excellent attention to detail to join our team as a Data Insights Intern for the 2026/2027 season. This role will run parallel to an MSc programme based in the United Kingdom. The successful candidate will be working across the Club to support analytics provision across multiple departments with a focus on translating data into actionable insights that enhance decision‑making.

In the role, you will be exposed to platforms, software, data sources, key stakeholders and processes that will offer invaluable experience for your future career in professional sports. In order to get the best from this opportunity, applicants must be able to commit to the position for the entire 2026-27 season.

You will be based at the Nigel Doughty Training Ground and required to work a minimum of 25 hours per week. This internship opportunity will run from August 2026 to May 2027 (flexible start dates can be discussed to accommodate the start of the MSc programme) and enable the successful candidate to develop their applied data skills and relationships with key stakeholders across the Club.

People

• Provide support to key stakeholders and non-technical staff to enhance their understanding and utilisation of data.
• Work closely with coaches, performance analysts, scouts and others to translate data into practical performance insights.
• Develop relationships within the First Team to support the provision of data insights and the delivery of our football programme.

Process

• Use data to answer ad-hoc performance questions to support decision‑making.
• Collaborate with Club staff on long‑term longitudinal research projects focused on identifying trends.
• Support data best practices across the Club, liaising with the Head of Sports Data Insights to ensure alignment with the wider Club data strategy.
• Work with the wider football intelligence team to continuously develop our data processes, systems and platforms.

Product

• Basic querying, wrangling and manipulation of data.
• Work with various complex football datasets to create custom metrics.
• Build dashboards and other tools to be presented and distributed across the Club.
• Support our wider football intelligence team in the development of complex data models.

Essential

• BSc qualification in Data Science (or other STEM degrees), Performance Analysis or other relevant/equivalent degree.
• Creative and curious problem solver with a positive attitude to new challenges.
• Proactive and keen to learn, able to pick up new skills and work as part of a team.

Desirable

• Understanding of technical and tactical aspects of football.
• Basic experience with R/Python and other programming languages.
• Basic experience using SQL for data management and analysis.
• Evidence of working and communicating data insights at any level.
• Previous experience working with data visualisation software (e.g. Tableau or equivalent).

At Nottingham Forest Football Club we are committed to creating an environment where differences are respected, individuality is celebrated, everyone feels valued, supported, and included. Our goal is to ensure every member of our team can be themselves, contribute fully, and reach their potential without barriers.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from talented people of all backgrounds regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We continue to develop policies and practices that promote equality, diversity, inclusion and mental wellbeing across our workforce. To help us measure progress and hold ourselves accountable, we ask all applicants to provide accurate diversity information during the recruitment process.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer, taking positive steps to attract, recruit, and support disabled people. As part of this commitment, we work hard to ensure our recruitment processes are fair, inclusive, and accessible to everyone. We are committed to offering interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role and provide reasonable adjustments at every stage from the application process through to ongoing support in the workplace.

If you are likely to meet the definition of being a "disabled person" according to the Equality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme. Please indicate this in your application form. The information you share with us about your health or disability will not be used in recruitment selections.