Data Analyst

CAA Sports UK is a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA). CAA is the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, London and Beijing. Founded in 1975, CAA represents many of the most successful professionals working in film, television, music, theatre, video games, sport, and digital content, and provides a range of strategic marketing and consulting services to corporate clients.

CAA Base is the agency for professional footballers dedicated to the ongoing development and management of their careers. Established in 1997, with its Head Office in London and supported by consultant offices throughout Europe,South America, Australasia and North America, CAA Base’s extensive network provides maximum opportunity for its clients’ movement and onward careers.

OVERVIEW

CAA Base are searching for a Data Analyst to join the existing Analysis department at the agency. Reporting to the Player ID & Data Insights Manager, and working closely with 2 Data Scientists and the wider ‘Design & Analysis’ team, this role would suit a data-driven football enthusiast with strong analytical and communication skills as well as a deep knowledge of players and tactics. The ability to interpret complex football data and to communicate the actionable insights in a concise and compelling manner in both written and verbal presentation formats to both internal and external audiences (varying in their knowledge of football data) is fundamental.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use your exceptional knowledge of football data to derive accurate insights on professional football players, managers/coaches, and team tactical systems – translating and communicating these in both written and verbal formats to an exceptional standard to colleagues, clients, and other key stakeholders.

• Work closely with the Design & Analysis team internally to optimally leverage data insights within presentations and other documentation.

• Play a leading role in the recruitment process of new clients (identifying, tracking and monitoring talent both at a senior and youth level), development of existing clients, and contract negotiation processes through the application of data analysis.

• Deliver presentations & discuss football from a data-driven perspective in an articulate and engaging manner – to audiences with a variety of technical knowledge (both in terms of football & data!).

• Stay aware of the latest developments and research within the ‘football analytics’ industry.

• Build and develop relationships with data analysts working in clubs.

• Enhance existing processes & workflows – apply the analytical tools developed by our Data Scientists, and work with them to continuously ideate future solutions and new methods by combining technical expertise with football knowledge to solve unique challenges in football analytics, where traditional methods often need to be adapted or reinvented.

• Football enthusiast with a passion for the rigorous analysis of football and data-driven decision making, and a detailed understanding of football and tactics.

• Experience using data to analyse football – players, tactical frameworks, coaches etc – with a detailed knowledge of the ‘football analytics’ landscape - having handled various different metrics, performance models, and advanced statistics to analyse performance and identify players - which may include experience of working with performance data products (e.g. Wyscout, Skillcorner, StatsBomb).

• Prior experience in an elite football environment as a data, recruitment, or performance analyst is preferred. However, a strong interest in the field, supported by a demonstrable portfolio of work and relevant transferable skills, may also be highly valuable.

• Excellent understanding of data-driven player identification processes in football.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English to present insights clearly and concisely –including experience presenting insights to both technical & non-technical audiences.

• Ability to manipulate data in MS Excel (at least).

• A critical thinker with a flair for interrogating and synthesizing insights to derive solutions from sometimes incomplete and disparate datasets, with an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of using data to evaluate football.

• Positive and proactive personality, team-oriented attitude and exceptional attention to detail.

• A proactive, structured and detailed approach to problem solving, being comfortable working across multiple projects simultaneously to sometimes tight deadlines, with excellent organisational skills & ability to prioritise workload.

• Able to identify data quality issues & to handle imperfect data effectively.

• Demonstrable interpersonal skills, experience building relationships, and comfortable dealing with sensitive situations with confidentiality and discretion.

• Able to deliver projects independently, showing initiative to make informed and justifiable decisions, while also contributing effectively as part of a team.

• Passionate about problem solving through the application of data and driven to innovate and implement new ideas.

• A strong work ethic, with the internal drive to consistently push the agency forward.