Data Analytics Manager Qualifications And Skills

What is a Data Analytics Manager?

Data Analytics Managers are the leading figures at the forefront of data engineering, gathering, and handling, analysis, cleaning, and presentation. Their essential executive-level position aims to provide valuable information to help enterprises make better and more informed business decisions.

Data analytics managers are in high demand as global work and commerce become digital. As business operations revolve more and more around data and the impact of that data, data analytics managers will rely on it more and more to drive forward business improvements and impact operations.

In larger companies, data analytics managers are executive-level employees who will likely have data analysis teams assigned to them to manage. However, in smaller companies or start-ups, data analysis managers or supervisors will have fluid roles that run the entire gamut of data analysis, visualisation, engineering and presentation.

Interpreting data, and understanding the importance of data in the context of the enterprise you’re working in, is the core tenet of the role. As discussed below, data analytics managers must be calm and collected, highly skilled, fast-working and clear communicators. They need to be confident in reporting the data findings and ensuring critical business decisions are backed up with requisite, understood data.

Academic Qualifications

Data analytics managers require a base education at a degree level that compliments the day-to-day role of a Data Analyst, such as a Bachelor’s degree in analytics, computer science, economics, information management or similar.

To succeed in this sort of data-heavy management role, applicants will also need higher qualifications (such as a Master’s degree) in business administration, management, data or software development, with a strong focus on data modelling and analysis techniques.

Certifications

Certifications in any of the following are generally perceived as attractive for data analytics managers:

● Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate

● Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist Associate

● Google Data Analytics Certificate

● Cloudera Certified Associate Data Analyst

● Associate Certified Analytics Professional

● Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)

● Springboard Data Analytics Certification

● Certification of Professional Achievement in Data Sciences

● IBM Data Science Professional Certificate

● Open Certified Data Scientist

You will require competencies in the following programming languages and data analysis tools:

● Structured Query Language (SQL)

● Experience with Python, C, C++, JAVA, or other programming languages

● Experience with big data tools and testing tools

● Regression analysis

● Data optimisation

● Data Engineering

● Data Visualisation

● Experience with SAS code statements,

● Experience with statistical modelling techniques such as logistic regression, log-linear regression, and variable selection.

Work Experience

Securing work experience as a data analyst at any mid or large-sized firm will set you on your way to becoming a data analytics manager.

The vast array of companies requiring practical data analysis is growing exponentially yearly, so the ball is in your court if you are interested in exploring this career path.

To step into a managerial role, data analysts must apply their time and effort to shadowing other data analytics managers and gain frontline experience in executive decision-making within data management.

Internships

More established employers will have an internship scheme to attract young or reskilling workers interested in becoming data analysts and stepping into a managerial-level role in the future.

These employers range from governmental bodies to banks, e-commerce companies, and marketing agencies. With such a renewed focus on STEM teaching and the importance of creating a tech-proficient younger generation, many companies are offering possible internships that are more inclusive and easy to succeed in than ever before.

What Skills Are Needed To Succeed as a Data Analytics Manager?

The balance between the core understanding of data, the power of that data to change the trajectory of a company, and the management of people in such a high-pressure environment, lies at the very heart of the role of a data analytics manager.

As such, you have to be skilled not only at data analysis, engineering, visualising and analysis but also able to drive your team to meet the demands of a data-rich digital world, managing the expectations of your team and your co-managers whilst delivering impactful data to help execute business decisions. It’s a demanding but gratifying role for the right person. See also Business Analyst Qualifications, Skills & Requirements here.

Learn more about Data Analytics Manager careers:

The following articles cover the job description, CV-building tips, how to become and more:

Data Analytics Manager Job Description and Profile, How to Become, CV building tips, Salary and Pay 

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