Job Title: Data Lead
Pay: £75,026 plus 28.97% employer pension contributions, hybrid working, flexible hours, and great work‑life balance.
Overview
Ready to step into a leadership role where you can harness data to drive influence, innovation and meaningful improvement? As Data Lead for Working Age Services you will play a vital role in shaping and delivering its data strategy.
You will lead the development of multidisciplinary data capability across Working Age Services, identifying priority skills and championing their adoption across both data teams and wider digital stakeholders.
Drawing on your technical expertise you will provide strategic insight into how data can be used to deliver key outcomes and improve services during a transformative period for DWP data as a new 'hub and spoke' model is introduced.
What skills, knowledge and experience will you need?
* Proven experience in strategic data leadership with the ability to define and deliver a clear vision that aligns with organisational priorities, enhances data services and drives data‑led decision‑making at scale.
* Strong leadership and capability‑building skills with experience of leading, developing and motivating multidisciplinary data teams through both direct and matrix management, fostering high‑performing and inclusive environments.
* Proven ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders, building trusted relationships across DWP and wider sectors and aligning diverse groups around shared data goals.
* Excellent communication and analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights that support strategic and operational decision‑making.
* Proven experience in governance and risk management with accountability for ensuring data is managed effectively, compliantly and with a balance between control and innovation.
Your Role
As a Data Lead you will establish and lead a core team of data professionals to deliver DWP's Data Strategy within Working Age Services. You will identify gaps across people, products, and practices, developing a targeted programme of work to strengthen data capability. Aside from directly managing team members, you will also lead a broader network through a matrix management approach.
As a senior leader you will work closely with the G6 Lead Data Scientist and G6 Lead Delivery Manager to provide joined‑up leadership across all data activity within WAS. You will drive implementation of the DWP data strategy ensuring strong governance, compliance, and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
As a strategic influencer you will partner with senior colleagues across WAS and the wider DWP to shape and deliver data priorities, ensuring business needs are continuously met. You will also lead on data‑related communication and upskilling, promoting a culture where data is understood, valued and effectively used to improve outcomes.
Details – Wages – Perks
Location: Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield digital hubs.
Hybrid Working: Hybrid model – some time working at home and some time collaborating face‑to‑face in a hub.
Pay: Competitive pay of £75,026 to £92,522.
Pension: Civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97% (up to £23,253 per year).
Holidays: Generous leave package starting at 26 days, rising to 31 days over time, plus up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi‑time and all public holidays.
Benefits package includes:
* Flexible working, including flexible hours and flex‑friendly policies.
* Time off volunteering and charitable giving.
* Opportunity to bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
* Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
* Interest‑free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket.
* Sports and social activities.
* Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
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