Job Summary
The post-holder will provide technical expertise and leadership in data engineering, ensuring that data solutions are designed, developed, and deployed in line with NHS and organisational best practices. They will work within the Business Intelligence team to support the delivery of scalable, efficient, and innovative data solutions.
About us
We are a multi award‑winning organisation that has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Gold Award for "We invest in people" and "We invest in wellbeing" and are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.
Benefits
* A competitive salary with annual pay reviews
* A generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days
* Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
* Flexible working and family friendly policies, including enhanced parental leave and pay
* A wide range of in‑house and external learning and development opportunities
* Access to salary sacrifice and discount schemes
* Access to employee assistance and occupational health services
Job details
Date posted: 06 November 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term (6 months)
Working pattern: Full‑time, Flexible working
Reference number: 880‑7377071‑B
Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8HD
Responsibilities
Communication and Relationships
* Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including NHS partners, suppliers, and technical teams.
* Provide expert technical guidance to colleagues, ensuring clear communication of complex data engineering concepts.
* Present technical recommendations and project updates to senior leadership and stakeholders.
* Support the Head of Data Engineering in promoting best practices across data engineering and analytics teams.
* Contribute to documentation, reports, and formal papers on data engineering projects and initiatives.
Ability to deal with potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations and present highly complex, sensitive and contentious information to a wide range of stakeholders in a formal setting.
Oversee team members, support day‑to‑day activities and projects, manage the team, drive delivery of business initiatives, share best practice in employee engagement and operate in a highly political and sensitive environment.
Analytical and Judgemental
* Design, develop and maintain scalable and secure data pipelines in cloud environments.
* Analyse complex datasets to ensure data integrity, accuracy and reliability.
* Support the evaluation and implementation of new data technologies and tools.
* Apply data engineering best practices to improve the efficiency of data processing and storage.
* Identify risks and mitigation strategies related to data engineering initiatives.
Be responsible for a high standard of work, maintain project initiation documents and manage progress through regular team meetings.
Demonstrate effective stakeholder management across departments and maintain business focus, clear authority and active risk management in alignment with NHS strategic priorities.
Financial and Physical Resources
* Support cost‑effective data engineering solutions within allocated budgets.
* Contribute to procurement decisions for data platforms, tools and services.
* Ensure optimal use of cloud resources to maintain budgetary efficiency.
Act in compliance with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.
Budget holder for the Data Engineering team, setting budgets with the Head of Data Engineering and ensuring adherence to the budget.
HR Responsibilities
* Directly manage the Data Engineering team and day‑to‑day work assignments.
* Recruit team staff, chair recruitment panels and act as recruiting officer.
* Oversee appraisal and personal development, including disciplinary or capability issues.
* Provide mentorship and technical guidance to data engineers.
* Support training and development initiatives, contribute to performance reviews and promote an inclusive, collaborative environment.
* Manage third parties (consultants/interims) to meet deliverables within time and budget.
Information Resources
* Ensure adherence to NHS data governance and security policies.
* Support implementation and maintenance of cloud‑based data infrastructure.
* Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures for data engineering processes.
* Maintain technical documentation and ensure compliance with data management best practices.
Draft summary reports, collate qualitative and quantitative information, lead analysis to develop robust business cases and support decision‑making.
Policy and Service Development Implementation
* Ensure compliance with NHS data governance, security and privacy policies.
* Support the development and maintenance of robust data engineering standards.
* Promote adoption of automation and modern data engineering practices.
* Provide recommendations for policy and process improvements related to data management.
Draft and implement changes to policies, guidelines and service level agreements that may impact service.
Maintain knowledge of emerging policies from government departments to inform strategic discussions.
Research and Development
* Keep up to date with emerging data engineering technologies and methodologies.
* Research and evaluate new tools, techniques and best practices to enhance data engineering capabilities.
* Support innovation in data‑driven decision‑making within the organisation.
Plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information.
Co‑ordinate research & development initiatives and delegate responsibilities as appropriate.
Planning and Organisation
* Contribute to strategic planning for the data engineering function.
* Work collaboratively with the Business Intelligence and Data teams to align data engineering efforts with organisational goals.
* Plan and prioritise workload to meet project deadlines and service delivery requirements.
* Identify interdependencies across projects/functions, potential impacts on wider organisation and build contingency plans.
* Help develop performance and governance strategies and implementation of improvement programmes in accordance with the CSU.
* Contribute to short, medium and long‑term business plans, achieving quality outcomes>
The job description is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.
Person Specification
Education / Training / Qualifications (Essential)
* Professional qualification at degree level in an information‑related discipline or equivalent experience
* Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
* Post graduate qualification
* Prince 2 qualified
* Cloud certification
Experience (Essential)
* Proven experience in the provision of data management systems
* Significant experience in design and modelling of complex NHS data and systems
* Experience in NHS Architectural/Systems Management role
* Expert knowledge of industry systems/technologies supporting Data Management / Business Intelligence
Desirable
* Experience in designing database architecture in a complex NHS environment
* Substantial experience of designing solutions within Architectural capacity within a formal and structured environment utilising version control
Skills / Abilities (Essential)
* Specialist analytical skills to interpret complex data specifications and derive work plans for data analysts
* Effective interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to interpret and communicate complex information to staff with varying technical knowledge
* Aptitude to design technical solutions that will deliver the long‑term strategy of the organisation
* Logical approach to problem solving
* Advanced keyboard skills
* Use innovation to deliver solutions
* Proven experience in scripting with PowerShell, C#, VB, SQL
* Ability to prioritise work, schedule and organise own time and that of the team, and commitment to team‑working
* Pragmatic approach to deal with extremely complex situations
Desirable
* Development skills in various other programming languages that allow automation
Knowledge (Essential)
* Highly developed specialist knowledge of enterprise‑level database software including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server
* Expert knowledge of data manipulation tools and techniques such as SSIS and Hive
* Knowledge and experience of implementing information reporting flows between systems and organisations
* Highly proficient in SQL to manipulate and transform large complex datasets
* Knowledge of multi‑dimensional data stores and data modelling
* Knowledge of information governance standards for data security and confidentiality and an understanding of their application
* Working knowledge of market‑leading technologies that support Data Management
* In‑depth knowledge of NHS data dictionary, Commissioning datasets NHS Information Systemse.g. SUS)
Interpersonal Skills (Essential)
* Well‑developed communication skills (verbal and written), ability to make recommendations and convey information on projects to senior stakeholders, internally and externally
* Good presentational skills for conveying complex concepts
* Ability to build co‑operative relationships and manage groups/stakeholders to gain consensus
Desirable
* Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others
Special Aptitudes (Essential)
* Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles
* Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act
Mobility (Essential)
* Car driver / owner or reasonable alternative
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name: NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
Address: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8HD
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