Overview
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.
Key responsibilities include leading the development and implementation of cloud-based data pipelines, ensuring data quality, accessibility, and security; supporting the Head of Data Engineering in defining best practices, team development, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement; and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to align data engineering solutions with national and local data strategies to support operational and analytical needs.
Job Responsibilities
Core Duties and Responsibilities (Key Result Areas)
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.
Demonstrate ability to manage potentially aggressive/antagonistic situations and present highly complex information to a wide range of stakeholders in formal settings. Oversee team members to deliver requirements, engage with key stakeholders, and support delivery of day-to-day activities and projects, while driving delivery of business initiatives and sharing best practices in employee engagement.
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 efficiency of data processing and storage.
* Identify risks and mitigation strategies related to data engineering initiatives.
Maintain high standards of work, manage project initiation documents and plans, and monitor progress and resources through regular team meetings. Demonstrate effective stakeholder management across departments and ensure 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.
Ensure compliance with Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions in budget management; act as budget holder for the Data Engineering team with responsibility for budget adherence and documentation for scrutiny.
HR Responsibilities
Directly manages the Data Engineering team and day-to-day work; responsible for recruitment, chairing recruitment panels, and handling appraisals and development, including disciplinary or capability issues. Provide mentorship, training support, performance reviews, and foster an inclusive environment. Manage third parties (consultants/interims) to ensure timely, budget-compliant deliverables.
Information Resources
* Ensure adherence to NHS data governance and security policies.
* Support the implementation and maintenance of cloud-based data infrastructure.
* Contribute to standard operating procedures for data engineering processes and maintain technical documentation.
Draft status reports, develop robust business cases, and lead analysis to support decision-making. Analyze and present data to highlight issues and risks.
Policy and Service Development Implementation
* Ensure compliance with NHS data governance, security, and privacy policies.
* Support development and maintenance of robust data engineering standards.
* Promote automation and modern data engineering practices; provide policy and process improvement recommendations.
Maintain knowledge of emerging government policies to inform strategy discussions for the data engineering Community of Practice and stakeholders.
Research and Development
* Keep up to date with emerging data engineering technologies and methodologies.
* Research and evaluate new tools and practices to enhance capabilities.
* Support innovation in data-driven decision-making.
Planning and Organisation
* Contribute to strategic planning for the data engineering function.
* Work with the BI and Data teams to align efforts with organisational goals.
* Plan and prioritise workload to meet project deadlines and service delivery requirements.
Contribute to interdependencies, resource planning, contingency, performance and governance strategies, and long-term business planning.
Person Specification
Education / Training / Qualifications Essential: degree in an information-related discipline or equivalent experience; evidence of continuing professional development. Desirable: postgraduate qualification; Prince 2; cloud certification.
Experience Essential: proven experience with data management systems; design and modelling of complex NHS data and systems; NHS architectural/systems management; expert knowledge of industry systems/technologies for data management/BI. Desirable: experience designing database architecture in NHS environments; experience designing solutions within architectural capacity in formal environments with version control.
Skills / Abilities Essential: strong analytical skills for interpreting complex data to derive work plans; interpersonal and influencing skills; ability to design technical solutions aligned with long-term strategy; logical problem solving; advanced keyboard skills; innovation in solutions; scripting in PowerShell, C#, VB, SQL; capability to prioritise and lead a team. Desirable: experience with other programming languages for automation.
Knowledge Essential: knowledge of enterprise-level databases (Oracle, MS SQL Server); data manipulation tools (SSIS, Hive); information reporting flows; SQL proficiency; multidimensional data stores and data modelling; NHS data governance standards; market-leading data technologies; NHS data dictionary and SUS. Desirable: further NHS-related design experience and version-controlled architectures.
Interpersonal Skills Essential: clear communication (verbal and written) to senior stakeholders; good presentational skills; ability to build cooperative relationships and gain consensus. Desirable: persuasive influencing.
Special Aptitudes Essential: awareness of equality and diversity; confidentiality and data protection understanding. Mobility: Car driver/owner or reasonable alternative.
Other
Disclosure This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act; DBS disclosure may be required.
Employer details
NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit
County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8HD
Employer's website: https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/
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