Head of Data Management and Governance
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Do you excel at influencing others and providing leadership across business, data, and people management? Are you skilled at data management, promoting strong governance and achieving excellence while guiding your team towards a common strategy?
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is a pivotal executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and is dedicated to safeguarding the UK's animal and plant health. With a team of over 3,000 professionals operating across 85 sites including laboratories, offices, and field depots, we are committed to advancing research and regulatory practices that protect both the environment and economy. Our role is critical in maintaining the UK’s biosecurity standards alongside facilitating trade worth Billions to the UK economy.
Job description
Reporting to the Head of Data and Information Unit within the Strategy, Innovation & Planning Directorate, you will help lead the implementation of APHA's Sustainable Futures Strategy. This is a critical role focusing on transforming the agency into a data-driven organisation that can identify emerging threats, manage risk, and optimise resources to respond to animal and plant disease. The Sustainable Futures strategy represents a significant transformation for APHA, and your leadership will be essential in achieving its objectives. Further details can be found in the attached candidate pack.
The role offers the opportunity to collaborate with senior leaders in a newly established Data and Information Unit. The Head of Data Management and Governance provides strategic leadership in data governance, ensuring compliance with DEFRA and Central Digital & Data Office (CDDO) standards, while driving APHA's data strategy, performance, and business objectives. This senior role involves leading the establishment of policies, managing data risks, and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
The Head of Data Management is a senior, strategic delivery role requiring a talented and driven individual. With your expertise, you will guide APHA in transforming its data strategy in line with secure governance ensuring best practices are followed and you’ll play a key role in improving data management and exploitation across the agency.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Strategic Leadership:
Set clear standards and expectations ensuring APHA’s strategies, business objectives and targets are delivered and measured, and that organisational and service performance and quality meets the needs of the business and its customers. Build and develop a high-performing data management team and lead the agency in adopting best data governance practices.
Data & Information Governance
Provide leadership and strategic oversight for all data governance functions across APHA. Ensure alignment with DEFRA-led frameworks and standards, setting and monitoring adherence to agency data policies. Lead the development of data governance frameworks, driving continuous improvement in data management practices and performance. Implement end-to-end data governance across the agency, ensuring effective processes and compliance.
Data & Information Management
Identify, assess, and manage data risks, coordinating with data owners to mitigate or resolve issues.
Data Regulation & Ethics
Ensure APHA complies with DEFRA data policies and ethical standards, advocating for better data risk management practices. Oversee the application of DEFRA and CDDO-led ethical frameworks and standards.
Data Maturity Models
Oversee the implementation of the organisation’s data maturity model within Data & Information Management and Governance
Work with the organisation’s most senior stakeholders to provide data assurance, report assessment findings to boards or committees, and communicate improvement plans
Data & Information Standards
Ensure Agency-wise adherence to data regulation, including GDPR and other relevant legislation, while promoting a culture of compliance.
Leadership & Managing Change
Champion cultural change within APHA, managing data to enhance decision-making and improve performance. Act as an ambassador for data governance, helping to shape the agency’s approach to data and embed the data profession within APHA.
Resource & Performance Management
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing data management team, setting standards and driving capability development. Proactively manage team performance, resource planning, and capacity to meet business objectives.
Stakeholder Engagement / Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, influencing decision-making and fostering a culture of data literacy. Act as an ambassador for APHA, representing data management at government meetings, forums, and strategic planning sessions.
You need to have the following essential skills and experience
- Proven experience in leading data governance and strategy implementation within a complex public sector organisation, requiring excellent communication skills.
- Providing advice on corporate records matters, including management and provision of records for public inquiries.
- Working in partnership with Defra Group Corporate services, DDTS and information leads to ensure effective information management across services and systems (with special emphasis on the Microsoft 365 tenancy)
- Demonstrated success in managing data governance frameworks, setting standards, and implementing data management processes.
- Strong understanding of data architecture, relational databases, data warehouses, and master data management principles.
- Knowledge of legal compliance standards, such as GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act, with the ability to keep up to date with Information Commissioners Office (ICO) notices and tribunal decisions.
- Strong leadership with a track record of managing multi-disciplinary teams, including remote and geographically dispersed teams. With the ability to inspire, set direction and lead change.
Qualifications:
- Associate Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) or equivalent
- Accreditation to a relevant professional body: IRMS, CILIP, CDMP, BSC; or Equivalent professional experience relevant to the role
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Digital information and records in a public sector organisation
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and complete a 750 word Personal Statement detailing your suitability for the role based on the essential skills and experience detailed within the advertisement.
You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement demonstrating how you meet the following Behaviour: Leadership.
Further details around what this will entail can be found on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of successful applications be received, there will be an initial sift assessing the Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will either be progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical, Experience and Strengths. The Behaviours are as follows:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating & Influencing
In the interview, Experience and the behaviour 'Communicating & Influencing' will be assessed through a presentation or exercise. Details will be provided prior to your interview.
You will also be asked Strength questions.
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: 'Digital information and records in a public sector organisation'.
Your interview will be face to face (not remotely) at an APHA location. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra Group's location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
Defra Group includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
Out of hours work will be required in the event of an incident. This can include travel to support outbreak response.
Travel will be required to attend a variety of APHA locations including some overnight stays. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Near Miss
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions within Defra Group which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and is unable to sponsor any individuals requiring Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government
Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold SC due to the nature of the information that they will be required to handle. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to APHA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : HR Resourcing
- Email : HRResourcingSupport@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission.
