About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact the UK and beyond? If yes then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.   

Here at DESNZ we are securing the UK’s long-term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference. 

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are Bold, we are Collaborative, we are Inclusive and we Learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.    

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

Find Out More 

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/  

Job description

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a newly created and ambitious team of change agents that will play a critical role in the drive toward Net-Zero through ensuring that the department has a clear and consistent approach to how it uses data.

The role is part of the newly created Data Strategy, Platforms & Governance (DSPG) Team in the new Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. The team is led by the Deputy Chief Data Officer based in the Analysis Directorate, and reports up to the Director-level Data Governance Board, which spans the whole department. Our mission is to ensure the department has the data and evidence it needs, when it needs it to support decision-making and enable delivery of our core objectives, including ensuring energy security, bringing down energy bills, and delivering net zero emissions by 2050.

As Chief Data Architect you will be the first of your profession to join the department, and will play a key role in establishing and building a new capability, developing an enterprise data architecture and operationalising data governance and data standards by ensuring that data architectures are consistent, coherent, and compliant with the DESNZ Data Governance Framework, and by providing guidance and feedback to data owners, stewards, and users on data management best practices.

You will be joining a new team, and will play a key role in fostering a positive working culture based on trust, inclusivity and a fail-fast mentality. You will be a change agent in the department, advocating for the effective use of data to meet key policy priorities and continually spotting opportunities to innovate. You will work alongside 2 other Grade 6s - one leading on Data Strategy and Governance, and one who runs the department's cloud analytics platform.

You will be a key interlocutor between DESNZ Data and Analytical teams and our Digital colleagues in the Integrated Corporate Service (ICS), ensuring that data architectures align to enterprise and technical architectures, meet the Service Standard and promote interoperability, connectivity and reuse. You will build close working relationships with Digital and drive forward joint projects, ensuring they go through appropriate digital assurance and spend controls.

You will join a team where significant value is placed on your development as a leader, and where you will have opportunities to learn, grow and progress, and play a key part in the establishment of a Chief Data Office for DESNZ.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business needs and translate these into coherent data architectures that align to the DESNZ Data Strategy.
• Effectively communicate complex data concepts and insights to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring a clear understanding of data-driven implications and fostering informed decision-making across the department.
• Utilise advanced data analysis and synthesis techniques to derive meaningful insights from complex datasets, informing strategic decision-making and guiding the evolution of the data architecture.
• Establish and enable data governance policies through data architecture, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and departmental and cross-government data standards.
• Foster a culture of data innovation by exploring and implementing new technologies and methodologies, driving continuous improvement and pushing the boundaries of what is achievable within the data architecture.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive data models and schemas to support complex analytical queries and reporting requirements.
• Lead on defining and implementing data standards within the data architecture, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to industry and government best practices across all domains.
• Develop and maintain key metadata products and standards for DESNZ across its various datasets and platforms, including data catalogues, data dictionaries and standards.
• Proactively identify and resolve data-related challenges, ensuring the stability and reliability of the overall data ecosystem.
• Provide strategic guidance on data management, data integration, and data warehousing, optimising solutions for scalability, efficiency and reliability across the DESNZ data estate.
• Lead the design and implementation of a coherent and robust data architecture for DESNZ, ensuring alignment with the department's conceptual data model, its core objectives and industry best practices.
• Set up and run a new Data Design Authority for DESNZ.

Skills and experience

Our team exists to drive change in the organisation, and as such we are looking for someone who is proactive and organised, who is comfortable working in ambiguity, is a highly effective communicator, who can work at the interface of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and who is unreasonably positive.

In return we will offer you an inclusive working environment that prioritises your wellbeing and flexes around your life, a culture of continuous learning that is comfortable with trying things that might not work, and a solution-oriented, glass half-full mentality where we focus on the positives and support one another to develop and grow.

The essential criteria is below:

• Significant experience in senior data architecture, data engineering, or data analysis roles, in large and complex organisations.
• A master's degree or higher in computer science, information systems, statistics, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional qualifications.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing data solutions using a variety of technologies, such as SQL, NoSQL, cloud services, ETL tools, data pipelines, data lakes, data warehouses, and data marts.
• Strong knowledge of data modelling, data governance, data quality, data security, and data standards, with the ability to apply them in complex and dynamic environments.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, with the ability to translate business requirements into technical specifications, present data architecture vision and strategy to stakeholders, and mentor and coach data team members.
• Experience in leading and managing data projects, including planning, scoping, resourcing, budgeting, monitoring, and delivering outcomes.
• Proven ability to innovate, experiment, and leverage emerging technologies and trends, such as big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data visualisation, to enhance data capabilities and value.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,350, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £17,374 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and technical skills required.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications will be sifted on CV and any technical skills required.  

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead technical skill Data Standards (Expert).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and technical questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 07/07/2024

Interview dates: w/c 14/07/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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 

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.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.