FC - Data Lead

Data Lead

Service: IT Services
Grade scale: Grade 4 level 2-5
Reports to: Business Systems Manager

Purpose of the job

Responsible for promoting the accuracy, integrity, and security of the organisation's data assets. Managing data governance processes, supporting services to provide actionable insights, and collaborating with various departments to support data-driven decision-making.

Key tasks and responsibilities

  • Develop and implement a data management framework, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and the continuous improvement of data quality and accessibility.
  • Utilise knowledge of data analysis and management methods to drive the organisation's strategic objectives and enhance overall business performance.
  • Support the council's digital transformation efforts.
  • Define and implement a council-wide data framework aligned with digital transformation goals.
  • In alignment with the council’s digital transformation goals of enhancing service delivery, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, ensure that the council’s data assets are strategically managed, high in quality, and effectively governed.
  • The role supports the council’s Digital Strategy, which prioritises the seamless integration of ICT applications, improved data quality, and a unified customer view. By overseeing the data realm, the Data Lead will ensure coherence, stewardship, and strategic alignment across resources.
  • To underpin efforts to personalise services, improve responsiveness, and enhance citizen satisfaction by ensuring data quality and integration.
  • To strengthen the council’s compliance posture and reduce risk by leading data governance initiatives and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks.
  • Collaborate with Resource/Service Managers and IT to understand data needs and ensure alignment and to drive data maturity and integration across the council.
  • For the successful implementation of digital transformation initiatives, act as the product owner of data-related products and platform to ensure they meet user needs and deliver value.
  • Responsible for overseeing the investigation and understanding of operational requirements, seeking effective business solutions through improvements in information systems, data management, processes/procedures, organisation and equipment. To apply available standards, methods and tools in an intelligent and effective way, and produce a consistently high standard of documentation of both a technical and a descriptive nature.
  • Instrumental in advancing the council’s digital transformation agenda and realising its digital ambitions.

Person specification

Criteria

Essential

Desirable

Education, qualification and training

Degree or HND in IT related subject, or equivalent.

Relevant professional qualification or training in data governance, data management, information governance, business analysis, project management or digital transformation.

Skills, knowledge and experience

Proven experience in data governance, product management, and stakeholder engagement.

Familiarity with public sector data standards and technologies.

Strong analytical and communication skills.

Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to create clear documents, manage data, and communicate effectively.

Experience of working within a local government or wider public sector environment.

Demonstrate knowledge of data quality improvement, reporting tools, analytics platforms or customer data integration.

Experience of supporting organisational change, service redesign or digital transformation projects.

Personal qualities

Ability to work collaboratively across services and build positive working relationships.

Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, quality and continuous improvement.

Ability to communicate complex data issues clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

Self-motivated, organised and able to manage competing priorities.

Creative and solution-focused approach to problem solving.

Confidence to challenge existing practice constructively and promote data-led decision making.

Other

Ability to attend meetings across council locations as required.

Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and handling information in line with council policies, data protection legislation and information security requirements.

To demonstrate behaviours consistent with honesty and openness: treating people consistently, fairly and with respect.

To work in a flexible, adaptable manner and to always act with discretion and tact.

Willingness to undertake relevant training and continuous professional development.

Full driving license

Safer recruitment checks

As part of our approach to good practice and safer recruitment we carry out a number of pre-employment checks:

  • Asylum and Immigration right to work in the UK.
  • Reference check: external candidates require 2 references, one of which must be from present or most recent employer; Internal candidates require 1 reference from current line manager.
  • Candidate Disclosure Scotland check, where applicable.

Behaviour framework

The council’s behaviour framework is a set of core behaviours that defines how employees approach work to enable the delivery of key tasks for the role. The expected behaviours for this role are:

Efficient

  • Use initiative and drive to improve and develop systems and processes to increase efficiency achieving better outcomes in service delivery.
  • Suggests ways to improve how others organise their own work.
  • As a manager or professional/expert you actively seek solutions to deliver improvements and involves others in the development of solutions and improvements.
  • Agrees SMART objectives for both team and individual employees reviewing progress to achieve successful outcomes.
  • Manage budgets with no overspends and applying the council’s financial policies and procedures.
  • Ensures sustainability and environmental awareness practices are being implemented and that they inform the development of new projects/initiatives.

Flexible

  • Anticipates and responds flexibly to changing priorities and modifies practice to meet changing environment.
  • Identifies and implements new ways of working.
  • Supports individuals and team at times of both organisational and personal change making appropriate adjustments to accommodate individual needs where required.
  • Expresses a positive approach to change and promotes the benefits of change to team and colleagues.
  • Actively listens to customer feedback and takes action to improve customer experience.

Performing

  • Use professional expertise and knowledge to ensure the council is leading best practice to improve outcomes.
  • Ensure that the council is meeting it’s legislative and statutory requirements by keeping abreast of new initiatives and legislation.
  • Evaluates and reviews the impact of service improvements from the customers perspective.
  • Identifies trends and creates solutions.
  • Ensuring that health and safety practices, policies and procedures are applied keeping employees and customers safe and minimising workplace accidents and injuries.
  • Implements the council’s maximising attendance policy and procedure ensuring action is taken and recorded on people connect.
  • Considers risk in the context of service development and delivery.

Working with others

  • Promotes a positive team environment with good morale.
  • Works with other teams and colleagues internally and externally, developing relationships and sharing knowledge, ideas and expertise to achieve outcomes.
  • Provide objective and constructive advice and support if tensions arise.
  • Shares knowledge with internal and external colleagues to achieve common objectives.
  • Giving praise and recognition for good work.
  • Use professional identity and expert knowledge to work across disciplines breaking down professional barriers to improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
  • Encourages colleagues to consider different perspectives in their work.
  • Adapts communication to encourage desired behaviour.

Leading

  • Understands what needs to be achieved and ensures that this is communicated to team members.
  • Expresses positive expectations of others to support their development.
  • Recognise individual and team achievements thanking and praising others.
  • Maintain a positive approach and motivate team when things go wrong, or demands are high.
  • You identify talent and provide opportunities for those individuals who wish to progress or learn new skills.
  • Takes responsibility for personal and team development needs taking account of learning styles and available learning/training methods of delivery.
  • Uses professional judgement/expert knowledge to make informed decisions.