Senior Data ArchitectinLondoninLondonPUBLISHED FRI 21 MAR 2025

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA's remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation's expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

• Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation's readiness, defences and health security
• Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
• Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
• Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
• Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

At the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), our mission is to ensure national health security by addressing infectious diseases and external threats. We serve as a trusted advisory resource to both the government and the public, focusing on minimizing health inequalities in various communities. Our mission is both challenging and innovative, driving us to create a diverse, skilled workforce, which is representative of the communities we serve.

The UKHSA Digital and Data Directorate strategically manages a suite of modern, secure data tools and platforms, ensuring access to high-quality data services. The DD&A team within the directorate comprises solution architects, data architects, and data modelers, and collaborates with organizational units throughout UKHSA. They provide expertise in data modelling, flow design, and tooling, utilizing top-tier cloud and on-prem solutions to deliver insights for safeguarding public health. As a Senior Data Architect, you will lead data design programmes, collaborating with peers to analyse, design, and implement our evolving data and analytics estate.

About us

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Analyse and translate business need into sustainable data flows.
• Evaluate, understand, and document existing data systems.
• Assess the impact of change, and effectively communicate data design and change implications.
• Collaborate with and guide multiple stakeholders on data-centric initiatives.
• Maintain a broad knowledge of our existing and planned data estate.
• Stay current on modern data tooling, select, and evaluate options as needed.
• Optimize how data is stored and moved through UKHSA, aligning with strategic objectives and operational efficiency.
• Address specific data challenges within a governmental/health context.
• Provide thought leadership, patterns, and best practices across diverse data domains.
• Communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Manage processes related to data architecture, ensuring adherence to standards, policies, and best practices

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria -you will be assessed against the below 6 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

• Bachelors degree in computer science, Information Technology or equivalent experience
• Producing relevant data models across multiple subject areas
• Explaining which models to use for which purpose
• Understanding industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards, and when to apply them
• Comparing the development and optimization of sophisticated data models
• Establishing design patterns and blueprints for data solutions, integrating the latest industry best practice

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 6 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application

• 750 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Please note that you will only be assessed on the 6 essential criteria listed within the advert and not all those listed in the job description.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essentialcriteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Understanding industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards, and when to apply them

Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical and Experience will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving (lead)
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at one of our Core HQ's or Scientific Campuses. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton or Chilton).

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.