Ministry of Justice

Role: Data Delivery and Governance Lead 

Business: Office of Public Guardian (OPG)

Location: National (Hybrid working with some attendance at office sites: OPG Sites or at nearest MoJ Hub)

Grade: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Salary: National: £42,914, London: £49,325 

Contract Type: Permanent

Minimum Hours: 30 Hours 

Organisational Overview

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance. We are an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), set up in 2007 following the introduction of the Mental Capacity Act of 2005.

OPG is responsible for registering lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA) and supervising deputies who are appointed by the Court of Protection.

OPG is a fantastic place to work offering a range of development opportunities.  The OPG is a disability confident employer and is committed to developing a supportive and inclusive environment that reflects the diverse community we serve.

OPG is currently delivering an ambitious transformation programme. This will change the way we provide services and help us meet the growing needs of our users, partners and our stakeholders. It will make sure our users experience a better level of support and will help us to respond to the changing needs of society. Transformation will ensure we can better support adults at risk and create high-quality services that are accessible and affordable.

Team Overview

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is seeking an SEO Data Delivery and Governance Lead to join the growing multidisciplinary OPG Data & Performance Team, part of the Strategy & Central Services Directorate.

In this role, you will lead complex work related to data governance principles and practices, coordinating a range of technical data projects on a daily basis. You will be responsible for managing and driving the delivery of key data tools and solutions, ensuring they are completed to agreed time, cost, and quality standards.

You will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing OPG’s organisation wide data improvement strategy. Working closely with stakeholders across the department, you will help shape how the strategy is applied in business areas and identify opportunities for the OPG Data Team to design and deliver new products and services that directly support OPG priorities.

Our vision is to create a future in which high-quality data is readily available to the right people, enabling a clear understanding of service performance and supporting informed decision-making to drive continuous improvement.

In this role, you will engage and collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders across the department to lead and influence data improvement activities for OPG. You will build strong working relationships with OPG Data Owners and Data Stewards, working closely with them to scope, define, and shape data focused projects.

You will play a key role in supporting the implementation of data policies, processes, standards, and controls, and in clarifying roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities. Through this work, you will help ensure that OPG’s data is managed effectively and treated as a strategic organisational asset.

This is a key role on a high-profile activity within the OPG data and analytics landscape, offering a high-level of visibility with senior stakeholders from across the Department. The role holder will support the prioritisation of OPG Data Engineering, Analytics Engineering and Data Science resource in the most effective way to help us drive forward our Data Improvement activities across OPG.

The post is ideally suited to an individual with demonstrable experience in data and analytics who is confident operating in a fast‑paced environment with high expectations for delivery. The role offers a unique opportunity to develop advanced leadership, strategic thinking and influencing skills.

The postholder will be analytically minded, inquisitive and able to apply well‑developed skills in critical analysis to a range of complex priorities. You will be a collaborative team player who can work flexibly across competing demands, bringing a learning and growth mindset to the role. In return, you will enjoy the support of a diverse but close-knit team and additional opportunities to learn and develop your skills, experience and professional capability.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• You will have line management of a 1x HEO Data Quality and Governance Manager and support the prioritisation OPG Data Engineering, Analytics Engineering and Data Science resource to deliver the best outcomes for OPG. 

• The post holder will play a key role in the execution of diverse data projects encompassing data governance, management, analytics, and dissemination. When working within an individual team or service, you may be responsible for leading technical requirement gathering.
• Taking a leading role in designing the departments approach to a data warehouse by identifying high impact interventions then prioritising them for delivery and implementation to achieve organisational outcomes.
• Working closely with stakeholders across OPG to uncover the data-related interventions which will support stakeholders to achieve their business outcomes and objectives. 

• Development, maintenance and implementation of the OPG Data governance framework policies, standards, processes, and controls. 

• Lead the embedding of strong data management practices across teams through collaboration and guidance. 

• Lead and promote data training, increase awareness, and increase capability around data quality best practices 

• Critically assesses data sources considering the wider impacts of their limitations by coordinating data quality assessments across OPG 

• Assist with discussions and escalations at the OPG Data Governance Committee ensuring accurate information is available to inform decisions 

• Maintain a central log to track and monitor data issues, manage an up-to-date OPG Data hub, manage data requests and workload of OPG Data resource. 

• You will play a key role in championing the importance of high-quality data management across OPG. 

• You will support the wider data team with business and MI queries (e.g., to answer Ministerial questions, address FOI requests and central reporting into the department). 

• Support the process of capturing stakeholder data requirements, assessing, defining and justifying those needs to arrive at a definitive set of user requirements that are documented 

• Other tasks and responsibilities commensurate to grade. 

Agreed Expectations 

The successful candidate will be expected to work from their base location on a weekly basis in line with current Civil Service requirements, outside of any reasonable adjustments. You may be required to visit OPG Birmingham/Nottingham offices depending on business need.   

This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret data, identify trends and correlations and provide meaningful insights to support data-driven decision-making (Lead Criteria)
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence and engage with a wide range of groups, including senior leaders and a non-technical audience (Lead Criteria)
• Ability to identify and investigate data quality issues, drawing on both technical analysis and business insight.
• Experience working with data in an analytical, quality, or governance role
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to prioritise tasks in a complex environment
• Demonstrable experience of being proactive and innovative, with a focus on continuous improvement
• Good drafting and presentation skills, with the ability to capture salient points and headlines from analysis succinctly and present these confidently to senior leaders.

Desirable Skills:

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. 

• Knowledge and understanding the QA procedures and ensures app, proportionate QA for all analytical work/products.
• Database, modelling concepts and tools with an understanding of ETL/ELT pipelines.
• Experience/knowledge of data governance or data quality frameworks
• Line Management experience.

Application process 

This recruitment will follow the Civil Service Success Profile process. Candidates will be expected to complete the following as part of the application sift: 

• A CV detailing your career history. CV’s will be assessed against the essential and desirable skills above.
• Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words, to demonstrate your experience against the essential and desirable skills required for this role. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the two lead criteria as outlined in the essential skills above. 

Interview Process

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will use the Civil Service Success Profiles. At interview, candidates should expect to deliver a presentation and expect questions on: -

• Strengths relevant to the role 

• The following Behaviours at SEO Level:
  • Seeing the Big Picture – (assessed via presentation around this behaviour) (Lead criteria at interview)
  • Communicating & Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Further details on the presentation topic and content will be provided to candidates in advance of interviews commencing. This information will be confirmed to you via email.

All interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. 

Reasonable Adjustments 

At OPG we consider all applications on the basis of merit and want you to feel able to demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any reasonable adjustments for any aspect of the selection process, do not hesitate to get in contact with us. 

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. If you are applying for a role within OPG and would like to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process. 

For further information on benefits of working for OPG, such as our Flexible Working Policy and a FAQ, please check the candidate information pack attached to this advert. 

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, we may offer you an alternative role at the same or lower grade should one be available.