Role: Senior Data 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: The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,323 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location

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.

Location

We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office.

Team Overview

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

You will be part of the Data & Performance Team working alongside our Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, Data Scientists and Performance Analysts to design and modernise how the OPG manages data, ensuring that data products are well‑designed, reliable, secure and aligned to user needs.

In this role, 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.

The OPG Data & Performance Team is dedicated to transforming data into a strategic asset by ensuring high-quality and compliant data is underpinned by strong governance, standards and policies. The role supports a vision where high‑quality data is accessible to the right people, enabling clear insight into service performance and driving informed decision‑making and continuous improvement across OPG. Using the data we capture across the organisation to improve services and help people in England and Wales to stay in control of decisions about their health and finances and make important decisions for others who cannot decide for themselves.

Person specification

This role requires an individual who can work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, including Data Owners and Data Stewards, to shape and deliver data improvement initiatives across OPG.

It also involves supporting strong data governance practices through the implementation of policies, standards and controls, while ensuring Analytics, Data Engineering and Data Science resources are prioritised to deliver maximum impact across OPG.

This is a high‑profile position across OPG requiring a collaborative, analytical, and adaptable individual, with strong experience working with data and the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment.

We are seeking an inspiring leader with strong people skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and the confidence to guide teams through complex data challenges while developing talent and driving continuous improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities

0. Delivering key insights: you will lead the delivery of high‑quality analysis, working with others to turn complex data into clear, reliable insights that support decision-making. You will make sure outputs are accurate by applying and championing strong data quality practices.

1. Working hands-on with data and tools: you will use tools like Power BI (or similar) to shape, model and analyse large datasets, helping to uncover trends and opportunities. You will also help move us towards more consistent, reusable data products and pipelines.

2. Telling clear data stories: you will translate analysis into simple, compelling messages for a range of audiences — from technical colleagues to senior leaders — helping others understand what the data is saying and what to do next.

3. Leading and improving delivery: you will lead data projects from start to finish, identifying opportunities to improve services, prioritising work, and showing the value of what you deliver. You will also help shape our approach to data warehousing and future data solutions.

4. Supporting and developing others: you will mentor analysts and help build capability across the team, sharing best practice and supporting learning in data, analysis and data quality.

5. Championing good data governance: you will help embed strong data governance and data quality practices across OPG, working to identify and resolve data issues and drive continuous improvement. This will include oversight of high-profile requests including Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) and questions from MPs and Ministers.

6. Working closely with stakeholders: you will build strong relationships across the organisation, understanding user needs and translating them into clear analytical requirements for technical and non-technical audiences. You will work collaboratively to deliver solutions that meet business priorities.

7. Additional duties as required: you will undertake additional duties in line with the grade and role requirements.

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.

We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office.

This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, taking into account the operational needs of the Department.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential Skills:

• Strong analytical skills (Lead Criteria): you are confident working with data — able to spot trends, draw meaningful insight and use it to support decisions.

• Clear communication and stakeholder engagement (Lead Criteria): you can explain complex ideas in a simple way and build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders.

• A problem-solving mindset: you are comfortable investigating data issues, combining technical analysis with business understanding to identify root causes and solutions.

• Organisation and attention to detail: you can manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards.

• Proactive and improvement-focused: you look for ways to improve how things are done and are confident suggesting and driving change.

• Strong written and verbal communication: you can summarise complex analysis clearly and present key messages confidently.

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.

• Experience with data modelling, profiling or data warehousing concepts

• An understanding of data governance or data quality frameworks

• Experience in a data, analyst or business analysis role

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:

• Strong analytical skills (Lead Criteria): you are confident working with data — able to spot trends, draw meaningful insight and use it to support decisions.

• Clear communication and stakeholder engagement (Lead Criteria): you can explain complex ideas in a simple way and build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders.

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 - Lead Criteria at Interview (assessed via a presentation at interview around this behaviour)

  • 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.