Deputy Director for Data

Location: Based in Benton Park View, moving to Newcastle City Centre in Summer 2026. These are hybrid roles with the expectation of 60% office attendance. You will be required to attend training in-person on a full-time basis.

In recognition of the hurt caused by the infected blood scandal and highlighted by the Infected Blood Inquiry (IBI), the government has accepted the moral case for a compensation scheme to pay compensation to those infected and affected. This is a unique opportunity to shape, design and implement a data function that provides both capability and assurance to the newly formed authority - alongside building high performing teams.

Are you a visionary data leader ready to tackle some of the most complex and impactful data challenges facing the nation? As our Deputy Director of Data, you will be the architect of our future, forging critical data-sharing pathways with pivotal national services, including the NHS, HMRC, and DWP. You will join a dedicated, mission-focused organisation and lead highly motivated, high-performing teams equipped with modern infrastructure and cutting-edge tools.

• Lead the strategic design and implementation of a robust data platform for the newly formed authority, ensuring both capability and assurance for the Infected Blood Inquiry compensation scheme.
• Forge critical data-sharing partnerships with key national services, including NHS, HMRC, and DWP, to facilitate the efficient and accurate delivery of compensation.
• Build, lead, and mentor high-performing data teams, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement, leveraging modern infrastructure and cutting-edge tools.
• Deputise for the Director of Data, representing the directorate at executive committee and board levels, and contributing to strategic decision-making.
• Drive data innovation and deliver impactful solutions to complex data challenges, ensuring the compensation scheme is underpinned by reliable, high-quality data.
• Ensure data governance, compliance, and ethical data handling are embedded across all data operations, maintaining public trust and safeguarding sensitive information.

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post. The essential criteria and mandate for the role:

• Experience providing strategic leadership across data engineering, architecture, product, and delivery, shaping the very foundation of our operations.
• Experience owning an architectural vision: Serve as the authority on the data architecture that underpins our most critical services and safeguards our operations.
• Leadership of effective data transformation training: Architect and embed a robust plan that fosters a deep-seated culture of proactive data ownership, uncompromising quality, and ironclad information security.
• Experience embedding information security practices alongside a rapidly developing service, building and leading a high-performing cyber assurance capability to protect our vital data assets.
• Experience operating at senior level with experience of successfully working with senior or board level stakeholders with the ability to demonstrate impact and influence at that level.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55, Sunday 13th July 2025.

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

Failure to complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'.

Indicative Timeline: We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

• Advert Close Date: 23:55, Sunday 13th July 2025
• Shortlist: Week commencing 14th July 2025
• Interview: Week commencing 28th July 2025