Lead Data Architect in Leeds

We are recruiting a Lead Data Architect to work within the Data Design Service. The postholder will work predominantly within Data Design-Data Sets. This sub-team manages the development of new national clinical, workforce and costing data sets and changes to existing ones. The service carries out stakeholder engagement and develops data models, specifications and documents as required by the approval process. Once approved, the service then supports the implementation of the data sets as subject matter experts. They also provide wider consultancy advice regarding data set development.

Data Design are also supporting the development of NHS England's logical Canonical Data Model. The Canonical Data Model is a national framework designed to unify and standardise health and care data and provide a common structure and language across disparate NHS systems.

As a Lead Data Architect, the post holder will work as part of a dynamic architecture practice in delivering an effective service supporting managers and staff across the health and care system. They support the design and build of data models to fulfil the strategic data needs of the business as defined by the Chief Data Architect. They undertake design, support and provide guidance for the upgrade, management, de-commission and archive of data in compliance with data policy. They also provide input into data dictionaries.

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices. Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band. We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Job Responsibilities:

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, and person specification in the attached Job Description. Please ensure your supporting statement includes demonstratable evidence and specific examples on how you meet the criteria for each of the key skills specified. This will be used in both the shortlisting and interview processes.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Educated to master's level or above, specifically in a computing, scientific, clinical or mathematical subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area.
• Knowledge: Specialised knowledge of clinical terminology and/or principles associated with large scale information systems and data operational services, for example SNOMED CT and its applications. Specialised knowledge of complex relational data sets. A thorough understanding of the definition, specification and documentation of functional and non-functional data handling requirements.
• Skills: Designs data architecture by dealing with specific business problems and aligning it to enterprise-wide standards and principles. Works within the context of well understood architecture and identifies appropriate patterns.
• Experience: Can liaise with stakeholders, communicating highly complex concepts and highly complex issues clearly and accurately, and adapting communication style to suit the recipient.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.