Health Data Innovation Lead – Challenge Works in London

Health Data Innovation Lead – Challenge Works in London

London Full-Time 66800 - 66800 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative health data programmes and support researchers in neurodegenerative disease solutions.
  • Company: Challenge Works, a forward-thinking organisation focused on health data innovation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical insurance, flexible working, and generous leave options.
  • Other info: Join a diverse team committed to responsible innovation and flexible work-life balance.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in health innovation while working with cutting-edge data technologies.
  • Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience with complex health datasets required.

The predicted salary is between 66800 - 66800 £ per year.

Challenge Works is looking for an experienced health data specialist with strong technical expertise and programme delivery skills to support the delivery of innovative health data programmes focused on neurodegenerative diseases. Working within a team of innovation specialists at Challenge Works and alongside data and technology partners, the role will support the delivery of data components across a portfolio of health innovation programmes. These include the £8 million Longitude Prize on ALS, which is using advanced data and AI approaches to accelerate discovery in ALS, as well as new programmes exploring how health, genomic, lifestyle and environmental data can be used to support the prevention and early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.

The role will focus on ensuring that health datasets are prepared, supported and accessible for innovators, enabling them to use complex data effectively in the development of new research and technology solutions. This will include supporting data readiness activities, improving dataset documentation and usability, coordinating access processes, and working directly with innovation teams to understand their data needs and provide technical guidance.

The successful candidate will act as a technical bridge between innovators, data providers and programme teams — helping to translate data requirements, troubleshoot challenges and ensure that datasets and supporting resources enable successful challenge delivery. We are looking for a candidate who combines technical expertise in biomedical and health data with excellent communication skills and an ability to support the practical delivery of data-driven innovation programmes. They will have the technical understanding to assess, prepare and improve health datasets for research and innovation, while being able to work closely with innovators to understand their requirements and provide appropriate support.

The candidate should have experience working with complex health datasets and an understanding of the processes required to make data accessible, well-documented and fit-for-purpose. This may include data harmonisation, metadata development, data quality assessment, data linkage approaches, and preparing datasets for AI and computational research applications. The role requires a broad understanding of biomedical, healthcare or health data research environments. Experience working with neurodegenerative disease, genomics, clinical datasets, AI applications in healthcare or research data infrastructures would be beneficial.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of health data and innovation, supporting researchers and technology developers to access and use high-quality datasets to develop solutions with the potential to transform how we understand, prevent and treat disease.

Main responsibilities
  • Act as a technical point of contact for innovators participating in Challenge Works’ health data programmes, helping them understand and effectively use available datasets.
  • Support onboarding of innovation teams, including guidance on data access processes, documentation, technical requirements and appropriate use of health data.
  • Respond to data-related queries, troubleshoot challenges and coordinate solutions to enable innovators to make progress.
  • Gather feedback from innovators on data availability, usability and infrastructure, helping to improve the overall data experience.
Data readiness, harmonisation and quality
  • Assess and support the preparation of health, genomic, clinical and population datasets for research and innovation use.
  • Work with data providers and technical teams to improve dataset quality, documentation, metadata and usability.
  • Support data harmonisation and linkage activities across multiple datasets to enable meaningful analysis and comparison.
  • Contribute to the development of AI-ready datasets and data resources suitable for benchmarking, discovery and challenge prize activities.
  • Identify data limitations, gaps and opportunities for improvement to support effective innovation.
Health data infrastructure and access
  • Support the operation and continuous improvement of secure data environments used within health data innovation programmes.
  • Help coordinate data access workflows, user requirements and technical processes to ensure innovators can access the resources they need.
  • Work with technology partners to support the delivery, maintenance and improvement of data platforms and research environments.
  • Contribute to the development of user guidance, technical documentation and supporting materials.
  • Provide technical expertise across Challenge Works’ health data innovation programmes, including initiatives focused on ALS and neurodegenerative disease prevention and early detection.
  • Translate scientific and technical requirements into practical data solutions that support challenge delivery.
  • Contribute technical input to the design and development of future health data challenges and programmes.
Data governance and responsible innovation
  • Support responsible approaches to the use of sensitive health data, including considerations around privacy, security, ethics and governance.
  • Work with data custodians and programme teams to ensure datasets are appropriately managed and used.
  • Help communicate technical, governance and data access requirements between different stakeholders.
Experience
  • Degree in bioinformatics, computational biology, data science, health informatics, genomics, epidemiology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline.
  • Experience working with complex health, clinical, genomic, biomedical or population-level datasets.
  • Experience supporting data preparation, quality assessment, harmonisation, integration or linkage workflows.
  • Understanding of the processes required to make health data accessible, well-documented and fit-for-purpose for research and innovation.
  • Experience working with data users, researchers or technical teams to understand requirements, resolve data-related challenges and support effective use of datasets.
  • Ability to interpret and communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Strong organisational skills and experience managing technical deliverables within complex projects.
  • Experience working with neurodegenerative disease, neuroscience, genomics, rare disease or biomedical research datasets.
  • Familiarity with AI and machine learning applications in healthcare or life sciences research.
  • Experience supporting users of research data platforms, secure data environments or Trusted Research Environments (TREs).
  • Knowledge of health data infrastructure and initiatives such as UK Biobank, Our Future Health, HDR UK, NHS datasets, Genomics England or similar resources.
  • Experience developing data documentation, metadata standards or approaches to improve data usability and interoperability.
  • Experience working in collaborative research, innovation or challenge-based programmes.
What we offer
  • Salary: Circa £66,800 plus an array of benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more.
  • Location: Hybrid, with two days per week in the London office. We ask that our team attend the office on Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Term: Permanent
  • Hours: 37.5 hours per week
  • Flexibility: We offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results. We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful. We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Health Data Innovation Lead – Challenge Works in London employer: Nesta's Health

Nesta is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about driving impactful policy discussions through media. As a Freelance Podcast Director, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with leading experts and shape compelling narratives that resonate with audiences, all while enjoying the flexibility of freelance work. With a commitment to employee growth and a focus on meaningful content creation, Nesta provides a unique platform for professionals looking to make a difference in the realm of public policy.

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Contact Details:

Nesta's Health Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Health Data Innovation Lead – Challenge Works in London

Get Involved with Local Health Initiatives

Join local community health events or volunteer for organisations like public health agencies. This not only builds your experience but also helps you network with industry professionals who might know of openings at places like Nesta's Health.

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Follow health policy news and trends—being knowledgeable about the current landscape will not only help you in interviews but also make you stand out as a candidate. You can discuss recent developments and their implications when chatting with folks at Nesta's Health.

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We think you need these skills to ace Health Data Innovation Lead – Challenge Works in London

Communication Skills
SQL
Problem-Solving Skills
Python
Data Governance
Automation
Data Engineering

Some tips for your application 🫡

Highlight Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in health sciences administration, it's super important to spotlight any relevant experience you have in healthcare settings. Whether you've worked in a hospital, a clinic, or any related environment, make sure to detail those roles in your CV – focusing on your responsibilities and achievements that align with the job at Nesta's Health.

Showcase Your Administrative Skills:Administrative skills are key in this field, so don’t hold back! Make sure your CV reflects your proficiency in things like scheduling, data management, and compliance with health regulations. Mention specific software you’ve used, such as patient management systems, as this will demonstrate your hands-on abilities and readiness for the role at Nesta's Health.

Craft a Meaningful Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect your passion for the health sciences field and your eagerness to contribute to Nesta's Health. Share a bit about why you’re drawn to this sector, any impactful situations or challenges you’ve encountered, and how they’ve shaped your desire to work in health sciences administration. This personal touch can really set you apart!

Tailor Your Documents to the Job:Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach! Make sure your CV and cover letter are specifically tailored for this role. Highlight any certifications you have relevant to health administration, and ensure you clearly connect your previous roles to the skills needed for the full-time position at Nesta's Health. This way, you're showing them you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in being a part of their team.

How to prepare for a job interview at Nesta's Health

Showcase Your Administrative Skills

In health sciences administration, being organised is key. Make sure you can demonstrate your skills in managing schedules, paperwork, and data accurately. Be ready to discuss specific tools you've used, like electronic health record systems or scheduling software, and how they improved efficiency in your past experiences.

Know Your Regulations

Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance is crucial. Brush up on HIPAA, GDPR, or other relevant policies before your interview. We recommend preparing examples of how you've ensured compliance or handled sensitive information in past roles—this will show you're not just knowledgeable but also responsible.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Interviews for administrative roles often involve scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills. Practice responses to common situations you might face, such as dealing with a challenging patient or managing a sudden schedule change. This will not only demonstrate your ability to think on your feet but also highlight your interpersonal skills.

Align Your Goals with the Organisation

As a full-time candidate, employers will want to know how your long-term career goals align with their mission. Take some time to research Nesta's Health’s values and be ready to tie your passion for health sciences administration into their objectives. Demonstrating enthusiasm and career alignment can be a game-changer in this competitive field!