At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a data framework and improve data quality across services.
- Company: Join South Lanarkshire Council, a forward-thinking organisation driving digital transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 33 days annual leave, flexible working, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data management and make a real impact on community services.
- Qualifications: Experience in data governance and strong analytical skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 54783 - 59911 £ per year.
ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by 9 August 2026 at 11:55PM
Location: Council Headquarters, Hamilton
Hours: 35 hours per week, fixed term for 18 months
Work Pattern: Monday - Thursday 8.45am - 4.45pm, Friday 8.45am - 4.15pm
Salary: £54,783 - £59,911 per year
South Lanarkshire Council is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Data Lead to play a pivotal role in driving our digital transformation journey. Data is one of the Council's most valuable assets, underpinning service delivery, performance management, strategic planning and customer engagement. As our Data Lead, you will lead the development of a Council-wide approach to data governance, quality, management and insight, helping ensure that data is trusted, accessible, secure and used effectively to improve outcomes for our communities.
About The Role
Reporting to the IT Business Systems Manager, you will be responsible for promoting the accuracy, integrity and security of the Council's data assets. Working across services, you will further develop and implement the council’s data framework, improve data quality standards, support data-driven decision making and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and policies. You will provide strategic leadership on data management and work collaboratively with colleagues across the council to establish best practice, build data capability and maximise the value of information assets. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the Council's data future and influence how information is used to drive service improvement, efficiency and innovation.
Duties Will Include But Are Not Limited To
- Lead the further development and implementation of the Council's data framework.
- Drive improvements in data quality, consistency and accessibility across services.
- Support the development of policies, standards and processes for effective data management.
- Provide expert advice on data governance, information management and compliance matters.
- Work with service areas to identify opportunities to use data to improve outcomes, performance and efficiency.
- Promote a culture of data literacy and evidence-based decision making.
- Support business intelligence, reporting and analytical initiatives.
- Collaborate with stakeholders across the Council to deliver strategic data objectives.
- Ensure data management practices align with legislative, regulatory and security requirements.
About You
We are looking for a motivated and collaborative professional with:
- Significant experience in data governance, data management, business intelligence or related disciplines.
- Strong understanding of data quality, data standards, information governance and regulatory compliance.
- Experience developing frameworks, policies and processes that support effective data management.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement skills.
- The ability to influence and collaborate across organisational boundaries.
- A passion for using data to drive service improvement and organisational change.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex data concepts to a wide range of audiences.
Why Join Us?
This is an exciting opportunity to establish and lead the Council's data management capability at a time of significant digital transformation. You will have the opportunity to influence strategic direction, shape organisational data culture and make a meaningful contribution to improving services for residents across South Lanarkshire.
As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:
- Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme.
- To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
- Up to 33 days annual leave.
- Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days).
- Occupational sick pay.
- Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
- Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
- Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support).
Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position. Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.
Legislative Information
This post is excepted in terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Scotland Act 2020.
Overseas Criminal Records Check
An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of 12 months in the past 10 years. Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.
Equal Opportunities and Inclusion statement
The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position. As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile.
F&C 5163 - G4 Data Lead (609964) in Hamilton employer: South Lanarkshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises equality and inclusivity. With flexible working hours and a commitment to employee well-being, including a local government pension scheme and family-friendly policies, this role provides meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth in the community-focused environment of Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land F&C 5163 - G4 Data Lead (609964) in Hamilton
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like South Lanarkshire Council before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
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We think you need these skills to ace F&C 5163 - G4 Data Lead (609964) in Hamilton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at South Lanarkshire Council, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to South Lanarkshire Council, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab South Lanarkshire Council’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at South Lanarkshire Council
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at South Lanarkshire Council.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at South Lanarkshire Council.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at South Lanarkshire Council.
