Data Manager (CR3117)

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our people are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

The Data Systems Group (DSG) is a workgroup within the Department of Epidemiological Sciences (DES) at APHA Weybridge. The group undertakes the data management function within the department and wider Science Directorate. It has systems development, data management, computational modelling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capability. DSG has experience of the data associated with a wide range of animal health disease areas e.g. Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs), Avian Influenza (AI), Salmonella and Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) and liaises widely with Epidemiologists, Modellers and Statisticians both internally and externally (e.g. University research groups) over their analysis requirements.

You will liaise with both external and internal data source providers, interrogate data across a range of systems, and work with relevant data teams to extract data for analysis. In addition, you will develop and enhance data and associated IT systems in line with APHA-wide initiatives. This role will primarily focus on the bTB area, with opportunities to work across other disease areas as well.

Section 3 Job description

You will join a small data team that manages data systems on a range of science portfolios including bTB, TSE, Salmonella, and AI. In particular, your tasks will be:

• The development and delivery of data capture solutions for new data and the enhancement of existing systems. This will involve utilising specialist development, extraction and analysis of software. Solutions should ensure all aspects of data quality are maximised and be accompanied by appropriate documentation.
• The extraction of data from existing databases for a wide variety of stakeholders (both internal and external). Ensuring the accurate and timely delivery of data requests either directly to the requestor or to other APHA analysts.
• Disease data curation This will involve assisting with the process by which Epidemiological data are created and updated and ensuring data quality. Identifying and implementing areas for improvement, particularly regarding performance.
• Liaising with Stakeholders, both internal and external, over their specific data requests. Ensuring that all individual requests conform to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• The provision of consultancy to stakeholders regarding disease data primarily bTB and may include other disease specialities.
• Involvement in the wider initiatives that will impact on data systems e.g. contributing to the UK Livestock Information System by making required adaptations to DSG systems
• The involvement in major IT infrastructure changes which will impact the teams ability to deliver their goals.
• Proactively adopting innovative technologies consistent with the departmental policies to drive efficiency, reduce manual workload, and support continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to:

• Line or functionally manage staff within the team.
• Successful delivery of scientific data-based tasks/projects.
• Reporting project outputs such as routine reports, data requests, oral presentations at meetings, provision of data for publication purposes and providing updates to various stakeholders.
• Management of related data systems and supporting documentation.
• Utilising your strong interpersonal skills, to establish good working relationships with colleagues, internal and external customers and wider stakeholders.
• A good understanding and application of GDPR and data confidentiality.
• Communicate the outputs of your work via excellent written and oral communication skills.

Experience and skills:

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Experience of interrogating large complex data systems using modern reporting tools.
• Experience of data validation and data quality assurance processes.
• Experience of communicating scientific/technical outputs to customers, stakeholders and colleagues with variable technical expertise.
• Competent in using Microsoft VS2022 for developing SSIS solutions.
• Competent in using Microsoft SSMS, MS Access, and MS Office 365 applications.
• Understanding of data security and data protection requirements, including GDPR compliance.

Technical ability

Applying technical knowledge we require you to have an understanding and experience of data handling and extraction from large data systems through platforms such as SQL and MS Access and can demonstrate this, preferably in the context of a scientific environment.

Qualifications

A degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subject or equivalent experience as detailed in the Person Specification.

Security clearance

The Weybridge site is a strategically important national asset due to its role as a reference laboratory supporting the Governments response to national emergencies including disease outbreaks. For this reason all postholders based on the APHA Weybridge site must hold a valid Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) security clearance or above. It is up to each person applying for a post at APHA Weybridge to ensure they meet the residency criteria. Applicants must be currently resident in the UK & have at least three years continuous UK residency in order to start the mandatory Counter Terrorist Check that is a required to work at the APHA Weybridge site where the team and work is situated. If you cannot meet this criteria CTC clearance will not be possible as this is part of pre-employment checks before taking up the post.

Ways of Working

As part of the pre-employment process, successful candidate(s) will work from Weybridge. This contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings.

Out of hours work may be required. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.

The post is part-time (3 days (22.2 hours) a week). This will be a fixed term appointment for a two-year period.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot work from an overseas location for any prolonged period of time. Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Workplace arrangements

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations for meetings for example. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee. The base location for this post is Weybridge.

Health Surveillance

The post will require health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health. This will be arranged by the Health Team at Weybridge.