Acting Interim Head of Data Services

This role is open to University of Leeds employees only

Do you have the knowledge, skills and experience to lead the institution-wide evolution of our data quality, assurance, management, and discovery capabilities? Are you able to consult with and build consensus across a wide range of senior stakeholders and harness a broad-based community of experts to drive forward and deliver transformational change at both a service and an institutional level?

This is an interim position while we complete the recruitment process for an ongoing role in leading the University's Data Services function and team. The interim appointment is expected to last for six months; however, it may be extended if the recruitment process is not completed within that timeframe.

During this appointment you will have leadership responsibility for oversight of strategic data governance and management and the delivery of the data products that enable evidence-based strategic decision-making across the institution. In parallel to leading the management of the enterprise data platform plus associated service integration, and oversight of the data quality and governance functions, you will enable the continued evolution of our data service and development of the University’s data profession, ensuring this is aligned with changing internal and external demands, and our wider institutional change programmes.

You will lead the improvement of our data foundations to support major programmes such as CPS and SPI, and the use of AI and AI tooling.

As interim Head, you will work in collaboration with senior stakeholders and domain experts across the University community to continue the development and implementation of a cross-institutional integrated and coherent approach for the data quality and governance.

You will also work in collaboration with senior stakeholders across the University and in particular with BIDA and play a lead role in providing the right secure data environment for both strategic and regulatory data analytics and reporting purposes. Similarly, you will work in partnership with DAIS colleagues to ensure that the technological and discovery infrastructure that supports the data functions are stable and secure and scalable.

You will line manage Data Services team leads, and provide leadership of the wider team of data professionals within DAIS. You will balance a proactive, collegiate and solutions-focused approach, whilst managing, mitigating and escalating issues and risks to the Chief Digital & Information Officer (CDIO) as appropriate. You will also support digital and data skills capability development across the University. This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for an individual with the vision, energy and commitment to deliver strategic change and deliver positive institutional impact.