Principal Data Specialist

**Principal Data Specialist**:
**Location**: Kings Cross, London - (with flexible working options available)

**Salary**: up to £70,000 per annum, dependent on experience and location, plus benefits

**Permanent**

**Principal Data Specialist**

At the ODI we want a world where data works for everyone. This role has the responsibility of realising this vision both inside and outside the ODI, leading the Institute’s data journey internally while externally delivering world-class data services, and building an open, trustworthy data ecosystem.

Reporting to the Director of Data and Services and working in close collaboration with the other Principal roles and the Director for Research, Development, and Technology, the ODI’s Principal Data Specialist oversees the ODI’s Data discipline, ensuring the development of the data team’s practices and methodologies, and is responsible for the pastoral care and professional development of the team.

The team brings hands-on experience with data and data technologies to the multidisciplinary work of the ODI, and a strategic view of the data, technology, skills, and knowledge needed for the delivery of the ODI’s mission and vision.

Externally, you’ll be responsible for the technical aspects of delivering sector-change and capacity-building programmes such as OpenActive and Open Referral UK - managing the team overseeing the development and adoption of technical standards, guiding data strategy and data services for our clients, while also ensuring our work is informed by a continually evolving and deepening understanding of the data and technology landscape. Working closely with members of the Consultancy and Research disciplines, you’ll be ensuring that both the ODI and its clients has the technical infrastructure to make data of all kinds work for the widest possible array of stakeholders.

**Key responsibilities of the role**:
- Support the Director of Data and Services in acting as senior sponsor for data input in ODI projects and programmes, ensuring the quality of code and outputs, building relationships with clients, and that work is delivered on time and within budget- Collaborate closely with the Director of Data and Services and work in close partnership with the other principals in the organisation and programme leads.- Speak publicly about our work, developing the public profile of the ODI data team.- Contribute to project and programme design to ensure we are scoping and delivering great projects for companies and governments- Work with the sales team to ensure projects related to the data team are appropriately scoped and estimated to be deliverable and advance ODI's strategy- Lead on some of the larger data standards projects and programmes, e.g. for our key commercial and strategic partners and customers- Communicate the ODI’s data activity to the internal team by providing regular updates and summaries
- Contribute to the ODI’s digital transformation inputting in areas like data standards, data quality and data analytics

**As a senior member of the ODI staff, you will take on line management responsibilities**:
- Providing pastoral care for your line reports through regular check-ins & catch ups and monitoring their attendance and sick leave- Defining & managing the performance of your line reports by ensuring they keep their role description up to date, helping them define their objectives & reviewing these on a quarterly basis- Managing the workload of your line reports in collaboration with project leads and delivery managers, including ensuring they take their holiday and helping them to manage their time- Helping your line reports engage well with the organisation, including communicating & clarifying company strategy and policies, and dealing with any conflicts they experience with clients or members of the team- Ensuring your line reports receive professional required CPD, coaching, or mentoring to aid their professional development- Providing coaching and mentoring to internal staff
- Being involved in recruiting new people to fill roles that report to you, including drafting role descriptions, shortlisting, and interviewing

**As a member of the ODI team, your responsibilities also include**:
- Reflecting and developing ODI's values and culture in the way you work
- Taking time for professional required CPD, coaching and mentoring, both individually and as a team

**Key skills and competencies**:
- Be an expert data specialist. With experience in data standards, data management, data science and data architecture.- Able to engage on all technical matters, command the respect of development teams, and make expert choices about the architecture, design of software systems and API’s.- Significant knowledge of project scoping, budgeting, and agile delivery of technology, software and/or data standards development- Have experience in publishing and using open data and open APIs.- Have client-facing skills, ideally gained through