Defence Business Services (DBS) - Data Manager

Job summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

• Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
• Our Mission – Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

Come and join the DBS community today!

https://youtu.be/gUw0ToaRGgk

Job description

As the Armed Forces and Veteran's Services (AFVS) Data Governance Manager you will lead a team that works with DBS’s Business Partner (SSCL) and the Single Services, to implement effective data governance and management practices to all data holdings and data flows in AFVS estate.

You will undertake complex work related to the principles and practices of data governance, overseeing: co-ordination with data owners to lead wider data management competencies; the formation, implementation and management of data governance frameworks, policies and standards; implementation and establishment of wider data management competencies within the organisation; and have responsible for understanding and managing the organisational data risks and issues, and co-ordinating with data owners to accept or resolve them.

Applying an “Agile-first” approach, you will collaborate with the commercial contractor to create, deliver and assure data governance strategies that will enable the effective delivery of the AFVS Sub-Portfolio and the transformation programme which supports the Service Integration and Management (SIAM) model.

You will:

• work on the design and implementation of practical data governance solutions to support organisational needs
• identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve the quality and trustworthiness of data throughout the organisation
• implement and establish wider data management competencies within the organisation (such as data quality, metadata management, master data management, and development of data standards and data strategy)
• apply data governance to optimise the safety and value of data throughout the data life cycle
• work within the organisation to minimise data risks and increase data literacy
• monitor and report on data governance metrics to senior management
• identify and address any issues or risks related to data governance
• provide insights and recommendations based on data analysis
• contribute to elements of live service, programme, contract and change management activity

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Expertise and understanding of Data Governance and Data Management principles as applied to business data, including different data types, data lifecycles, data quality, security and GDPR requirements.
• Understanding of relational databases and data flows, including data by design models, system technical documentation and associated metadata and lineage.
• Understanding and ability to apply data governance and management practices across data holdings and data flows. Including identification, investigation and management of data quality issues, their impacts and risks to the business.
• Possess strong numerical and data analytics capabilities with proven expertise in investigating and tackling complex technical data issues following an analytical and systematic approach applying attention to detail.
• Good communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively at all levels on topics of a technical & complex nature.
• Ability to thrive in a demanding environment and add value to the team by leveraging experience, knowledge and apply sound judgment to the business demands

Desirable Criteria:

• Familiarity with agile methodologies and project management
• Broad practical experience of change and project delivery using waterfall and agile approaches; including the implementation of agile practices; and agile at scale.
• Experience of Oracle Systems (in particular, Oracle Analytics Server (OAS), Oracle Enterprise Data Quality (EDQ) and Oracle Enterprise Metadata Management (OEMM)).
• Experience of the current Mil HR system (JPA – Joint Personnel Administration) and/or the current Mil Pensions system (Compendia Touch).

Desirable Qualifications:

• NSV Security Clearance
• Extensive use of Microsoft Office 365
• Agile Practitioner, Scrum Master or Product Manager or similar
• Project Management Qualification (e.g Prince 2, APM, Agile)
• Commercial contract management foundation qualification
• Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) foundation level qualification (SAFe for Teams, Leading SAFe)

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management
• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Governance

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years' service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for the King's birthday
• Hybrid working, where role permits
• An opportunity to be considered for Reward & Recognition
• Family friendly policies including parental leave and adoption leave
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and personal development of skills
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Allowances

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Employment Hours

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the following success profile elements: Primary: Technical - Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management, Secondary: Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills

• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management

Experience

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
• Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 750 words detailing the following:

At interview, you will be assessed against your Experience and the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical Skills:

• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management
• Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Governance

In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order:

1. Technical - Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management
   
2. Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
   
3. Technical - Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Governance
   
4. Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
   
5. Career - Personal Statement

If candidate scores are still exact, the merit order will then be determined on the sift score in the below order or priority:

1. Technical - Digital, Data and Technology (DDat) Capability Framework - Data Management
   
2. Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
   
3. Behaviour - Leadership
   
4. Behaviour - Changing and Improving
   
5. Career - Personal Statement
   
6. Career - Previous Skills
   
7. Career - Job History
   
8. Career - Qualification Details

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.

Application sifting to take place week commencing: Early September

Interviews are currently taking place via the following method: Ms Teams

Interviews will be conducted week commencing: Mid-Late September

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

To assist with your application please find attached:

DBS Candidate Information Guide - Working for Defence Business Services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

(26) UK Ministry of Defence: Life , LinkedIn

Technical skills Framework guide - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/skills#data-governance

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Sarah Williams
• Email : sarah.williams459@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@MOD.gov.uk in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)