Lead Data Platform Engineer

About Us

We help the UK move forward, faster.

For nearly 150 years, we've protected the UK economy with deep expertise and rigour, building the confidence that helps businesses access lending, investment and opportunity.

We help people deal with personal insolvency. We make statutory redundancy payments when insolvent employers can't. We investigate director conduct and take action where it's needed.

And right now, we're changing how we do all of this, becoming faster, more digitally driven, and more focused on stopping problems before they escalate.

More than 2,000 of us work in offices across England, Scotland and Wales. It might be time for you to join us.

The Role

We're looking for a Lead Data Platform Engineer who wants more than a job that ticks boxes. The role of Lead Data Engineer will play a key role in shaping how we receive and use information within our agency.

This is a role for someone who wants to think bigger, challenge the way things have always been done, and take ownership of the outcomes that matter.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share, and flexible working. We invest in your development and give our people the space to grow, take ownership and make decisions.

You will provide technical leadership within the Data and Technology teams, taking responsibility for the organisation’s Microsoft Fabric and OneLake data platform. The platform provides the foundation for trusted analytics, reporting and AI.

You will work with Enterprise Architecture, Data Architecture, delivery teams and suppliers, alongside colleagues responsible for secure development, automated operations and application support. Together, you will develop a platform that can meet growing demand, protect information and maintain reliable services.

You will set engineering standards, guide complex technical decisions and lead the development of the data engineering team.

What you'll do (Responsibilities)

You'll use your expertise and judgement to:

• lead the development of Microsoft Fabric and OneLake, setting technical direction and assuring complex solutions so the platform remains secure, scalable, resilient, recoverable and able to perform effectively
• establish consistent engineering practices, including reusable components, automated testing, DataOps, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), and Infrastructure as Code, to improve quality and reduce technical debt
• define how data moves between systems, including Dynamics 365, Dataverse, Azure services and analytical platforms, using scheduled batches, near-real-time updates and event-driven integration to meet organisational needs
• enable trusted analytics, reporting, AI and machine learning, working with data, AI and delivery teams to move solutions into production
• embed governance and security in platform engineering, setting standards for data quality, lineage, metadata and access, while meeting retention and compliance requirements
• improve operational reliability and cost efficiency, working with AIOps, Application Support and FinOps colleagues on monitoring, operational management and platform consumption, and providing technical assurance across internal teams and suppliers
• lead, line manage and develop Senior Data Engineers and Data Engineers, using mentoring, knowledge sharing, recruitment and succession planning to build internal capability, reduce reliance on supplier knowledge and support continuous improvement

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)

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

Application and Sift

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

CV

Personal Statement

High volume applications and benchmark scoring

Where high volumes of strong applications are expected or received, we may raise the ‘benchmark’ minimum score required at the sift stage. If a high volume of candidates meet the benchmark score, we may further raise the score required for interview selection. Scores will be applied fairly and consistently. Applicants eligible under a recruitment scheme may, where appropriate, continue to be considered against the agreed ‘benchmark’ score, to support the purpose of the scheme.

CV Guidance

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you’ve gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Personal Statement Guidance

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and should explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, in reference to the essential criteria and values in the person specification.

Interview Stage

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

Behavioural Competencies - assessed through:

• Behaviour 1 - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour 2 - Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour 3 - Making Effective Decisions

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – w/c - To be confirmed

Interview – w/c To be confirmed

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will be conducted by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Queries and Support

When contacting us or the Government Recruitment Service (GRS) using the contact details at the bottom of this advert, please include the 6-digit Vacancy ID, job title, your full name and, where applicable, your 8-digit Applicant ID in the email subject line. This will help us process your enquiry more efficiently.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable Adjustment

We must make reasonable adjustments if our recruitment process puts a disabled applicant at a substantial disadvantage. These are changes or support that help remove or reduce that disadvantage.

If you need an adjustment to apply, contact Government Recruitment Service at insolvencyrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date.

For adjustments later in the recruitment process, complete ‘Assistance required’ on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form. Examples include wheelchair access at interview or communication support if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

Vetting - SC

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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