Job Description
Job Summary
If you're looking for a role where you can explore your most ambitious ideas, this is it! At NHSBT, we give people the freedom to pursue big concepts – and in doing so, our workforce achieves remarkable results.
Our work impacts nearly everyone at some point in their lives – our role in digital truly helps save and improve lives.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for delivering technology platforms that support data and analytics across NHSBT – both existing and future platforms – and contributing to an organisational-wide data strategy. Your responsibilities will include:
- Strategic Leadership and Governance: Lead the development and implementation of NHSBT’s data and analytics strategy, aligning it with organisational goals. Set delivery approaches, manage governance frameworks, and oversee commercial, budgetary, and people management.
- Product and Platform Oversight: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of digital data products, including the evolution of the Data Product Centre. Lead platform teams supporting critical infrastructure like Oracle DB, Microsoft SQLServer, Microsoft Fabric and PowerBI, as well as legacy Business Objects.
- Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships across NHSBT and externally, effectively communicate complex strategies, and facilitate workshops and presentations for diverse audiences, including senior stakeholders.
Note: This role offers a hybrid working arrangement. However, you will be assigned a base location at one of NHSBT’s main centres. The final base location will be confirmed after the final interview and mutually agreed upon with the line manager during the verbal offer stage.
Main duties of the job
In this role you will be responsible for the effective delivery of technology platforms to support data and analytics across NHSBT, including those that exist today and those that will be implemented in the future. Your responsibilities will include:
Strategy
- Developing and implementing digital data products that span the whole of NHSBT. This applies to existing and new services that need to be developed end-to-end related to Data.
- Explaining complex strategies related to the use of data and analytical systems to a variety of audiences. Roadmaps will need to be discussed and agreed with senior stakeholders across NHSBT, and complex inter-relationships will need to be explained and rationalised.
- Defining delivery approach that ensures those products and services meet a broad range of users’ needs and deliver agreed benefits and outcomes
- Providing leadership across the NHSBT data and analytics community and sharing design and delivery of solutions
- Maintaining strong relationships and operational consistency with other data and analytics teams in the business directorates.
- Providing analytical advice and expertise regarding relevant data/analytics programme information and issues, and explaining complexities, to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
Delivery and Team Leadership
Via two direct reports and a total team size currently of 17:
- Lead the Data Platforms team which provides the operational support for our Oracle and SQL Server estate including Critical National Infrastructure
- Lead the BI/Analytics team which provides development and operation support for our Microsoft Fabric and Business Objects data platforms
- Evolve the Data product centre establishing the right delivery team structure and ways of working
- Responsible for planning and direction of their area of work through knowledge, research and agile working methods
- Management of the commercials, budgets and people, redeploying people and resources as priorities change, while paying close attention to team dynamics
- Responsible for leading the build, delivery and implementation of Data products throughout their lifecycle for several products or services within a large, complex Data intelligence programme
Other responsibilities and behaviours
- Ensure that you follow health and safety policies, risk assessments and safe systems of work to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Managers will address the health, safety and wellbeing of any staff they are responsible for, in proportion to the level of risk in their department and promote a positive safety culture
- Adhere to and role model NHSBT’s values and the code of conduct. This includes demonstrating integrity, respect, and accountability in all actions and decisions. Fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment, contributing to continuous improvement, and striving for excellence in their roles. Aligning with NHSBT’s values, to support a positive workplace culture, drive innovation, and ensure the highest standards of ethical behaviour
- Adhere to and role model NHSBT’s behaviours with regard to equity, diversity, and inclusion
You may be required to travel and spend time away from base, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice
About You
Experience and Knowledge
- Excellent knowledge and experience of setting the strategy for analytics platforms and leading a team responsible for the ongoing management of those analytics platforms across the enterprise including MS Azure (e.g. Fabric). Business Objects
- Extensive knowledge of system development and deployment lifecycles
- Extensive experience of defining roadmaps and leading teams to deliver against those roadmaps for operational data platforms and analytics platforms
- Significant knowledge and experience of delivering complex products or services in a large programme or live service.
- Knowledge and understanding of health and social care, the NHS and its strategic direction, and relevant political drivers
- Proven effective risk and issues management, planning and benefits in a project environment
- Evidence of regular engagement with formal and informal networks across digital, agile and government
Qualifications and Training
- Educated to master’s level or equivalent qualification/experience
- Recognised qualifications in agile project and programme management methodology e.g. CSM, CSP, or equivalent experience in agile project and programme management
- Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD)
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.
By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What we offer:
- £76,965 - £88,682 (in accordance with 25/26 payscales anticipated to be effective from August 2025)
- A full time, permanent opportunity to join as a Band 8c.
- NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
- 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
- We’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.
This vacancy will close at 11:59 PM on 6th July 2025. There will be a two-stage shortlisting process, and further details will be shared closer to the time.
Interviews are anticipated to be held on 24th and 25th July 2025 – subject to confirmation
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: Lisa Kenton (Executive Assistant) on behalf of Nick Breeds, Assistant Director – Solutions Delivery
Contact Details: Lisa.Kenton@nhsbt.nhs.uk
