Head of Data for TransiT
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Job Purpose
The University of Glasgow is leading TransiT, a new UK research hub dedicated to digital twinning for transport decarbonisation. TransiT brings together 8 leading universities and 67 industry partners and was formed through an EPSRC and Stakeholder commitment of £46M. In addition, this national Hub as one of UKRIs largest investments into digital twinning, is responsible for supporting the coordination of other strategic investments into digital twinning, towards securing UK capability and capacity building in digital Twinning for critical networks and services.
The Head of Data (TransiT) will lead on the hubs data and software applications strategy, implementation and governance. The appointee, supported by the Transit cross-institutional support team, technical service staff and researchers, will lead the design, implementation and management of the digital environment that will support the 8 University Partners to engage in secure, and creative digital twinning research. They will ensure efficient, sustainable and innovative operation of data and applications services across the Hub. This includes responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance and maintenance of trusted research practices.
As a key member of the senior operational management group, reporting to the Hub Manager, the Head of Data (TransiT) is a senior strategic leadership post. The appointee will lead on the planning and implementation of innovative, efficient and effective data management systems and robust data governance strategy. This role will make a significant contribution to the TransiT Hub's organisation strategy.
Although the role is based in the University of Glasgow, the appointee will establish and manage effective collaborative relationships with partner institutions, and will support collaboration and sharing of best practice more widely with stakeholders involved in Data and Digital Twinning with alternative application sectors e.g. medical, urban data sciences etc.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide leadership across the full range of the TransiT Hubs data strategy, data management, software development, modelling and information governance activities.
2. Oversee, coordinate and ensure compliance with best practices, governance legislation and regulatory standards such as information security, quality assurance, data protection and intellectual property law, supporting successful completion of relevant audits or reviews as requested by funding agency, regulatory or government stakeholders.
3. Manage the technical activity with key TransiT digital sector stakeholders including but not limited to Amazon/AWS, Nvidia and Bentley Systems and relevant academic stakeholders such as ARC-XR, Urban Data Sciences and partner Universities' Information Services teams.
4. Produce and implement a comprehensive data strategy and corresponding digital modelling environment, ensuring interoperability, expected to be a hybrid approach with physical and cloud-based elements.
5. Maintain an awareness of future challenges and new opportunities within the domains of data strategy and digital twinning, implementing appropriate controls to mitigate risks to security and regulatory compliance and ensure continued research trustworthiness.
6. Responsible for the strategic implementation, adoption and/or procurement of software and application infrastructure (including robust electronic data sharing and collection solutions, prioritising access by researchers).
7. Working with relevant University partner units provide coordination and leadership in research data lifecycle management activities, including data handling, quality assurance and publication, prioritising security, efficiency and the delivery of research ready data products.
8. Manage and oversee the production of accurate and comprehensive documentation related to the Hub's data strategy and governance and software engineering activities.
9. Provide regular reports ongoing activities, progress, and future plans to support informed decision-making and ensure consistent updates for all stakeholders and funders.
10. Work collaboratively with operational leads within the Hub to strengthen cross-functional processes, systems and interactions, ensuring effective communication and efficient service delivery.
11. Deputise for the Hub Manager where required.
12. Any other appropriate duties as directed by Hub Directors/Leadership team.
Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience
Knowledge and Qualifications
Essential:
A1 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles. Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas.
A2 Expert knowledge of data strategy and data governance.
A3 In depth knowledge of information security issues and proven ability to liaise successfully within information security teams.
A4 Expert knowledge of software engineering within the context of digital modelling.
A5 Expert knowledge of regulatory responsibilities associated with data management including but not limited to data protection legislation and intellectual property law.
A6 Proven expertise in project management methodologies, demonstrated through extensive experience, and or professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile, with a strong understanding of project lifecycle management.
Desirable:
B1 Extensive knowledge of the legislation and regulations applying to secure data management and governance, including principles of quality management (ISO 9001) and information security (ISO 27001 and GDPR).
Skills
Essential:
C1 Ability to provide strategic and operational leadership and coordination across diverse technical areas including data management, data strategy and software engineering.
C2 Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with diverse audiences in a positive, collaborative and compelling manner, acknowledging differing views and priorities.
C3 Strong ability to lead and manage complex organisational challenges and changes, applying tact and diplomacy in sensitive or contentious issues.
C4 Excellent written and spoken communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality documents and present effectively to a range of audiences.
C5 Strong project management skills including the ability to coordinate and provide leadership to a range of concurrent activity.
C6 Excellent leadership and management capabilities, including the ability to lead a team and deliver successfully as part of a senior management team.
C7 Excellent critical analysis skills including the ability to evaluate new technologies and assess opportunities and risks associated with their utilisation.
Experience
Essential:
E1 Leadership and management experience in a commercial or research organisation.
E2 Experience of leading effective multidisciplinary professional teams and establishing a strong and responsive user-centric service culture.
E3 Experience of managing and governing data in a highly regulated environment, specifically in terms of data governance requirements.
E4 Extensive experience coordinating the procurement, adoption, development and use of software within a regulated environment.
E5 Experience of working in partnership with senior colleagues to formulate, develop and implement strategies and major projects.
E6 Experience within teams developing integrated digital modelling and software programming environments, applications development and managing software application systems in a regulated environment, including system deployment within a secure web-based context.
Desirable:
F1 Leadership experience within a critical infrastructure service provider organisation (such as energy or transportation).
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 9, £58,596 - £65,814 per annum.
This post is full time (35 hours per week), and has funding for up to 30 June 2029 in the first instance.
Closing Date: 25 February at 23:45