Deputy Director, Group Corporate Services (GCS) Data and Insights Lead

Job summary

The GCS Data team operates at the heart of Defra Group Corporate Services within the Group Corporate Services (GCS) Directorate.

The team supports Defra outcomes by delivering:

• data platform and data services, including data governance, so that GCS teams and end users across the people, finance and commercial domains have access to the tools, data, and insights they need to deliver business-critical services.
• data protection services that enable the safe and compliant processing of personal data across GCS, core Defra, and APHA.
• data into Defra’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution (Synergy) so that Defra and its ALBs can deliver its business-critical services and reporting across the people, finance and commercial domains.
• data insights that drive decision making on performance and organisation health.

Job description

Key responsibilities

The postholder will provide strategic leadership for Defra’s Group Corporate Services central data function ensuring data is managed and exploited as a strategic asset to support operational excellence, organisational transformation and evidence-based decision making across Group Corporate Services and Arm's Length Bodies.

The role is accountable for the delivery and continuous improvement of business-critical data services, including data and reporting platforms, data and analytics engineering, data governance, and data protection, while leading the digital and data workstream for Defra’s Synergy transformation programme.

This includes ensuring Defra group is prepared for the transition to a new ERP platform and can access trusted, high-quality data to support critical business processes, and statutory and operational reporting.

Leading a core team of 26 staff and an extended digital and data delivery team, the postholder will directly manage four Grade 6 leaders and oversee a budget of approximately £10 million. They will provide strategic direction, manage organisational risk, ensure value for money and drive the development of modern data and reporting capabilities across Group Corporate Services.

As a senior leader within Group Corporate Services, the postholder will influence and collaborate across Defra, ALBs, other government departments and delivery partners, building strong relationships to drive innovation, strengthen data maturity and enable successful delivery of departmental and cross-government priorities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (no more than 1000 words) on how your relevant skills and experience meet the essential criteria.

• Significant experience leading data services and delivery portfolios across large organisations.

• Expert knowledge of data operations, data management and data governance. A strong track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivery of organisation-wide digital and data transformation within complex stakeholder environments.

• Strong ability to influence across organisational boundaries and build trusted strategic relationships.

• A strong understanding of how data is used, its value and how this can be fully enabled and exploited by digital delivery.

Qualifications

No specific qualifications are required; however, the post-holder is likely to be accredited in one of the following areas: please indicate in your personal statement, which one you hold.

• Government Digital And Data

• Analysis
• Data governance and management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £24,914 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

Selection process details

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

• You will be assessed on the following behaviours throughout the selection process: Leadership, Changing and improving, Communicating and influencing, Seeing the big picture

Application Process

As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (no more than 1000 words) on how your relevant skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Completed applications must be submitted no later than the closing date of 23:55, Wednesday 19th August 2026.

Sift

A sift will be conducted against the key criteria in the essential criteria and will assess your experience. Applications will be assessed by the selection panel and shortlisted. (please note: feedback is not given at the shortlist stage)

Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE)

These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision-making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlistedcandidates at the earliest opportunity.
For further information regarding the assessments please visit - https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

Interviews

You will be asked to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria for the role. As part of the interview, we may ask you to prepare and present a short presentation or undertake a practical desktop exercise. This will be confirmed in the interview invitation. We will also ask some strengths-based questions.

Interviews will be held via MS Teams

Informal chat

Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity for an informal chat, further details will be provided to those who progress to this stage.

Other Information

Please let us know what adjustments we can put in place to