Business Partner (Data)

Strategy and Communications

Strategy and Communications sits at the centre of the organisation, bringing together several teams with organisation-wide remits and mutual collaboration opportunities. The work of the directorate’s teams includes delivery of major events, designing and leading public affairs or marketing campaigns, providing data, evidence and analysis, leading cross-organisational programmes, to making sure we plan for and can respond to emerging events or emergencies in our city.

About the team

The Mayor of London’s Data for London Board has been established to improve the flow and usage of data to serve citizens, solve city challenges, and promote productivity - putting data into the hands of those who can make a positive difference for London. The Board brings together data leaders from across public, private and civil society and includes expertise in the fields of data science, data ethics, smart cities, cyber security, public engagement and data journalism.

Inside the GLA, the Data for London team are working to ‘fix the plumbing’ for the data ecosystem in London. This includes delivering a rebuild of the London Datastore (https://data.london.gov.uk/), which serves 2m users and contains 18,000 data files. As we work towards that, the team have released the first component of new data infrastructure for London: the Data for London Library (https://dfl.london.gov.uk/library).

The Data for London Library will allow users to search city data, all in one place. We will harvest metadata from many more organisations across London than the current DataStore and put it all in one searchable Library, allowing data analysts to find new datasets or possible collaborators to solve their problem.

The Data for London team now moves onto the second phase of the rebuild. This will be focused on data sharing and access management, ensuring effective governance, roles and responsibilities, and secure access.

About the role

The Data Business Partner will act as a trusted advisor on all aspects of the Data for London programme, owning and cultivating relationships with internal partners across the Greater London Authority. They will drive forward the Good Data Citizenship work pillar, including designing and implementing governance processes and ethics guidelines.

The role will work in partnership with directorate leaders and senior managers to provide high-quality strategic data advice, direction, insight and support, balancing the needs of end users with strategic policy objectives.

In addition, they will work in partnership with the wider Data for London team to further develop the Data for London platform, advocating for users and building data pipelines where required.

What your day will look like

You will:

• Support the Head of Data for London by working closely with managers across the Greater London Authority, gaining sufficient knowledge of the affairs of their data-related needs, challenges, and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with directors and senior managers, acting as a credible strategic partner on how to effectively leverage the resources, tools, and expertise available within the Data for London program and City Intelligence Unit.
• Act as the primary point of contact for Data for London partner projects, ensuring timely and effective communication and expectation management.
• Lead secretariat support for the Data Projects Review group, including organizing meetings, preparing agendas, documenting decisions, and following up on action items.
• Facilitate the prioritisation process for Data for London partner requests, ensuring alignment with the programme and wider organisation’s strategic objectives and available resources.
• Identify opportunities for cross-collaboration and knowledge sharing among partners, promoting a culture of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Influence and challenge strategic decisions ensuring stakeholders are fully aware of the impact decisions made may have on strategic GLA data priorities, including the provision of accurate management information to enable evidence-based decision making.
• Support the wider Data for London team in further developing the Data for London platform, advocating for users and building data pipelines in Python where required.
• Support the Head of Data for London in enhancing the relationship between the business area/s and the data teams to ensure collaboration and the provision of a high level of service.
• Embrace and advocate user-focused processes, staying informed about industry trends and user-centred best practices for data project delivery, sharing relevant insights with partners to enhance their data capabilities.
• Manage staff and budgets allocated to the job in accordance with the GLA's policies and Code of Ethics and Standards and ensure all contract management and procurement of services in accordance with policy and best value principles.
• Realise the benefits of London's diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London's communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job and participating in multi-disciplinary cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience in a similar digital or data-related role, preferably in a public sector or large organisational setting.
• Ability to provide credible professional advice, challenge and innovative solutions to senior stakeholders
• Experience of implementing improvements to people systems and processes, including in Python
• Ability to present technical / complex people information (orally and in writing) clearly and concisely to non-technical senior stakeholders
• Strong understanding of, and experience applying in practice, data management principles, including open data publishing, data analytics, data governance, data quality, and data privacy.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex data concepts into clear and actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in project management and the ability to handle multiple priorities and deadlines.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Martine Wauben would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at martine.wauben@london.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates, in limited circumstances. Please contact the hiring manager if you wish to discuss this further.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date will be in late November.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Secondment Opportunity

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying

• On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• at least 18 months service with the GLA

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment. For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract, which is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam@london.gov.uk.