Chief Data Officer

We aim to create a diverse team of talented, committed individuals and be a Great Place to Work; where employees are supported to develop their capability in a dynamic, busy organisation whilst promoting a positive work life balance.

Employee wellbeing is high on our agenda and we strive to promote a socially friendly, welcoming work atmosphere. We are firmly of the view that a happy team is a productive team and we strive to continue to be a Great Place to Work.

Flexible working is a key element for many, if not all, of our colleagues.  Examples include flexible working hours and hybrid working.  For this role, consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis.  Flexible working hours can also be considered.

The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.

About the NSTA

The North Sea Transition Authority’s role is to work with the industry and government on economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources, whilst also supporting the move to net zero carbon by 2050.

Our ambition is to be a world-leading authority setting the framework for a sustainable and competitive UK oil and gas industry.  We believe that economic recovery of oil and gas is not in conflict with the transition to net zero carbon and that the industry has the skills, technology, and capital to help unlock solutions to help the UK achieve the net zero target.

About Corporate

This directorate is responsible for providing services, data, information and digital solutions to enable and support strategic decisions including finance, digital, data & technology services, facilities management, procurement and contract management.

The data team is well established and were finalists for the Best Place to Work in Data at the 2024 British Data Awards (as well as finalists in various awards for climate initiative, public sector excellence, harnessing the value of data and big data innovations).  It’s now time for a Chief Data Officer to take a strategic approach to our data.

We hold over a petabyte of geospatial, technical and operational data and use this as a catalyst for our own decisions, as do industry, academia and government.

Brief overview of role

The Chief Data Officer is responsible for leading the data team and deputising for the Director of Corporate as required.

The role is responsible for leading the delivery and strategy of the NSTA data priorities.  Ensuring the strategic approach for use of data by the NSTA, and by industry, delivers value to accelerate the energy transition, assists in reducing emissions and ensuring energy security to deliver and support the Corporate Plan and Digital and Data Strategy.

The Data team has a team of just under 15 roles. The Chief Data Officer will work closely with the Chief Digital Officer to advise on strategy for data infrastructure and technologies.  Ensuring that data can be accessed, is interoperable and can be surfaced and used effectively. This is a technical leadership role that ensures the NSTA and industry continue to be data driven and make data centric decisions.

We aim to create a diverse team of talented, committed individuals who are supported to develop their capability in a dynamic, busy organisation whilst promoting a positive work life balance. The NSTA considers that this role could be filled by successful candidates from a broad range of data backgrounds. We encourage applicants to creatively consider the transferrable skills, experience and knowledge they may bring to help us on our mission to deliver the energy transition.

Our goal is that the NSTA continues to be a ‘Great Place to Work’. Offering a flexible 37-hour week working environment with hybrid model (40% office working) and up to 2 accruable flex days per month. Work life balance is very important to us with a workplace culture that fosters collaboration, respect, and professionalism. In addition, we offer a range of benefits including a competitive pension - employer contribution (28.97%).

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Corporate your key responsibilities will include:

• Oversee the development and delivery of the NSTA’s future data approach in order to deliver the Data strategy and the Corporate Plan
• Lead on the delivery of the Data strategy and operational planning to ensure resources, targets and capability in place working collaboratively internally and externally
• Ensure the NSTA and industry are taking the opportunities presented by emerging technologies such as AI and predictive analytics.
• Leadership and management of the data team;
• Deliver an effective data service across the NSTA
• Ensure that the NSTA has in place the necessary data skills, data-driven portals and procedures to best deliver its services
• Act as intelligent client to advise on the necessary data infrastructure (pipelines, fabric and architecture) in place so the NSTA, industry, government and academia maximise the potential from data it holds
• Provide strategic advice to NSTA Leadership Team;
• Develop, coach and mentor the data team including professional development of staff outside direct line management;
• Work with Extended Leadership Team colleagues to promote NSTA culture and behaviours;
• Manage the Data budget in line with business requirements including managing and monitoring spend against approved delegated budget;
• Make data even more accessible, transferable and transparent while ensuring compliance and respecting constraints
• Transforming the way the NSTA uses digital technology to access and surface data
• Provide the strategic direction to the organisation and industry to surface data from disparate systems into the Digital Energy Platform
• Ensure appropriate legislative framework is in place for industry data;
• Ensure monitoring and measuring compliance is in place of licence-holders (and other parties subject to the relevant Acts) with legislation and regulations regarding the retention and reporting of information and samples.
• Advise the Director of Corporate and IS Steering Committee on data matters;
• Deputise for the Director of Corporate as required and provide peer Extended Leadership Team members cover and support as required;
• Develop and engage with relevant advisors and bodies and keep abreast of best practice.
• Act as a visionary change agent with a wide understanding of the use of data, potential data driven technologies and technical approaches in making the best use of digital technologies to harness value of data for the NSTA and industry
• Ensure the service management of key data driven portals.

Person specification

Competence 1:          Innovation, initiative and agility

Have the ability to create a culture where innovation is welcome and encouraged; generating and implementing great ideas.  Achieving this includes continuously seeking out ways to change and improve and build an efficient, more flexible and responsive organisation. This could result in making use of alternative delivery methods including digital and shared service approaches wherever possible. The NSTA is a strong proponent of the Agile approach to delivering projects.  Effective delivery often requires staff to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of colleagues, to deliver high quality results.

Competence 2:          Delivery

Work to agreed goals and activities, dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way, working with your team to deliver success.  Delivery at the NSTA involves the efficient, effective and economic use of taxpayers’ money in the delivery of our services. You will provide the focus, energy and agility to drive activities forward, often through appropriate delegation, and encouraging staff to perform effectively in a challenging and changing environment.

Competence 3:          Leading and Communicating

Have the ability to communicate with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity and upholding the reputation of the NSTA.

Competence 4:          Strategic and Commercial Thinking

Scanning the horizon and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value to the UK and which support the goals and ambitions of the NSTA to both accelerate the energy transition, reduce emissions and ensure UK energy security.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

Essential:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent significant relevant experience) and continuing professional development
• Significant recent experience of data, including the utilisation of data driven technology to meet operational and strategic objectives
• Experience of advising senior leadership on data matters
• Proven leadership and delivery of data led strategies including data infrastructure and architecture strategies, plans and functions with track record of transforming performance and impact across complex organisations and industries.
• Experience in leading and delivering through agile teams
• Ability to move initiatives from idea to implementation stages in a speedy manner
• Experience of effectively managing significant budgets
• Experience of leading complex technical teams where you are not a technical expert.
• Contract and supplier management experience

Desirable:

• Public sector or offshore energy data experience
• Risk management experience
• Understanding and/or experience of the offshore energy industry or a regulatory environment
• Negotiation skills and experience