Principal data analyst

Band 8b · Data analyst · 595 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Principal data analyst

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G7 or G6.

A principal data analyst leads teams or significant areas of work in data analysis. They determine and implement appropriate standards, processes and structures to ensure data is prepared, managed and used effectively within the organisation.
At this role level, you will:
influence organisational decision making on data analysis and the use of data
oversee continuous improvement of the organisation's data practices and management
represent the data analyst community inside and outside of the organisation

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Set the organisation's standards for data analysis, quality assurance, and reproducible analytical practice.
Advise executive and clinical leaders on the evidence behind major decisions about services and investment.
Lead the analytical community, including its training, tools, and career development.
Shape data sharing and linkage arrangements with health and care partners.
Line manage senior analysts and make sure the team has the capacity and skills it needs.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Applying statistical and analytical tools and techniquesUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: identify opportunities to develop statistical insights and reports that support organisational objectives develop and guide others in a range of statistical and analytical techniques and tools oversee the quality assurance of statistical techniques and analytical outputs, continually improving and innovating practices use statistical and analytical outputs to influence stakeholders across the organisation and beyond
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: mediate between people and strengthen relationships, adopting the appropriate communication method with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and moderate difficult discussions about high risk and complex topics, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of, and represent the community to, large audiences inside and outside the organisation
Data ethics and privacyUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies
Data managementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: champion and lead data management and governance processes within your team and across your organisation define and lead on the implementation of data management responsibilities define data management tools and develop training requirements to implement data governance processes effectively enable continuous improvement of data management practices and compliance with data governance policies
Data preparation and linkageUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: develop analytical data models using a deep understanding of data sources ensure data models are implemented using tools and systems that align with modelling standards set data quality standards in the organisation or beyond, and ensure stakeholders understand their importance mentor others in data quality and modelling
Data visualisationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: translate business requirements into goals for data visualisations set and advocate for new standards and practices in inclusive, accessible data visualisation identify data visualisation capability gaps and implement appropriate training promote the value and adoption of data visualisations across the organisation strategically support stakeholders in understanding and using a story
Delivering business impact through dataUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: champion the role of data across the organisation strategically communicate the business impact of data across the organisation lead others in delivering, and identifying opportunities to deliver, scalable data products that align to organisational objectives partner with others, including other professions, to decide when to pivot to deliver business impact
Developing code for analysisUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: oversee and promote the implementation of coding standards and practices on existing and new analytical outcomes, products and services contribute to coding standards across the organisation ensure reproducibility of code and code documentation across the organisation
Managing a data projectUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: advise on problem statement development, ensuring standards are met oversee and advise on the planning and implementation of the project life cycle on varied data projects share good practice in adapting teams' ways of working to deliver project outcomes lead and develop stakeholder relationships for your team's data projects
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: shape organisational strategy using a deep understanding of the health and care system represent the organisation with health and care partners and leaders anticipate how policy and service changes will affect digital services and care
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead data protection impact assessments and information sharing agreements advise teams on lawful basis, consent, confidentiality, and retention investigate incidents and recommend improvements
Data quality managementThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set data quality standards for the organisation and its partners lead data quality improvement programmes
Pseudonymisation and disclosure controlThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design pseudonymisation and linkage methods that keep identifiers separate from analysis data assess the re-identification risk of a data set or publication and choose suitable controls advise teams on safe settings, such as trusted research environments
Clinical terminology and classificationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design data models and reference sets using clinical terminologies map between terminologies and classifications, and explain the limits of a mapping advise teams on terminology use in products and analytics
People managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: line manage a team, setting objectives and running appraisals support wellbeing and manage attendance, performance, and conduct plan the team's development and succession

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading data analysis across an organisation.

Band 8b outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge across several disciplines or a large service.
Autonomy: Shapes policy and strategy for a large area.
Scope: Several services or teams, or a principal-level discipline.
Leadership: Manages managers, or is the principal authority in a discipline.
Accountability: Several services, their staff, and their budgets.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	8	Advanced knowledge (doctorate plus further training or equivalent), or specialist knowledge across more than one discipline built over a long period.	240
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	4	Plans a broad range of complex activities or strategies, adjusting them as needed.	42
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	4	Implements policy and develops policy or services for a service or several areas.	32
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	2	Handles cash or valuables, looks after equipment used by others, controls stock, or authorises small payments.	12
Responsibility for people	3	Manages a group of staff day to day, teaches core or specialist training, or gives core HR advice.	21
Responsibility for information resources	5	Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.	34
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8b: 585 to 629)			595