Go back Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Head of Clinical Data Science and Data Engineering The closing date is 13 July 2025
Join CUH during an exciting phase of innovation in healthcare, research, and education as we look to establish and develop a hub for our wide-ranging innovation work across the Trust.
We recognise that the Trust's data represents one of our most potent assets to support innovation, as well as research and quality improvement. But we have yet to fully exploit its potential. Our new Clinical Data Science and Engineering Unit will be the vital engine room for curating, sharing and utilising our data for novel purposes outside of the routine operations of hospital. It will work collaboratively with the Trust's core digital and data functions, performance and analytics, clinical and operational staff, academics and commercial partners to discover new insights and develop data-driven applications. It will also play a key role in managing the safe, secure and efficient deployment of such solutions - from predictive analytics to medical device-grade decision support tools - in line with policies and processes that it takes the lead in designing. The Trust is committed to funding the unit and the necessary digital technology infrastructure to drive innovation. The unit will consist of a mix of new positions and existing analysts and developers from within the Trust, with a desire to expand as needed to support our innovation goals.
Main duties of the job The Head of Clinical Data Science and Data Engineering is an exciting opportunity to establish our Clinical Data Science and Engineering Unit. You will have a proven track record in designing and managing enterprise data architectures, leading large-scale data integration and analytics projects, and working with cloud platforms, modern data tools, and programming languages. You will have proven experience in working collaboratively with non-technicians to translate needs into projects and implementing innovative data solutions to enhance performance and efficiency, ideally within a healthcare setting. As a result, you will be comfortable operating as a recognised internal expert in AI techniques, the development-to-deployment-to-monitoring cycle, and the infrastructure that supports such technologies.
The expected balance of duties is approximately 50% of the post holder's time on management-related activities and 50% on technical duties.
About us Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job responsibilities Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 13th July 2025.
Interviews are provisionally to take place 21st July 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification Qualifications Master's degree (or equivalent experience) in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
Evidence of continuous professional development
Substantial evidence of specialist knowledge and ongoing education relevant to data engineering, data science and AI/ML
Professional certifications in data architecture such as TOGAF, DAMA or equivalent
Experience Experience in designing and managing enterprise data architectures in a complex organization
Proven track record in leading and delivering large-scale data integration and analytics projects
Experience with cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, MS Fabric, AWS), modern data tools (e.g. Power BI, Snowflake, Kubernetes, Docker), programming languages (e.g. Python, R, SQL)
Extensive experience in stakeholder management and partnership working across health and local government to deliver service improvements and change
Experience in Strategic and organisational business planning processes, writing and agreeing on strategic policy, guidance documents and complex operational business cases
Extensive experience working at a senior level in a large complex organisation and presenting complex material in a simple and accessible format to a senior audience and enabling decision-making and action
Experience in managing and developing staff
Experience in completing and submitting research bids and funding calls
Experience of working in or with health-tech small or medium-sized enterprises
NHS experience in a senior analytical, data engineering, data science and/or AI/ML role in the NHS
Knowledge Knowledge of cloud environments and architectures
Extensive up-to-date knowledge of best practices in software development, data engineering, ETL and data science
Knowledge of information technology and its impact on data
Extensive knowledge of data protection and GDPR
Understanding of Cybersecurity and common issues
Extensive knowledge of using data science and AI techniques such as ML, simulation modelling, causal impact analysis, network analysis, NLP
Knowledge of health technology
Knowledge of NHS operations, policies, governance and organisational structures
Skills Confidence and skilled in adapting to new software and programming language
Skilled in implementation and optimization of data management systems (Databases/Datasets/DataLakes/Lakehouses)
Ability to design and implement data pipeline technologies to extract sensitive information from databases/datasets to help understand a process or solve a problem and make informed recommendations based on detailed data insight
Ability to analyse complex and sometimes conflicting data sets with a logical approach
Ability to communicate sensitive information to senior and executive managers and use tact and diplomacy to influence decision making
Exceptional oral communication skills for a variety of formal and informal purposes
Confident when presenting to groups in internal and external meetings
Able to articulate a vision with clarity and adapt it to suit different audiences
Excellent written skills - able to set out options, conclusions and recommendations clearly and concisely in a range of written styles
Demonstrable proficiency in organising and running multiple complex programmes of work
Flexible in workload duties/dealing with tasks/hours and ability to work with multiple projects/conflicting demands
Experience participating in and leading projects using Agile methodologies
Self-motivated, enthusiastic, and organised, with excellent attention to detail
Proactive and delivers to timescales
Attention to detail in creating documentation
The ability to conduct descriptive statistics, Bayesian statistics, Inferential statistics, Probability distributions and theory, dimensionality reduction and sampling etc
Strong numerical and statistical skills
Additional Requirements Willing to be flexible in working practices
Improvement mindset - able to identify flaws in our internal Quality Management processes, prioritise, and lead/complete improvement actions
Enthusiasm and commitment to learn new skills
Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work
Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
Able to work under pressure and to deadlines
Understands the principle of confidentiality
Understanding of need for sensitivity and discretion in particular circumstances
The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
Able to deal with occasional distressing topics
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address £74,290 to £85,601 a yearpeer annum per rata
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time
Reference number 180-F-255161
Job locations
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