Data Infrastructure Manager

SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension

29 days annual leave (pro rata)

Volunteer days

Flexible working

Training and development

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Suffolk County Council is seeking a Data Infrastructure Manager to lead the design, development and improvement of our data platforms. You will build pipelines, drive data integration, and ensure data accuracy, security and accessibility across cloud and on-prem environments.

You will mentor the BI Centre of Excellence, collaborate with analysts and service teams, and translate complex requirements into scalable, supported data solutions that transform public services across Suffolk.

Qualifications

• Strong experience designing, delivering and supporting data and technology solutions, ideally in a Microsoft Azure environment.
• Good understanding of modern data platforms and tools (Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Synapse, DevOps, Power BI, SQL).
• Translate complex technical and business requirements into practical, secure, scalable solutions.
• Strong analytical, communication and influencing skills.
• Understand service management, governance, information security and reliable operational support.
• Collaborative mindset to help others develop knowledge and confidence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development and ongoing improvement of Suffolk County Council's data platforms to support services and decision-making.
• Build data pipelines and integrate solutions, supporting cloud and on-prem platforms.
• Collaborate with analysts, technical specialists and service teams to keep data accurate, accessible and secure.
• Help build and maintain modern data solutions and reusable approaches across systems.
• Ensure data moves between systems securely and is easy to support post-live.
• Use technical knowledge to resolve complex issues and drive root-cause analysis and preventative actions.
• Coach and mentor colleagues within the BI Centre of Excellence and grow team confidence.

Skills

Azure environment

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

Azure Synapse

DevOps

Power BI

SQL

Data modelling

Data architecture

Data integration

Communication

Influencing

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

Synapse

DevOps

Power BI

SQL

Job description

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Suffolk County Council. We're looking for a creative and driven Data Infrastructure Manager to help us reimagine how our use of data can improve public services. If you're passionate about finding new solutions and making a real difference, we want to hear from you. Reimagine the possibilities.

• Lead the design, development and ongoing improvement of Suffolk County Council's data platforms, helping us make better use of data to support services, decision-making and transformation across the organisation.
• On a typical day, you might be building data pipelines, improving integration between solutions, supporting cloud and on-premises data platforms, or working with colleagues to turn complex business needs into practical, scalable technical solutions.
• Work closely with analysts, technical specialists and service teams to make sure our data is accurate, accessible, well-structured and secure.
• Help build and maintain modern data solutions.
• To play a key role in improving how data moves between systems, creating reusable approaches, supporting automation, and making sure solutions can be supported effectively once they are live.
• You will use your technical knowledge to help resolve complex issues, support root cause analysis, and put preventative measures in place, so our platforms continue to improve.
• Manage the BI Centre of Excellence and coach and mentor colleagues, sharing your knowledge and helping other engineers develop their confidence, skills and independence.

This is a great opportunity to shape the council's data infrastructure, influence good engineering practice, and make a real difference to how data supports people, services and communities across Suffolk.

The team You'll be part of the Customer Experience and Digital service, leading the Business Intelligence Centre of Excellence team. Our team supports, maintains and develops important enterprise applications, integrations and data platforms that help council services make informed decisions and deliver better outcomes for people in Suffolk. You will work with colleagues across IT, Data Analytics, the Intelligence Hub, report writing teams, service commissioners, partner organisations and subject matter experts. We are a collaborative and supportive team, with a strong focus on sharing knowledge, improving how we work, and building solutions that are reliable, secure and sustainable. This is a role where you can influence technical direction, support the growth of others, and help shape the data foundations that underpin insight, performance and transformation across the council.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

• strong experience of designing, delivering and supporting data and technology solutions, ideally in a Microsoft Azure environment
• a good understanding of modern data platforms and tools such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Synapse, DevOps, Power BI and SQL, along with confidence in data modelling, data architecture and integration approaches
• to be comfortable translating complex technical and business requirements into practical solutions that are secure, scalable and easy to support
• strong analytical, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain technical ideas clearly to colleagues, partners and stakeholders
• to understand the importance of good service management, continuous improvement, data governance, information security and reliable operational support
• to be able to work collaboratively, building positive relationships and helping others develop their knowledge and confidence.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day