Data Manager

Health Innovation East; Great Shelford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A health innovation organization in Great Shelford is seeking a Data Manager to manage NHS-originating data within the Secure Data Environment. The role involves ensuring data quality, transforming datasets for research readiness, and collaborating with NHS data providers. The ideal candidate has a degree in computing or related fields and experience working with NHS data systems. The position offers benefits such as 27 days of annual leave and a pension plan.

Benefits

27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays

pension (employer contribution up to 10%)

life insurance after probation

cycle to work scheme

access to a confidential well-being programme

Qualifications

• Essential - BSc in computing, physics, biological sciences or similar subject area.
• Strong understanding of how data is stored and structured within NHS systems.
• Proficiency with Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and SQL.

Responsibilities

• Manage NHS patient datasets flowing into the SDE.
• Curate, clean, and transform NHS datasets into research-ready formats.
• Monitor and maintain NHS data pipelines.

Job description

Overview

The Data Manager will play a central role in managing NHS-originating data within the East of England Secure Data Environment (SDE), ensuring it is securely ingested, curated, transformed, and made research-ready. This role focuses on NHS operational and commissioning datasets (e.g. SUS, HES, GP data), understanding their structures, coding standards, and lineage. The postholder will transform and standardise datasets, including mapping to common data models such as OMOP, to enable interoperability and high-quality secondary use in research.

The postholder will work closely with NHS data providers, information teams, and research partners to ensure data quality, integrity, and governance compliance. They will catalogue datasets, maintain pipelines, and provide first-line support for data queries, contributing to the trusted operation of the SDE.

Main duties

• Manage NHS patient datasets flowing into the SDE, including commissioning datasets (e.g. SUS, HES) and GP data extracts.
• Understand and apply NHS data models, structures, and coding standards (SNOMED CT, ICD-10, OPCS, NHS Data Model and Dictionary).
• Curate, clean, and transform NHS datasets into research-ready formats, including mapping to the OMOP common data model and other standards to support interoperability and large-scale research.
• Develop and maintain data dictionaries, catalogues, and transformation documentation to ensure transparency and reproducibility.
• Monitor and maintain NHS data pipelines, working with engineering colleagues on ETL/ELT processes.
• Provide first-line support for data queries from researchers and collaborators, escalating more complex requests to senior data engineers where required.
• Work collaboratively with technical, engineering and programme delivery colleagues to ensure researchers have confidence in the SDE.
• Collaborate with NHS data providers, commissioning teams, and research partners to resolve data quality issues and ensure data flows meet governance requirements.
• Ensure all data handling complies with UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, NHS Digital standards, and information governance best practice for sensitive health data.
• Work alongside technical and research colleagues to integrate NHS datasets with wider research and life sciences datasets.
• Engage with wider Health Informatics projects, supporting the development of sustainable and scalable data platforms.
• Proactively identify opportunities for automation, data standardisation, and process improvement.
• Represent the SDE at relevant external data meetings and cascade relevant information back to SDE colleagues.
• Support data airlock activities relating to research outputs.

About us

Health Innovation East is the innovation arm of the NHS in the East of England, one of 15 regional Health Innovation Networks that support the introduction of innovative technologies, devices and care pathways to transform health and care. Our team works with pioneering start-ups, universities, global corporates and the NHS to deliver innovations in health and care, supported by specialist programme managers, experts in real world evidence and data scientists.

The Health Informatics team designs and delivers secure, impactful data solutions that help healthcare, research and life sciences organisations unlock the full potential of health data for patient benefit, upholding high standards of security, ethics and public confidence to enable data-driven research and improve patient outcomes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential - BSc in computing, physics, biological sciences or similar subject area. Other qualifications combined with relevant experience will also be considered.

Knowledge, understanding and experience

Essential - Previous experience working directly with NHS data in provider, commissioning, CSU/ICB, or NHS research environments. Strong understanding of how data is stored and structured within NHS systems and databases. Practical knowledge of how NHS data is processed, structured and transformed into national datasets used for commissioning and secondary uses (e.g. SUS, HES). Familiarity with the NHS Data Model and Dictionary, and coding standards such as SNOMED CT, ICD-10, OPCS. Experience mapping or transforming NHS data to common data models such as OMOP. Awareness of UK data security and protection law and information governance processes for sensitive health data.

Desirable - Experience working in a Secure Data Environment or similar trusted research environment. Experience integrating NHS commissioning data with research datasets. Knowledge of ISO27001, DSPT, and/or other information security frameworks. Experience with metadata management tools and data cataloguing platforms.

Skills

Essential - Proficiency with Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and SQL. Experience in data cleaning, transformation, and validation of large-scale NHS datasets. Scripting skills in Python and/or R. Ability to design and document data pipelines and transformations. Excellent spoken and written communication, able to explain technical solutions to non-specialists. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

Disposition and Aptitude

Essential - Confident communicator, able to build strong working relationships with NHS data providers and research partners. User-focused, committed to improving health outcomes through high-quality data. Collaborative and proactive, with the ability to work independently and within multi-disciplinary teams.

Key information about the role

Applicants must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK at the point of interview. Must be resident within the UK for the duration of the contract and able to attend the office for meetings (2-4 days per month). The role may require flexible hours to meet deadlines. Occasional travel within the region and nationally is required. Understanding and awareness of personal development needs. Maintenance of a compliant professional portfolio where required.

Benefits

27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time), pension (employer contribution up to 10%), life insurance after probation, cycle to work scheme, and access to a confidential well-being programme. Secondments stay on the employee’s terms and conditions.

How to apply

Submit your CV and a covering letter by Sunday 5 October at 11:59pm to [e-mail], specifying your motivation and how you meet the person specification. Interviews will be held on Monday 20 October in person at our Cambridge office. For an informal discussion, contact [e-mail].