Technical Data Lead - Scalable Approach to Vulnerability Via Interoperability (SAVVI)

GMCA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

GMCA is establishing the SAVVI Office to lead data governance, interoperability and information sharing for Greater Manchester. The Technical Data Lead will set technical direction, develop data architecture and ensure secure, scalable data exchange across partners.

The role sits in Digital Services, working with governance teams and the SAVVI office to deliver standardized data models, APIs and documentation that support early intervention and coordinated public services.

Qualifications

• Experience in data architecture, data engineering or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of APIs, schemas and data modelling.
• Knowledge of secure, ethical data sharing and governance.
• Experience creating data dictionaries and metadata.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical data leadership for SAVVI implementation.
• Shape and support the technical data architecture (models, schemas, metadata, integration patterns).
• Support adoption of SAVVI standards and templates in real-world services.
• Coordinate data integration across systems and organisations for interoperability.
• Advise on privacy-by-design approaches and align with governance requirements.
• Translate complex concepts for senior leaders and frontline staff.
• Create and maintain data dictionaries, metadata and implementation guidance.
• Represent GMCA in partner forums and standardisation groups.

Skills

Data architecture

Data engineering

APIs & schemas

Interoperability

Data governance

Job description

Contract: 12-month Fixed term with the possibility of extension.

Salary: Grade 10 (Subject to Job Evaluation)

Help transform how Greater Manchester supports its most vulnerable residents.

The Opportunity:

Greater Manchester is leading a pioneering approach to prevention through the implementation of SAVVI (Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) and Open Referral UK data standards, creating the foundations for more connected, proactive and person-centred public services.

To help deliver this ambition, we are establishing a new SAVVI Office: a specialist team bringing together governance, data and transformation expertise to help partners identify need earlier, share information responsibly and coordinate support more effectively.

This work sits at the heart of Greater Manchester's commitment to public service reform, prevention and early intervention. Through the SAVVI Office, we will help local authorities, public services and community organisations work together around the people and places that need support most.

The Team:

We are recruiting three complementary leadership roles that together will form Greater Manchester's SAVVI Centre of Excellence.

The SAVVI Office will bring together specialist information governance, technical data and transformation capability. Together, these roles will provide the governance, technical expertise and change leadership needed to support local authorities and partners to adopt consistent approaches to data sharing, interoperability and service transformation. The team will act as a centre of excellence, helping Greater Manchester build sustainable regional capability, accelerate prevention-focused use cases, and share learning locally, regionally and nationally.

Why This Matters:

Together, these roles will help establish sustainable regional capability that supports:

• Prevention and early intervention rather than crisis response.
• Safe, ethical and trusted information sharing.
• Better joined-up support for vulnerable residents.
• Consistent adoption of SAVVI and Open Referral UK standards.
• Scalable solutions that can be shared across Greater Manchester and beyond.
• Improved outcomes through stronger collaboration between organisations.

Role Overview:

GMCA is seeking a technically skilled and public service-minded Technical Data Lead to provide the technical data leadership required to implement and embed the SAVVI approach across our organisation and wider partnership landscape.

This role will sit within Digital Services and will benefit from close collaboration with the Information and Data Governance directorate and the wider SAVVI team. You will work closely with two other SAVVI specific roles: a Senior Information and Data Governance Lead and a Transformation Coach. Together you will form the SAVVI subject matter expert team within the organisation.

You will set the technical direction for SAVVI-related data design, standards and interoperability, ensuring that data is managed properly and meets organisational, partner and service needs. You will work with local authorities, GMCA, TfGM, digital, data, legal, information security, service delivery and national SAVVI/iStandUK partners to help design reliable, secure, scalable and ethical approaches to data sharing.

This is a unique opportunity to help build the data architecture, schemas, APIs, integration patterns, metadata and technical documentation needed to support the identification of vulnerability and better coordination of support for people and households across Greater Manchester.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical data leadership for SAVVI implementation across Greater Manchester.
• Shape and support the technical data architecture for SAVVI-related delivery, including data models, schemas, APIs, metadata, integration patterns and secure data exchange approaches.
• Help partners implement SAVVI standards and templates in real-world service settings.
• Support the integration of data from multiple systems and organisations, ensuring alignment, interoperability, data quality and appropriate reuse of existing data and data systems.
• Work with technical architects, data teams, service managers and partners to ensure systems are designed in line with enterprise data architecture, information governance requirements and SAVVI principles.
• Advise on secure, ethical and privacy-by-design approaches to data exchange, working closely with information governance, legal and security colleagues.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, accessible language for senior leaders, service managers, technical colleagues and frontline staff.
• Create and maintain data dictionaries, metadata, implementation guidance and supporting documentation that enable partners to understand, use and maintain SAVVI-aligned data consistently.
• Identify common technical barriers across projects and contribute to the continued development of SAVVI standards, tools, templates and playbook material.
• Build strong relationships with partners, suppliers and national standards stakeholders, representing GMCA appropriately in relevant groups and forums.

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience in data architecture, data engineering, technical data leadership or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of structured data, APIs, schemas, data modelling, metadata, integration and system interoperability.
• Ability to apply technical data expertise in complex public sector or partnership environments.
• Knowledge of secure, ethical and privacy-by-design approaches to data exchange, with awareness of information governance, legal and security considerations.
• Experience creating and maintaining data dictionaries, metadata, implementation guidance and technical documentation.

Desirable

• Prior knowledge or experience of SAVVI practices is desirable but not essential; training will be provided.

Please note that prior knowledge or experience of SAVVI practices are not essential for this role. Training will be provided.

Mandatory Information

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation.

Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Hybrid working

This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our Manchester city centre office, allocated GM Local Authority office(s), or on site in the community, with remote working, typically from home (within a reasonable commutable distance from Greater Manchester); the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.

Supporting Documents

SAVVI Technical Data Lead Role - Job Description