Salary: Up to £299,000 including performance related pay
Contract Type: Permanent
Reporting to: HDRS Chair, that is accountable to DHSC Permanent Secretary. Also accountable to parliament and the public as Accounting Officer appointed by the DHSC Permanent Secretary.
Purpose of the Role
The inaugural CEO of the new Health Data Research Service (HDRS) will be responsible for the creation and operation of a new government company (GovCo) set up to deliver a client centric service that will transform access to the UK’s health data.
The CEO will operate in a dynamic and high-profile environment to: design and launch a high performing service offer to customers; create a trustworthy and financially sustainable business model; work collaboratively with HMG partners to remove barriers to delivery; and build a strong foundation of patient and public trust and information security.
The CEO will need to demonstrate strong strategic and commercial skills and experience in providing data services to a complex range of private and public customers. The CEO will play a pivotal role in navigating technical landscapes, fostering strong public engagement, and balancing the demands of varied stakeholders to ensure the success of this pioneering organisation.
Key responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership
- Set the organisational vision and, working with clients and Government partners, lead the recruitment or commissioning of capabilities required to deliver this vision.
- Design a service that is truly client-centric and can compete in an increasingly competitive international marketplace for data.
- Realise commercial and patient benefits from day one by building on existing resources and data assets – nationally and locally.
- Establish and lead a high performing organisation that is accountable to the Board (the Board will be accountable to Ministers) to deliver a health data research service that revolutionises health data research and innovation in the UK.
- Manage the organisation’s budget and ensure the organisation has relevant resources to prioritise effectively against strategic outcomes and maximise patient and public benefit.
- Effectively identify and balance multiple, and often conflicting requirements from a range of stakeholders, including patients and public, users, industry stakeholders and clinicians to deliver a world-class data service.
- Effectively negotiate with data asset owners and controllers to ensure that the service has access to a wide range of data available from a range of sources.
2. Business Development and Operational Delivery
- Create and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy aligned with the Government’s overall vision to ensure the financial sustainability of the organisation and meets the requirements of the original investment proposition through the development of a Full Business Case for the service.
- Develop financially sustainable business models and identify innovative commercial opportunities to ensure clear value capture, to support benefits for the NHS and patients.
- Develop a strong brand that is recognised by UK and international clients.
- Design and deliver an operating model for a network of data systems which provide a timely and high-quality service for users.
- Incorporate robust data governance and technical security standards and associated assurance measures into the designed operating model.
- Work closely with the network of data assets to design and implement a model which makes access timely and minimises bureaucratic barriers to access while maintaining secure, trustworthy approaches.
- Ensure efficient management of day-to-day operations, including the facilitation of data access for research initiatives, data analysis, and collaboration with healthcare entities.
- Collaborate with government, working with the senior official sponsor (DHSC/NHS accountable Director), to simplify legal ownership and data controllership to ensure HDRS is backed up by a clear legal arrangement.
3. Public, client and stakeholder engagement
- Ensure high trustworthiness in the organisation by building public trust and deliver large-scale public and professional engagement utilising existing efforts and citizen groups where possible.
- Represent HDRS both with key partners and with media. Leverage the organisation’s unique position to collaborate effectively with both public institutions and private sector entities.
- Build and maintain relationships with the National Health Service (NHS) including NHS England’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer, the existing Secure Data Environment (SDE) network, Devolved Administrations, UKRI and its data programmes, academic institutions, industry partners, and participants to foster collaboration and trust.
- Build and maintain a strong relationship with the HDRS sponsorship team within government and each of the major funders.
4. Governance and Accountability
- Create the appropriate governance mechanisms for the service including working with officials to appoint suitable Board members.
- Report to the Board, who will be accountable to Ministers, ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory standards as well as central government requirements.
- Ensure Public Trust by upholding and championing transparency and ethical standards to maintain confidence among participants and the public.
5. Innovation and Research Advancement
- Promote the development of new data technologies and methodologies to enhance research.
- Seek opportunities for continuous improvement of HDRS service and products.