Working arrangements: Placements will be remote/hybrid with occasional office/event attendance, but this is at the successful candidate’s discretion. Our head office is in Canary Wharf, we also have offices in Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. Full-time is preferred so you can fully immerse yourself in the team and project, but we will work flexibly if part-time hours are required. Placements must be completed in one continuous block due to IT and data access/security requirements.
Placement duration: 3-months. Preferably full-time
Placement project description
The Chief Data Officer (CDO) group is the analytical powerhouse of UKHSA and plays a key role in making sure data is used safely, legally, and ethically. We support every step of the data journey, from collecting and managing information to analytics and delivering insights that drive real-world action.
If you’re passionate about using data to make a difference and want to help solve big health challenges, there’s a place for you here in the CDO group.
Background/ expected impact:
UKHSA’s Data Products Delivery team is offering a three‑month placement for a DTP PhD student to undertake a high impact strategic analysis of the organisation’s live digital and data services. The project will map the full-service landscape, assess duplication and value, and generate evidence‑based recommendations to guide future investment, rationalisation and prioritisation. This work will directly support UKHSA’s mission to deliver secure, efficient and high value digital services that underpin national health security.
Outline of duties:
The placement will focus on three interconnected areas:
- Mapping and Rationalisation of Live Services. The student will map all UKHSA live services to the organisation’s capability model, identify duplication or overlap, and assess opportunities for rationalisation. This includes analysing service usage, security posture, cost, risk and performance to inform recommendations.
- Justification, Road mapping and Future Needs. Each service will be assessed for its justification (statutory requirement, health benefit, business efficiency), cost profile and remaining lifetime. The student will develop a proposed roadmap for upgrades, replacements and new developments, informed by market trends, legal changes and emerging technologies. This will help anticipate future gaps not yet in the PMO demand pipeline.
- Common Framework for Assessing Health Impact. By reviewing business cases and service assessments across UKHSA, DHSC and wider government, the student will identify or propose a common framework for quantifying the health impact of digital services. This will support consistent KPIs, clearer value comparisons and more robust decision‑making.
Anticipated benefits for the student
Expected output(s)/ deliverable(s):
Your analysis will help UKHSA understand how AI and automation can enhance digital delivery, reduce friction and strengthen technical capability. Your findings will:
- Inform future workforce planning,
- Help steer tooling decisions
- Improve our delivery models
- Support UKHSA’s ambition to build a modern, efficient and resilient digital function.
The project will also provide evidence to guide investment in AI‑enabled engineering practices and shape long‑term digital strategy.
Support for student:
UKHSA is an excellent placement opportunity as we have a developed culture of learning and development, fostered in an inclusive environment. To ensure that the postholder has opportunities to expand their skillsets and to develop professionally, we can provide some training in analysis, where required, but we also encourage the student to engage with subject matter experts and other early career researchers (ECR) across the UKHSA. At UKHSA, we have a thriving Early Career Research network led by our CDO Partnerships team. The student will have the opportunity to join and be supported by the ECR network within the UKHSA, and by other ECRs and team members within the host team. The ECR network has fortnightly meetings to bring learning and development opportunities to placement students as well as quarterly away days at our head office
Expertise and experience needed by the student:
Essential skills
- Strong interest in AI, automation, DevOps or software engineering research.
- Ability to analyse technical workflows and understand SDLC processes.
- Experience with systems thinking, organisational analysis or technology evaluation.
- Confidence engaging with multidisciplinary digital teams.
- Ability to synthesise complex findings into clear, actionable insights.
Desirable
- Well-developed problem-solving skills and user centred approach to developing solutions and ensure evolving user requirements are translated into clear deliverable project outcomes.
All successful students will be required to complete security checks in line with the UK civil service requirements.
BPSS (Baseline personnel security standard) will be required for this role. Government baseline personnel security standard – GOV.UK
In some case, enhanced national security vetting may also be required. (United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant – GOV.UK).
Civil Service recruitment nationality rules will apply to this position. Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules – GOV.UK
How to apply
CV and a 500 word (max) cover letter to evidence how you fit the project requirements, skills and what you can bring to this role.
Send your CV and a cover letter (max 500 words) to the CDO Partnerships Team, UKHSA, CDOPartnerships@ukhsa.gov.uk with the subject line “AI Digital Delivery DTP application”.
All applications will be subject to sifting, where Statements of suitability and CV’s will be assessed against the Essential and Desirable skills and experienced required for the role. Applicants who successfully pass the sift will be invited for a short virtual interview on MS Teams.