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:
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is looking for academic expertise to support a DTP PhD student to conduct a practical, high impact analysis of how work moves through our delivery pipeline from Portfolio Board approval through to delivery teams. The project will generate a clear, data driven understanding of where delays, friction and rework occur and provide evidence to streamline how UKHSA delivers data and digital products that support national health security.
Your work will provide UKHSA with a robust analytical foundation to improve delivery performance, reduce waste and strengthen operational efficiency. The insights will support more predictable delivery, better prioritisation and a streamlined pipeline for data and analytics products that underpin UKHSA’s mission to protect public health.
Outline of duties:
- Mapping the full lifecycle of delivery items, including handoffs, approvals, delays and remediation.
- Identifying bottlenecks, systemic issues and sources of waste across multiple delivery streams.
- Producing a Value Stream Map and flow‑efficiency diagnostics to quantify friction points.
- Comparing delivery pathways to highlight recurring patterns and structural constraints.
- Developing an evidence‑based assessment of where processes create unnecessary overhead
Anticipated benefits for the student
Expected output(s)/ deliverable(s):
- A detailed end‑to‑end process map of the CDO delivery pipeline.
- A set of clearly identified bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.
- A Value Stream Map with supporting quantitative analysis.
- A final report and presentation summarising findings and recommendations.
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 analytical and quantitative research skills.
- Experience with process mapping, systems analysis or workflow modelling.
- Ability to work with operational data and interpret complex delivery patterns.
- Understanding of organisational behaviour, operations research or value‑stream analysis.
- Confidence engaging with multidisciplinary teams and communicating findings clearly.
- Exercise independent judgement setting direction where appropriate, proactively escalating critical decisions with well-formed recommendations, considering organisational priorities and risks.
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 “Digital & Data Mapping 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.