Data Manager

The National Archives' Legislation Services team is responsible for legislation.gov.uk, the official home of enacted and revised UK legislation and the only comprehensive free-to-use source of updated UK legislation. Open data is at the heart of our legislation services. The legislation data we curate and create comprises document data in XML, graph-based data in RDF, and website usage data, metadata about legislation, including amendment and application data, bibliographic information as well as exhaust data from our publishing processes and website operations. Ensuring this data is correct, complete, high quality and consistent is vital, underpinning our ability to deliver new functionality and to aid legal certainty for users. The Data Manager will quality assure and maintain legislation data in all its formats in line with our data strategy and reporting to our Legislation Data Service Owner, making sure that the data we hold is valid against our schemas, meets agreed standards and is as correct and consistent as possible. They will look for opportunities to improve the quality, consistency and accessibility of the data to support the continual improvement of our legislation services. Confident in working with XML, they will give advice to our contractors on the structure of published legislation and assist the editorial team in maintaining revised legislation by supporting the more complex and technical corrections and help with filling in gaps in the legislation data. The Data Manager will become expert in our various RDF datasets, carrying out analysis and seeking out improvements to the data modelling where they would bring efficiencies. Managing data projects with our contractors as required. This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site., * Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words. Selection for interview will be based on the 'essential' requirements in the job description so please ensure that your statement demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements. Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Sponsorship: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role., If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

• Experienced and expert data manager: Evidence of the experience and skills required to manage or commission documented technical services such as APIs, databases, search engines, editorial tools. Experience of working with structured data, with schemas and ontologies and of managing compliance with templates and rules.

• Experience of implementing data governance best practice: Evidence of the experience and skills required to effectively manage data governance, working with internal teams and external contractors, to ensure data security, consistency, standards compliance, data protection compliance, data validity and integrity, and to manage the data lifecycle effectively.

• Exceptional attention to detail, with the proven ability to work methodically: Evidence of working to a very high standard of attention to detail, with a clear and methodical approach to work and demonstrable procedural skills and abilities to ensure that data is managed to a high quality of accuracy, consistency and completeness.

• Clear communicator: Experienced at explaining technical issues to a non-technical audience with evidence of producing and delivering clear communication to different types of users, including both data re-users, contractors, and non-technical users (internal and external).

• Technical support skills: Evidence of supporting users to help them to more effectively use data and data management tools, including the proven ability to share knowledge provide advice to a range of users (for example internal teams, external contractors).

• Project management: Evidence of delivering successful projects, ideally using Agile methodologies, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Experienced at working collaboratively with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure changes are managed with due consideration for the impact on all creators and consumers of the data to ensure that the right solutions are found and agreed upon by all. Desirable criteria:

• Experience of data processing techniques: Experience and skills in using data processing techniques such as AI or NLP or a demonstrable ability to learn new technical skills quickly and well.

• Experience of working with the types of data that we have: Experience of working with document data in XML, graph based data in RDF, web usage data and exhaust data. Technical capability (or evidence of an aptitude to learn) in XML schema language (Relax NB W3C schema), SPARQL, AKN, OWL and JSON.

• Demonstrable understanding of government data standards and best practices and how they relate to the role of Data Manager.

• Legislative domain knowledge, for example about how UK legislation documents are structured and how they change over time through the process of amendment.

Alongside your salary of £40,000, The National Archives contributes £11,588 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development. Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk