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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Head of Data Exploitation - **Company:** Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - **Location:** Bristol, UK (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £67,730.0 - £75,480.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Cloud Computing, Computer Programming, Data Integration, Azure Machine Learning, Technical Data Management Systems, Data Analytics, Data Management, Databricks - **Published:** August 24, 2026 - **Apply:** https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=401a32cf7dbe1105 ## About the Role * Leadership and line management of multidisciplinary teams, including teams that are geographically dispersed. * Strong operational management background, delivering data platforms and services in multi-supplier, outsourced environments and establishing clear service roadmaps. * Leading governance/assurance in a regulated or high-assurance context, setting and monitoring procedures for effective task management for both teams and self. * Experience in leveraging data, analytics, and technology to drive business transformation. * Working across multidisciplinary teams to embed standards without blocking delivery. * Handling novel, ambiguous risks and advising senior decision-makers. * A track record of working in partnership with senior leaders, operational, and technical specialists to deliver high-profile and innovative data-enabled transformation Professional or academic qualifications * A degree in a STEM subject, or equivalent practical experience, with data/analytics/technical exposure. * Relevant data/analytical qualifications or professional body membership., * Managing a Quality Service * Changing and Improving * Making Effective Decisions Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: * Communication between Technical and non-Technical (expert level) * Data Development Process (expert level) * Data Innovation (expert level) * Data Integration Design (expert level) * Problem Management (expert level) * Programming and Build (data analytics and engineering) (expert level) We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form: * Communication between Technical and non-Technical (expert level) * Programming and Build (data analytics and engineering) (expert level), This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills., A 500 word Personal Statement: Referring to the 'skills and experience' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples. Individual 250 word statements to show how you have demonstrated each of the technical criteria: * Communication between Technical and non-Technical - 250 words. * Programming and Build (data analytics and engineering) - 250 words., Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . ## Description Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink., Defra is looking for a Head of Data Exploitation to support better use of data. The role helps the department to effectively use data, analytics and new technology to improve services, support better decisions and derive new value. The Head of Data Exploitation will be responsible for setting the vision and strategy for Data Exploitation across the Department, driving innovative engineering and technology approaches and delivering high quality technical services that enable effective value generation from data assets. The successful candidate will work with a wide range of senior stakeholders across key business units and be responsible for multifunctional teams of: * data scientists * engineers * analysts * service owners * product managers These teams provide a range of technical data, analytics and engineering platform services, including the Data Analytics and Science Hub (DASH). The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that these services meet user needs, are continuously improved and support key work across Defra Group. The Head of Data Exploitation works with senior leaders across Defra, and builds links with science, analysis and policy communities, to help users across the Department adopt modern data practices and tooling. The Head of Data Exploitation also represents Defra in cross government and professional forums. The role brings together strategy, technical oversight, service ownership and capability development., * Advise leaders and teams on complex data exploitation opportunities. * Provide oversight, governance and ownership of data products and services. * Technical delivery of Defra’s Data Analytics & Science Hub (DASH) and overseeing the product and service management of MS Fabric by leveraging cloud technologies such as Databricks, Azure Machine Learning, and Fabric to enable scalable analytics. * Represent Defra’s in cross-government and professional forums as subject matter expert. * Play a key role in Defra’s Digital and Data leadership team, helping define and deliver a new operating model for services across Defra group., * 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) * 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 ## Related Videos - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [Green Cloud Computing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/592-green-cloud-computing) - [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data) - [Cutting LLM Costs Without Cutting Quality: How to Beat Proprietary LLMs with Fine-Tuned Open Source](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100151-cutting-llm-costs-without-cutting-quality-how-to-beat-proprietary-llms-with-fine-tuned-open-source) - [OLTP in the Lakehouse: Redefining Data for AI Workloads](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2038-oltp-in-the-lakehouse-redefining-data-for-ai-workloads) - [Hosting a modern justice system](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/332-hosting-a-modern-justice-system) ## Related Articles - [Data Engineer Salary UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/253-data-engineer-salary-uk) - [Data Analyst Salary in the UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/278-data-analyst-salary-in-the-uk) - [IT Salaries in UK](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/288-it-salaries-in-uk) - [The Most Popular IT Jobs on the Market](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/376-the-most-popular-it-jobs-on-the-market) - [What Are The Top Skills Required For Azure Developers?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/77-what-are-the-top-skills-required-for-azure-developers) - [UK Business Culture and Etiquette](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/326-uk-business-culture-and-etiquette)