Chief data officer

Find out what a chief data officer in the Senior Civil Service does and the skills you need to do the role.

Published 7 October 2024

Contents

— What a chief data officer does
— Skills for chief data officer
— Roles that share chief data officer skills
— Roles that could lead to chief data officer

What a chief data officer does

A chief data officer ensures the organisation can use data to make better decisions, policies and services. They create an environment where data protection and privacy is balanced with access, sharing and innovation.

In this role, you will:

define the vision and strategy for how data enables the organisation to achieve its objectives
lead the organisation in implementing the data strategy
work with senior leaders to align priorities and secure their support
determine the data and data technology that the organisation needs and the strategy for sourcing it
ensure data can be easily used, reused and shared by those who need it
improve the quality of data used across the organisation
ensure the organisation uses data ethically and complies with data standards and regulations
increase data literacy and ensure data is properly managed by coaching the whole organisation
work with cyber security to ensure data is secure while staying accessible and controllable
ensure the organisation has people with the level of data skills it needs

A specific chief data officer job can vary depending on the context and challenges in your organisation.

This role is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

SCS 1 (Senior Civil Service 1)
SCS 2 (Senior Civil Service 2)

Skills for chief data officer

The chief data officer role will need to use digital and data skills to:

be an effective digital and data leader
operate in different contexts, depending on the context and challenges in your organisation

Skill	Description, including examples of leadership
Strategic data planning	You can: develop an organisational data strategy that supports the organisation’s objectives identify underlying causes of data challenges faced by other leaders and make strategic recommendations to resolve them decide what data technologies and changes are needed to better support organisational strategy Examples of leadership using this skill: aligning the data strategy and organisational strategy to create shared direction and increased trust changing operations in the organisation to be more aware of, and driven by, data changing the organisation’s view of data so it is viewed as an asset, not a risk or liability
Data architecture	You can: identify and document where your organisation's data comes from and how it is shared assess current data systems in the organisation and the technology they use determine the data architecture the organisation needs to achieve organisational objectives Examples of leadership using this skill: building relationships with parts of the organisation that protect access to data working with all areas of the organisation to ensure the data architecture works for everyone and any change is accepted relating data architecture to strategic objectives or important user needs to gain investment
Data governance leadership	You can: review the organisation’s roles, responsibilities, policies, standards and attitudes to data decide the work needed to improve data governance, taking into account effort, reward and risk guide decision making on the most appropriate methods of implementing governance put in place data governance processes that ensure compliance and minimise risk Examples of leadership using this skill: working with senior stakeholders to agree the level of risk the organisation is willing to tolerate getting senior stakeholders to prioritise improving data governance despite competing or changing priorities building stakeholders' confidence in new owners of data assets, for example, through training plans
Data risk management	You can: put in place processes that identify and document risks across the organisation and embed them into wider governance processes make plans to deal with issues caused by different types of risks use risk assessments to monitor data quality and compliance and whether risks are decreasing Examples of leadership using this skill: getting owners of data assets to take responsibility for risks helping people use risk assessment results to make decisions instead of relying on opinion creating an environment where risk standards, policies and processes are valued encouraging the organisation to use and share data whilst ensuring data is appropriately protected
Innovation in digital and data	You can: detect and analyse early trends in technology, data or cyber security that could be important for your organisation advise the organisation on the implications of new technologies and uses of data, such as ethical, security or legal implications support teams to identify opportunities for innovation introduce technologies and methods that address shared problems Examples of leadership using this skill: building trust and credibility with stakeholders by demonstrating the relevance of new technologies or methods to address organisational challenges helping people at all levels of your organisation understand the potential benefits and risks of changes persuading other leaders to support and invest in innovation
Capability building for digital and data teams	You can: guide the organisation to ensure it has the technical, security or data skills it needs develop organisational processes and ways of working so that digital and data roles you support can thrive continuously improve and optimise the organisational environment Examples of leadership using this skill: prioritising capability needs that will have the most impact negotiating for longer-term investment in people by articulating the risks and benefits of different staffing strategies advocating for good practice in ways of working and supporting people to adopt this practice growing digital and data communities

Roles that share chief data officer skills

Role	Shared skills
Chief information security officer	Innovation in digital and data Capability building for digital and data teams
Chief technology officer	Innovation in digital and data Capability building for digital and data teams

Innovation in digital and data

Capability building for digital and data teams

Innovation in digital and data

Capability building for digital and data teams