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Skills A to Z

Learn about the skills and ascending skill levels (awareness, working, practitioner, expert) in the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

Agile and Lean practices

Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate experience in applying Agile principles in practice
  • provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver
  • show an awareness of Agile tools and are starting to use them intelligently
  • visualise and make visible the work of the team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and compare the best processes or delivery methods to use
  • recognise when something does not work and encourage a mindset of experimentation
  • adapt and reflect, be resilient and see outside of the process
  • use a blended approach depending on the context
  • measure and evaluate outcomes
  • help teams to manage and visualise outcomes

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices
  • act as a recognised expert and advocate for the approaches, continuously reflecting and challenging the team
  • create or tailor new ways of working, and constantly innovate

Roles that require this skill

Agile research practices

Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • describe agile working and the roles in a multidisciplinary digital team

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and explain the benefits and limitations of agile working
  • design and conduct your research so the findings can be embedded into an agile workflow
  • understand and work with the different roles in a multidisciplinary digital team to plan and do user research

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advocate for agile working
  • adapt how you design and conduct research to respond to the complexity of the product environment
  • understand the strategic decisions the team needs to make so you can design appropriate research
  • influence decisions about priorities and agile processes in the team

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advocate for agile working at the organisational level and with senior stakeholders
  • help organisations adopt agile research practices
  • set standards and expectations of how research insights should be delivered to support delivery by agile teams
  • coach and guide other user researchers to adopt agile ways of working

Roles that require this skill

Agile working

Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of Agile methodology and the ways to apply the principles in practice
  • take an open-minded approach
  • explain why iteration is important
  • iterate quickly

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate experience working in Agile, and an awareness of Agile tools and how to use them
  • advise colleagues on how and why Agile methods are used and provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver
  • adapt and reflect and be resilient
  • see outside of the process

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and compare the best processes or delivery methods to use, including measuring and evaluating outcomes
  • help the team to decide the best approach
  • help teams to manage and visualise outcomes, prioritise work and adhere to agreed minimum viable product (MVP), priorities and scope

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project
  • think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes
  • act as a recognised expert and advocate for the approaches, continuously reflecting and challenging the team

Roles that require this skill

Agile working (content design)

Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate experience of working in Agile teams, including an awareness of Agile tools and how to use them
  • advise colleagues on how and why Agile methods are used and provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver
  • adapt and reflect and be responsive to feedback
  • see outside of the process

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and demonstrate awareness of Agile methodology, and can apply an Agile mindset to your work
  • work in a fast-paced, evolving environment and use an iterative and flexible approach to enable rapid delivery
  • appreciate the importance of Agile project delivery to digital projects in government
  • be unafraid to take risks and willing to learn from mistakes
  • ensure the team has a situational awareness of one other’s work and how it relates to objectives and user needs
  • use a range of tools and platforms to plan and manage your work

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team or the project
  • evaluate and review the approach through the life of a project and can iterate and pivot accordingly
  • think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes
  • act as a recognised expert and advocate the approaches proposed, continuously reflecting on the work of the team and constructively challenging them to improve processes and delivery
  • regularly assess and review capability within teams and ensure individuals have the skills needed to deliver

Roles that require this skill

Analysis

Analysis involves examining, interpreting and analysing data to help make informed decisions.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply the approach to real problems and consider all relevant information
  • apply appropriate rigour to ensure a full solution is designed and achieves the business outcome

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • monitor the analysis of a technical solution and ensure analysis is reused for similar problem sets
  • review solutions and identify areas for change
  • drive the collection of information that is used and analysed
  • feed back on policy and requirements

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • provide direction and lead on change regarding factors that feed into analysis
  • monitor changes in the technical environment and assess whether risks are still at acceptable levels or whether previous decisions need to be revisited
  • direct and influence others on best practice and policy

Roles that require this skill

Analysis and insight

Analysis and insight involves examining, interpreting and analysing data to help make informed decisions.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and work with colleagues to apply core techniques for analysis and insight
  • present clear insights that colleagues can understand and use

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and help teams to apply a range of techniques to analyse data and provide insight
  • be proactive and present compelling findings that inform wider decisions
  • apply innovative approaches to resolve problems

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand, teach and supervise a wide range of analysis techniques
  • help organisations create and learn from strategic insights
  • apply innovative approaches to resolve problems

Roles that require this skill

Analysis and synthesis

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the need for careful analysis of research data to produce clear findings

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how to apply basic techniques for the analysis of research data and synthesis of findings
  • effectively involve your team in analysis and synthesis
  • present clear findings that colleagues can understand and use

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings
  • effectively engage sceptical colleagues in analysis and synthesis
  • advise on the choice and application of techniques, and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help an organisation to adopt a wide range of analysis and synthesis techniques, and to continually assure, improve and innovate their practices to generate clear and valuable findings

Roles that require this skill

Analysis and synthesis (data analyst)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the need for careful analysis of research data to produce clear findings

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how to apply basic techniques for the analysis of research data and synthesis of findings
  • effectively involve your team in analysis and synthesis
  • present clear findings that colleagues can understand and use

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and help teams to apply a range of methods to analyse research data and synthesise findings
  • effectively engage sceptical colleagues in analysis and synthesis
  • advise on the choice and application of techniques, and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help an organisation to adopt a wide range of analysis and synthesis techniques, and to continually assure, improve and innovate their practices to generate clear and valuable findings

Roles that require this skill

Analysis and synthesis (data ethics)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • draw together, analyse and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data and information
  • quickly read and interpret complex documents from a range of sources and distil to what is relevant
  • turn research data into clear findings that inform decisions
  • effectively involve colleagues in analysis and synthesis to increase consensus and challenge assumptions
  • advise on the choice and application of techniques, and can critique colleagues’ findings to assure best practice
  • help teams to define their project outcomes and ethical considerations, and to integrate ethical diagnostics and assessment

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • expertly draw together, analyse and evaluate qualitative and quantitative data
  • quickly read and interpret complex documents from a range of sources and distil to what is relevant
  • turn research data into clear findings that inform data ethics decisions for the entire organisation
  • build capacity in analysis and synthesis and involve others to increase consensus and challenge assumptions
  • help teams to define project outcomes and ethical considerations, and to integrate ethical diagnostics and assessment
  • help an organisation continually assure and improve their practices to generate clear and valuable data ethics findings

Roles that require this skill

Applied knowledge of social sciences

Applied social science involves using an understanding of the social sciences to evaluate and challenge assumptions made in relevant projects.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a working knowledge of social sciences (such as anthropology, economics, sociology, philosophy, psychology or race theory)
  • apply various social science theories to inform data projects, products and policies, and to evaluate and challenge assumptions made in data science projects
  • engage with academics and external researchers and are aware of emerging theories and concepts

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate expert knowledge of social sciences (such as anthropology, economics, sociology, philosophy, psychology or race theory)
  • apply various social science theories to the strategic oversight of data projects, products and policies, and to evaluate and challenge assumptions made in data science projects
  • demonstrate expert knowledge of existing schools of thought and best practice in data ethics
  • work with academics and external researchers and you seek to publish research on applied digital ethics

Roles that require this skill

Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices

Applied mathematics and statistics involves applying analytical methods including exploratory data analysis, visualisation and statistical testing to help make accurate recommendations.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of the benefits of applied mathematics and statistics, and can use this knowledge to carry out data science tasks
  • carry out general analysis techniques for data inspection, exploration and visualisation
  • interpret statistical output effectively and accurately
  • show an awareness of different performance and accuracy metrics for statistical assessment and validation

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply analytical methods including exploratory data analysis and statistical testing to a specific data set, to reach accurate and reliable conclusions
  • understand and use different performance and accuracy metrics for model validation in data science projects, hypothesis testing and information retrieval
  • compare selected applied mathematics and statistical methods and identify their differences
  • access and use the statistical and scientific tools available within the organisation

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply designated quantitative techniques such as time series analysis, optimisation and simulation to create and embed appropriate models for analysis and prediction
  • provide guidance on matching data sources with relevant applied mathematics and statistical techniques to meet analysis goals
  • apply appropriate statistical techniques to available data to discover new relations and offer insight into research problems, helping to improve organisational processes and support decision making
  • access and use the statistical tools available within the organisation

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify opportunities to develop statistical insight, reports and models to support organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation effectively
  • critique statistical analyses
  • use a variety of data analytics techniques (such as data mining and prescriptive and predictive analytics) for complex data analysis through the whole data life cycle
  • use model outputs to produce evidence and help design services and policies
  • understand a broad range of statistical tools, particularly those deployed within the organisation, and can use these appropriately and help others to use them

Roles that require this skill

Architect for the whole context

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify relevant information that can inform your architectural work, such as strategies, roadmaps, policies and technical trends
  • understand how your work supports the team in enabling change​

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • align your work with the work being done by other architects and technical professionals
  • track emerging issues, strategies, roadmaps, patterns and technologies over time to assess opportunities and risks to your work
  • identify how other teams contribute to delivering outcomes through change

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work to support wider organisational objectives beyond your immediate goals​
  • track emerging internal and external issues over time that could affect the work of teams across the organisation
  • take action to solve or mitigate problems by influencing colleagues across the organisation

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation
  • work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards
  • anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work
  • coach others in identifying important trends

Roles that require this skill

Architecture communication

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of different ways of creating architecture representations for a limited audience, including technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • gather and explain information to be used in architecture representations

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders
  • create and use different architecture representations to communicate effectively, achieving agreement with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • provide support in discussions about architectural topics within a multidisciplinary team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the communication of complicated, complex or risky architecture topics with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • communicate with senior stakeholders across your organisation
  • adapt your message and communication techniques to your audience
  • advocate on behalf of a team to other stakeholders
  • manage stakeholder expectations effectively

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques​
  • mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions
  • gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity
  • coach and support others in architecture communication

Roles that require this skill

Asset and configuration management

Asset and configuration management involves managing the life cycle of IT assets (such as hardware, software, intellectual property, licences and warranties), and the configuration of their components. Consideration is given to the usage, disposal, compliance, inventory, sustainability, cost optimisation and protection of the IT asset portfolio.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • track, log and correct information to protect assets and components

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • maintain secure configuration and accurate information, controlling IT assets in one or more significant areas
  • verify the location and state of assets

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage configuration items, related information, service compliance and risks

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage configuration management for the organisation, ensuring value for the business and adherence to company policies
  • ensure that changes to assets are recorded and controlled appropriately
  • advocate organisational commitment to asset control

Roles that require this skill

Availability and capacity management

Availability and capacity management involves ensuring services are available with as little down-time or disruption as possible, whilst making sure we have sufficient resources to support emerging business needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of availability and capacity management processes

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage service components to ensure they meet business needs and performance targets

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure the correct implementation of standards and procedures
  • identify capacity issues, and stipulate and instigate the required changes
  • initiate remedial action

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • drive policy and strategy for service and capacity management, and the implementation of required changes

Roles that require this skill

Business analysis

Business analysis involves understanding the business needs and translating those requirements into solutions through detailed analysis and feedback.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • support structured approaches to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities
  • work under supervision to analyse business goals, objectives, functions and processes, using relevant information and underlying data to support the definition of requirements
  • help to ensure a proposed solution meets business and user needs
  • complete task-based, discrete outputs for parts of the project as directed, using predetermined methods and techniques

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply structured approaches to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities, within a defined project
  • analyse business goals, objectives, functions and processes, using relevant information and data to support the definition of requirements
  • conduct options analysis, assess feasibility and operational impact, quantify potential business benefits and contribute to business case development
  • help to ensure proposed solutions meet business and user needs
  • work with limited direction to complete tasks and defined outputs linked to the project

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on the approach to identify, investigate, analyse and communicate complex business problems and opportunities within a project or programme of work
  • inform tactical decision making and help to define longer-term strategic plans
  • recommend the approach to options analysis, feasibility assessment and operations, and can quantify potential business benefits
  • ensure the proposed solution aligns with business goals and objectives, and business and user needs, and achieves the required outcomes and expected benefits

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set the direction for business analysis within a programme of work, enterprise or wider sector
  • guide tactical decision making and influence the formulation of longer-term strategic plans in an evolving, complex and unpredictable environment
  • give colleagues the means and authority to make decisions about their approach to business analysis activities
  • ensure that the proposed solutions align with the organisational strategy and vision

Roles that require this skill

Business analysis (IT operations)

Business analysis involves understanding the business needs and translating those requirements into solutions through detailed analysis and feedback.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate problems and opportunities in existing processes, and contribute to recommending solutions

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate problems and opportunities in existing processes, and contribute to recommending solutions
  • work with stakeholders to identify objectives and potential benefits

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing processes
  • lead the collection of information and creation of recommendations for improvements
  • absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce solutions

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • direct business analysis, including the collection of information and evidence and the identification of problems and opportunities
  • ensure that recommendations fit with strategic business objectives
  • communicate recommendations persuasively to important stakeholders
  • identify the simplest of a variety of approaches

Roles that require this skill

Business architecture

Business architecture involves using industry standards to develop integrated views of an organisation that help implement organisational strategy and solve complex problems.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of business architecture frameworks, principles and techniques
  • support the application of frameworks to business change in an organisation, under guidance

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help support the adoption of business architecture
  • clearly communicate business architecture frameworks, principles, and techniques
  • support the production of a multidimensional view of your organisation
  • assess the impact of strategies on the organisation, highlighting risks and issues

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply and develop business architecture frameworks, principles and techniques in your organisation
  • advise and guide the organisation to inform the implementation of its strategy
  • share the value of business architecture with the organisation
  • produce clear multidimensional views of your organisation to support decision making

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • simplify complex business architecture frameworks into clear actions
  • develop business architecture maturity in your organisation, such as through a community of practice
  • lead or guide others in using best practice for business architecture, such as industry standards
  • identify strategic misalignment within the organisation and make recommendations for improvement

Roles that require this skill

Business modelling

Business modelling involves documenting how your business operates and intends to achieve its goals.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain basic business modelling techniques
  • support the representation of business situations within a defined task
  • visualise business processes

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • model various elements of the business with limited direction
  • understand the impact of potential changes and how business processes, systems, data, roles and responsibilities interact

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead on the modelling of business processes, systems and data at varying levels of complexity across a project or programme
  • manage the impact of proposed changes

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • determine the scope and methodology for the representation of complex programmes across an organisation
  • document conceptual models to support strategic planning and decision making

Roles that require this skill

Business process improvement

Business process improvement involves analysing and modifying existing and new processes to make them more efficient.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work under supervision to design and implement process improvements for business operations and services

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work under minimal supervision to identify opportunities to improve business performance within a defined project
  • analyse, design and prioritise business changes to improve business operations and services
  • support the implementation of proposed business improvements

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify opportunities to improve business performance within a project a programme
  • manage the design, execution and assessment of business process tests and usability evaluations at an organisational level or within a programme

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify opportunities and set direction within a programme to perform business activities
  • lead the exploration of ways to improve process efficiency and enhance business outcomes
  • help others recognise the potential for change in potentially ambiguous and complex projects
  • oversee the implementation of proposed improvements

Roles that require this skill

Business process testing

Business process testing involves confirming that existing or new business processes are efficient and usable, from beginning to end.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work under supervision to apply analysis and evaluation skills to support business process tests and usability evaluations

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse and evaluate information with minimal supervision to support the design, execution and assessment of business process tests and usability evaluations within a project

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead on the application of analysis and evaluation to support the design, execution and assessment of business process tests and usability evaluations within a project or programme

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage and support others in the design, execution and assessment of business process tests and usability evaluations at an organisational level or within a programme

Roles that require this skill

Capability building for digital and data teams

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

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 require this skill

Change management

Change management involves managing changes to services, organisations, suppliers or configuration items, and the associated documentation.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • implement change requests
  • apply change control procedures under supervision

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse and assess the impact of change
  • document change requests
  • action changes from change requests

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage high impact, complex change requests
  • ensure that release policies, procedures and processes are applied

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • implement new and current change management processes
  • support change management, actively improving and optimising processes

Roles that require this skill

Changing security culture

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • put in place continuous cyber and information security awareness and education programs, for example, training for specific groups
  • use a range of methods to assess whether people’s security behaviour is improving
  • compare the maturity of security awareness and culture in your organisation against others across government to determine effective improvements

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • incentivising the right behaviours across the whole organisation so that everyone knows how they contribute to security
  • persuading senior leadership to represent a campaign personally
  • communicating insights from previous incidents to ensure they are learned from

Roles that require this skill

Coding and scripting

Coding and scripting involves designing, writing and iterating code and scripts from prototype to production.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the scripting tools and software that are available and currently in use

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • interact with and read code
  • carry out baseline repair activities

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Coding and scripting (infrastructure engineer)

Coding and scripting involves designing, writing and iterating code and scripts from prototype to production.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the scripting tools and software that are available and currently in use
  • understand how the internet works

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • interact with and read code
  • write HTML and carry out baseline repair activities

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Commercial management

Commercial management involves exploring commercial opportunities whilst complying with the regulations on how we conduct and manage both internal and third party relationships.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • act as the point of contact for contracted suppliers
  • understand appropriate internal contacts and processes within a government department
  • understand how and when third parties should be brought into digital, data and technology projects

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take responsibility for complex relationships with contracted suppliers
  • identify appropriate contractual frameworks and identify appropriate suppliers
  • negotiate with contracted suppliers
  • get good value out of contracts and suppliers

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • act as the escalation point and resolve large or high risk commercial management issues
  • coach others in appropriate commercial management

Roles that require this skill

Commercial perspective

Commercial management involves exploring commercial opportunities whilst complying with the regulations on how we conduct and manage both internal and third party relationships.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of government commercial processes
  • show an awareness of legal and compliance rules

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand commercial processes and the appropriate internal contacts within a government department
  • understand different sourcing strategies and when to apply them

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches
  • identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • coach others in appropriate commercial, vendor and legal issues

Roles that require this skill

Communicating analysis and insight

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the appropriate media to communicate findings
  • shape and share communications relevant to the audience
  • give tactical recommendations

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories
  • share data communication skills with the team and across government
  • present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages
  • communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders
  • give tactical and strategic recommendations

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate relevant, compelling stories using the most appropriate medium
  • make complex recommendations at a tactical and strategic level
  • present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages
  • communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders

Roles that require this skill

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the need to translate technical concepts into non-technical language
  • understand what communication is required with internal and external stakeholders

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics
  • be an advocate for the team externally, and can manage differing perspectives

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them
  • effectively manage stakeholder expectations
  • manage active and reactive communication
  • support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels
  • manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales
  • speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government

Roles that require this skill

Communicating data

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness that data needs to be aligned to the needs of the end user
  • create basic visuals and presentations

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the appropriate media to communicate findings
  • shape communications for the audience

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • turn complex data into clear and well understood solutions, which can be acted upon
  • share data communication skills with the team and organisation
  • understand and communicate different options, taking into account risks and uncertainties

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Communicating information

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information
  • take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information
  • take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team
  • be an advocate for the team externally, and can manage differing perspectives
  • shape and share communications relevant to the audience

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work collaboratively in a group and build relationships with others
  • identify issues through Agile 'health checks' and work with others to address them
  • manage stakeholder expectations
  • be flexible and capable of proactive and reactive communication
  • host or moderate difficult discussions within the team or with senior stakeholders

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels
  • manage stakeholder expectations and host or moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales
  • speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government

Roles that require this skill

Communication

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the need to translate technical concepts into non-technical language
  • understand what communication is required with internal and external stakeholders

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics
  • be an advocate for the team externally, and can manage differing perspectives

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them
  • effectively manage stakeholder expectations
  • manage active and reactive communication
  • support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels
  • manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales
  • speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government

Roles that require this skill

Communication (data ethics)

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • expertly translate technical concepts to non-technical audiences so they are understood by all
  • demonstrate a good understanding of how technology and data products and services are built
  • understand technical jargon and have sufficient knowledge to hold meaningful conversations with data science experts on issues such as minimising bias in data, or gathering, collecting, cleansing, triangulating, and reusing data
  • effectively support data scientists and engineers in implementing data ethics

Roles that require this skill

Communication (security architect)

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a deep understanding of security concepts and can apply them to a technical level
  • effectively translate and accurately communicate security and risk implications to technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • successfully respond to challenges
  • manage stakeholder expectations and be flexible, adapting to stakeholder reactions to reach consensus

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate expert understanding of security concepts and can apply them to a technical level, at the highest levels of risk complexity
  • effectively translate and accurately communicate security and risk implications at the most senior levels across technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • successfully respond to challenges
  • manage stakeholder expectations across high risk and complexity or under constrained timescales

Roles that require this skill

Community collaboration

Collaboration in the Government Digital and Data profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the work of others and the importance of team dynamics, collaboration and feedback

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to the work of others
  • motivate and empower teams
  • create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation
  • recognise and deal with issues

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others
  • adapt feedback to ensure it’s effective and lasting
  • use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them
  • identify issues through Agile ‘health checks’ with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level
  • understand the psychology of the team and have strong mediation skills
  • coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community

Roles that require this skill

Community collaboration (frontend developer)

Collaboration in the Government Digital and Data profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the work of others and the importance of team dynamics, collaboration and feedback

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to the work of others
  • motivate and empower teams
  • create the right environment for teams to work in, and can identify the best team makeup depending on the situation
  • recognise and deal with issues

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others
  • adapt feedback to ensure it’s effective and lasting
  • use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them
  • identify issues through Agile ‘health checks’ with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level
  • coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community

Roles that require this skill

Consultancy

Consultancy involves providing specialist advice to address stakeholder and business needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of the need for consulting in your role, and its purpose
  • work under guidance to identify what advice, guidance and recommendations might be appropriate, usually by referring to previous work by others
  • show an understanding of how to frame problems that need to be solved

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • provide advice, guidance and recommendations based on your specialist knowledge and experience
  • propose methodologies to follow and approaches to implementation
  • frame problems so they can easily be understood, and troubleshoot where required, to support the business in operating more effectively

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • provide advice and recommendations to stakeholders based on your significant specialist knowledge and experience
  • lead the definition of guidance and inform how the organisation approaches delivery

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Consultancy (business analysis)

Consultancy involves providing specialist advice to address stakeholder and business needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • provide advice, guidance and recommendations based on your specialist knowledge and experience
  • propose methodologies to follow and approaches to implementation
  • frame problems so they can easily be understood, and troubleshoot where required, to support the business in operating more effectively

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • provide advice and recommendations to stakeholders based on your significant specialist knowledge and experience
  • lead on the definition of guidance and inform how the organisation can use business analysis services more effectively

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Content concepts and prototyping

Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of prototyping and explain why and when to use it
  • understand how to work in an open and collaborative environment (by pair working, for example)

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand different prototyping techniques, from paper sketches to coded prototypes, and can use them to visualise content in context
  • choose the best option to make content understandable to different audiences and to demonstrate a proposed approach to content changes or improvements
  • show the value of prototyping to the team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • build and create a variety of different prototypes, from paper sketches to coded prototypes
  • choose the most appropriate option to visualise content in context for different audiences
  • effectively combine prototypes with other content and design outputs to test with users and show to stakeholders
  • establish content patterns, and test and iterate them

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Continual service improvement

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of developing process efficiency and common ways in which processes are optimised
  • support specific activities to improve development processes
  • spot or identify obvious deficiencies

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance, and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse current processes, and identify and implement opportunities to optimise them
  • lead and develop a team of experts to deliver service improvements
  • help to evaluate and establish requirements for the implementation of changes by setting policy and standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Continuity management

Continuity management involves clearly defining processes and remediation plans to ensure the availability of systems and services in the event of unplanned downtime.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the basic principles of IT standard continuity management processes and procedures

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage the runbooks and the processes around service continuity
  • test the runbooks to ensure that service availability is maintained

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Customer service management

Customer service management involves managing customer service functions, such as responding to issue reports, information and access requests.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain customer service management processes
  • provide customer service management support under supervision

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • resolve user requests to a minimum of the agreed service level agreement
  • empathise with the end user
  • use customer-focused metrics to achieve the desired outcome

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • resolve user requests, maintaining a high level of customer service
  • deal with complex complaints
  • use empathy to understand and meet customer needs

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • translate lessons learnt into continual service improvement
  • oversee the full range of customer service functions, including reviewing customer service satisfaction
  • investigate which processes can be automated and the ways to automate them

Roles that require this skill

Cyber incident strategy and management

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • implement cyber incident management processes that reflect the level of risk accepted by the organisation
  • ensure the organisation is prepared for and can effectively respond to incidents
  • determine the impact of critical incidents on the organisation’s technology
  • lead the response to critical incidents that affect the whole organisation

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • helping the incident management team build relationships with senior leaders
  • competing for resources with other priorities in the organisation
  • assessing what to communicate to the board, ministers or the whole organisation, and when to do it

Roles that require this skill

Cyber risk management

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • maintain a clear understanding of the cyber and information security risks across the whole organisation
  • develop and implement risk assessment processes
  • oversee the assessment of the organisation's partners and supply chain for potential threats or vulnerabilities

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • building a culture where teams have awareness of, and take responsibility for, risks and mitigating them
  • advising programme owners and people running IT services about risks in a way that enables them to act on that advice
  • communicating with senior leaders in a way that enables them to make decisions about accepting or mitigating risk

Roles that require this skill

Cyber security governance

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • develop an effective cyber and information security governance framework that is integrated with overall organisational governance
  • prioritise issues affecting the organisation’s ability to meet security policies and follow standards
  • lead a continuous review process to ensure governance meets changing regulations, legislation and best practices
  • mitigate risks caused by unavoidable exceptions to the governance framework

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • escalating risks to the highest level in the organisation when governance issues do not have defined owners
  • persuading others to use their financial resources for changes needed to comply with the framework
  • helping stakeholders be aware of the risks that are caused when an exception is agreed

Roles that require this skill

Data analysis and synthesis

Analysis and insight involves examining, interpreting and analysing data to help make informed decisions.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • interpret data to find key insights

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • undertake data profiling and source system analysis
  • present clear insights to colleagues to support the end use of the data

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and help teams to apply a range of techniques for data profiling
  • source system analysis from a complex single source
  • bring multiple data sources together in a conformed model for analysis

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Data architecture

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

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

Roles that require this skill

Data development process

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, build and test data products based on feeds from multiple systems, using a range of different storage technologies, access methods or both
  • create repeatable and reusable products

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, build and test data products that are complex or large scale
  • build teams to complete data integration services

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • establish enterprise-scale data integration procedures across the data development life cycle, and ensure that teams adhere to them
  • manage resources to ensure that data services work effectively at an enterprise level

Roles that require this skill

Data engineering and manipulation

Data engineering involves ensuring the correct systems are available to enable the collection, analysis and extrapolation of data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the need for engineering support to design and deliver products into the organisation
  • appreciate the need to cleanse and prepare data before including it in data science products and can put reusable processes and checks in place
  • show an awareness of different architectures (including cloud and on-premise) and data manipulation and transformation tools

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and engage with the appropriate engineering support to design and deliver products into the organisation
  • understand the reasons for cleansing and preparing data before including it in data science products, recognise the processes and tools involved, and put reusable processes and checks in place
  • access and use different architectures (including cloud and on-premise) and data manipulation and transformation tools deployed within the organisation

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with data engineers and data scientists to design and deliver products into the organisation effectively
  • understand the reasons for cleansing and preparing data before including it in data science products and can put reusable processes and checks in place
  • access and use a range of architectures (including cloud and on-premise) and data manipulation and transformation tools deployed within the organisation

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help to identify the data engineering requirements for any data science product, while working with data engineers and data scientists to design and deliver those products into the organisation effectively
  • understand the need to cleanse and prepare data before including it in data science products and can put reusable processes and checks in place
  • understand a broad range of architectures (including cloud and on-premise) and data manipulation and transformation tools deployed within the organisation, and can use these tools appropriately and help others use them

Roles that require this skill

Data governance

Data governance involves the set of standards, processes and policies that ensures your data is consistent and reliable throughout the data life cycle.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of data governance theory, standard methodology and the practical considerations
  • develop an end-to-end data governance framework (the processes, operational policies and standards needed to support data management)
  • work effectively with technical teams and other stakeholders to implement a data governance framework, and make recommendations to ensure compliance

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • implement and monitor data governance using standard methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation
  • meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation
  • take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define the data governance strategy for the organisation, and connect it with the wider organisational strategy
  • design, implement and monitor data governance within a large organisation, throughout the data life cycle
  • set the strategy for applying end-to-end data governance frameworks, processes, operational policies, standards, compliance and assurance
  • engage and work effectively with technical leaders and senior stakeholders to implement data governance and ensure compliance

Roles that require this skill

Data governance (data architect)

Data governance involves the set of standards, processes and policies that ensures your data is consistent and reliable throughout the data life cycle.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand what data governance is required
  • take responsibility for the assurance of data solutions and make recommendations to ensure compliance

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • evolve and define data governance
  • take responsibility for supporting and collaborating around wider governance
  • assure and integrate data services to meet the needs of multiple business services
  • work proactively to ensure the organisation designs architecture that considers data

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure data governance supports changes to the organisational strategy
  • align data governance with wider governance (for example, budget)
  • assure corporate services by understanding important risks and providing mitigation through assurance mechanisms

Roles that require this skill

Data governance leadership

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of 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

Roles that require this skill

Data innovation

Keeping actively informed of industry developments to make creative and cost-effective use of emerging technologies and tools, aligned with business goals and user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of opportunities for innovation with new tools and uses of data

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the impact on the organisation of emerging trends in data tools, analysis techniques and data usage

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify areas of innovation in data tools and techniques, and recognise appropriate timing for adoption

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate emerging trends in data-related approaches, perform horizon-scanning for the organisation and introduce innovative ways of working

Roles that require this skill

Data integration design

Data integration involves combining data from different sources to provide a centralised view to help produce, transform and test data related products.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • deliver data solutions in accordance with agreed organisational standards that ensure services are resilient, scalable and future-proof

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • select and implement the appropriate technologies to deliver resilient, scalable and future-proofed data solutions

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • establish standards, keep them up to date and ensure adherence to them
  • keep abreast of best practice in industry and across government

Roles that require this skill

Data life cycle

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and apply data governance over a data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each phase

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and apply data governance structures and principles over a data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each phase
  • demonstrate knowledge of data governance industry standards
  • design and implement continuous improvements to optimise data governance over a data life cycle
  • work with internal and external stakeholders to build organisational capacity and capability in data governance

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take responsibility for data governance structures and principles, and ensure that they’re defined and applied with best practice throughout a data life cycle
  • direct continuous improvements to optimise data governance over a data life cycle

Roles that require this skill

Data literacy improvement

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • raise awareness of the need for data literacy within the organisation
  • support data literacy training and development by enabling data consumers to understand what they can and cannot do with data

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • recommend data literacy as a valuable skill across all levels of the organisation
  • identify employee training courses and other opportunities to improve the organisation’s data literacy skills and data-driven culture

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take responsibility for improving the organisation’s data literacy
  • encourage a data-driven culture within the organisation by strengthening data literacy skills among all employees
  • persuade senior decision-makers that data literacy is a vital part of a data-driven culture, enabling effective decision-making at all levels

Roles that require this skill

Data management

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of organisational data governance, and how it works in relation to other organisational governance structures

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand data governance and how it works in relation to other organisational governance structures
  • participate in or deliver the assurance of a service

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advocate data governance and data management standards and guidelines within your team’s products and services
  • continually communicate and improve data management practices in your teams
  • help define and support the use of common toolsets
  • seek to automate data management activities where possible
  • develop processes to enable good data management practices and compliance with data governance policies

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure data management and governance processes are in place and adhered to for the products and services your teams provide
  • ensure data management responsibilities are clearly defined and training is in place to enable the execution of data management practices
  • define strategies to enable continual improvement of data management practices and compliance with data governance policies

Roles that require this skill

Data maturity

Data maturity involves measuring how set up your organisation is to make the best use of its data.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain some of the different data maturity levels

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the different data maturity models available
  • measure data maturity and implement best practices
  • describe the benefits of potential improvements

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the implementation of data best practices
  • communicate opportunities to improve data maturity
  • lead on monitoring and improving areas of data maturity

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • oversee the implementation of the organisation’s data maturity model
  • work with senior stakeholders to provide data assurance
  • report assessment findings to boards or committees
  • communicate data maturity improvement plans

Roles that require this skill

Data modelling

Data modelling involves producing visual representations of information systems to communicate the relationship between different data types.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the concepts and principles of data modelling
  • produce, maintain and update relevant data models for an organisation’s specific needs
  • reverse-engineer data models from a live system

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • produce relevant data models across multiple subject areas
  • explain which models to use for which purpose
  • understand industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards, and when to apply them
  • compare and align different data models

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the concepts and principles of data modelling and can produce relevant data models
  • work across government and industry, recognising opportunities for the reuse and alignment of data models in different organisations
  • design the method to categorise data models within an organisation

Roles that require this skill

Data modelling, cleansing and enrichment

Data modelling involves producing visual representations of information systems to communicate the relationship between different data types.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of different data models and tools, and understand when they could be used
  • show an awareness of industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • produce data models and understand where to use different types of data models
  • understand different tools and can compare different data models
  • reverse-engineer a data model from a live system
  • understand industry-recognised data modelling patterns and standards

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • build and review complex data models, ensuring adherence to standards
  • use data integration tools and languages to integrate and store data, and advise teams on best practice
  • ensure data for analysis meets data quality standards and is interoperable with other data sets, enabling reuse
  • work with other data professionals to improve modelling and integration patterns and standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand different ways to model data to maximise its use and value
  • ensure data is modelled appropriately, and modelling standards exist and are complied with
  • understand a number of data integration tools and patterns, and ensure your teams have the support and training needed to use the most appropriate methods
  • build relationships with other senior data professionals (in fields such as data architecture, data engineering and data science) to share best practice and continually improve data modelling and integration processes and standards

Roles that require this skill

Data quality assurance, validation and linkage

Data preparation involves sorting and cleansing information so it's available for more detailed analysis.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand basic data issues and can check that the data and analysis look right
  • understand the concept of data being fit for purpose
  • understand the context of the data
  • show that you know the right questions to ask, and apply a curious and analytical mindset when approaching a problem
  • perform data preparation and cleansing with guidance

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify appropriate ways to collect, collate and prepare data
  • decide if data is accurate and fit for purpose
  • prepare and cleanse data with limited guidance

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set up a system to get data ready for use and specify how data should be cleansed and prepared
  • bring data together from different sources
  • communicate the limitations of data
  • peer review colleagues’ outputs to ensure quality

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show a deep understanding of relevant data sources, tools and systems
  • use appropriate approaches for verifying and validating data and analysis
  • influence senior stakeholders in data approaches
  • coach and mentor others

Roles that require this skill

Data regulation and ethics

Data protection and ethics involves understanding the ethical and legal obligations of storing and protecting business critical information, and encouraging responsible data use.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply relevant data and ethical frameworks and standards to your work
  • understand all aspects of data governance and use, ensuring these are maintained in-line with laws, regulations, codes of practice and ethical requirements
  • demonstrate an awareness of emerging best practice in areas such as data ethics, and an understanding of the changing landscape

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a good understanding of relevant data laws, regulations, codes of practice and ethical requirements, and can apply these to your work
  • understand how the law and ethical considerations relate to one another
  • monitor the landscape and legislation to ensure you understand and can implement best practice in new areas of thought such as data ethics

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • effectively manage data governance issues
  • oversee the implementation of relevant data and ethical frameworks and standards to the work of the organisation
  • direct continuous improvement activity to optimise data governance practices
  • work effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build the organisation’s capability in data regulation and ethics

Roles that require this skill

Data risk management

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

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

Roles that require this skill

Data science innovation

Data science involves examining data through statistical analysis and data mining, to identify patterns and uncover insights that can inform decision-making.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • adopt an inquisitive and curious approach to data
  • be receptive to learning about data science and its techniques
  • be unafraid to ask questions and discover what there is to learn

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • adopt an inquisitive and curious approach to data
  • seek out and research new data science techniques to support learning
  • ask questions to improve your knowledge and learn about data science norms
  • see possibilities for improvements and innovation

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate practical knowledge of data science tools and techniques
  • develop data science solutions that maximise insight
  • identify opportunities for how data science can improve data practices

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • be a leader in the data science space
  • demonstrate in-depth knowledge of data science tools and techniques, which you can use to solve problems creatively and to create opportunities for your team
  • act as a coach, inspiring curiosity and creativity in others
  • demonstrate in-depth knowledge of your chosen profession and keep up to date with changes in the industry
  • challenge the status quo and always look for ways to improve data science

Roles that require this skill

Data standards

Data standards involve established practices to make it easier and more effective to share and use data across government.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate an understanding of best practice data policies, processes and standards, and can implement them effectively
  • understand which standards need to be applied where
  • work effectively with subject matter experts to develop the rules, policies and guidance needed to safeguard the organisation’s data assets
  • work within a team to monitor how data policies and standards are applied and complied with, taking action where necessary

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define data governance policies, processes and standards, and can ensure these are understood at senior levels throughout organisational programmes and projects
  • work effectively with subject matter experts from across programmes to introduce best practice
  • independently monitor how policies and standards are applied and complied with, taking action where necessary

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advocate and oversee the implementation of best practice data policies, processes and standards, taking remedial action where necessary
  • ensure that best practice data policies, processes and standards are understood at senior levels throughout the organisation’s programmes and projects
  • develop relationships and positively influence strategic decision-makers across government

Roles that require this skill

Data standards (data architect)

Data standards involve established practices to make it easier and more effective to share and use data across government.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop data standards for a specific component
  • analyse where data standards have been applied or breached, and undertake an impact analysis of that breach

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop and set data standards across multiple subject areas
  • act as the escalation point for breaches of data standards and make recommendations about how the organisation should resolve them

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop and set data standards for an organisation
  • communicate the business benefit of data standards, championing and governing them across the organisation
  • understand where standards need to be set across an organisation, and how to set the standards within an organisation in the wider context of government

Roles that require this skill

Data visualisation

Data visualisation involves producing graphical representations that communicate data, such as charts and graphs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work under direction to use the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell a story, relevant to the fully defined goals and able to be acted upon
  • present, communicate and disseminate analysis and recommendations appropriately, under direction

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use the most appropriate medium to visualise data to tell compelling stories that are relevant to business goals and can be acted upon
  • present, communicate and disseminate data appropriately and with influence

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate skill in a number of data visualisation tools and techniques
  • apply standards and best practices to present, communicate and disseminate data appropriately and with influence
  • review, advise and support more junior members, and establish processes, standards and templates for others to follow, improving the efficiency and quality of visualisations

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set the strategy to enable your teams to produce effective and influential visualisations
  • ensure adherence to organisation-wide standards and guidelines, and suggest appropriate ways to improve them
  • ensure your team has the training, skills and support required to produce high quality data visualisations that are insightful and can be acted upon
  • implement feedback gathering to support continuous improvement

Roles that require this skill

Delivering business impact

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of the organisation and the benefits of data science
  • develop data science products as part of a team
  • create basic visuals and presentations to communicate data science effectively
  • show knowledge of data and analysis and can discuss how to align them to meet user needs

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of the organisation and the benefits of data science
  • collaborate to help identify user needs and develop and deliver data science products
  • communicate effectively and present analysis and visualisations tailored to your audience

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead and support your organisation area by using data science to create change
  • identify opportunities to develop data science products to support organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation to fulfil goals
  • show an understanding of the role of user research, and can design and manage processes to gather and establish user needs
  • communicate relevant and compelling stories effectively and present analysis and data visualisations clearly to get across complex messages
  • work with colleagues to implement scalable data science products, and to understand maintenance requirements

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • champion the role of data science within the organisation
  • understand and champion user research, and can design and manage processes to gather and establish user needs
  • identify and create opportunities to develop and deliver data science products to support organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation to fulfil meaningful goals
  • take responsibility for delivering scalable data science products into the organisation, and establishing maintenance support

Roles that require this skill

Designing secure systems

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and review system architectures through the application of patterns and principles

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and review system architectures through the development of patterns and principles

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead design and review solutions to complex problems with system architectures by defining and challenging patterns and principles
  • create precedents and set direction

Roles that require this skill

Developing data science capability

Training and capability improvement involves identifying and advocating ways to develop the skills, knowledge and performance of individuals or organisations.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of various sources of training and self-directed learning for data science
  • create a CPD (continuous professional development) plan with support from your manager
  • demonstrate a basic understanding of key data science techniques, such as machine learning, and how they can be used

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage your CPD (continuous professional development) and can link your learning to objectives and organisational goals
  • confidently talk about the benefits of data science approaches to existing and potential customers
  • demonstrate a good understanding of key data science techniques, such as machine learning, and you can use them to build data science solutions, including reports, models and dashboards

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage your CPD (continuous professional development) and can link your learning to objectives and organisational goals
  • support data science capability building across the team and wider organisation
  • confidently talk about the benefits of data science approaches to existing and potential customers
  • demonstrate a good understanding of a range of data science techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and you can use them to build data science solutions, including reports, models and dashboards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • act as a leader or technical specialist, providing detailed support and guidance within the organisation and helping colleagues to develop skills
  • set the direction of CPD (continuous professional development) within your team
  • keep up to date with new developments in data science and can match those to opportunities in your organisation
  • talk confidently about the benefits of data science approaches to existing and potential customers
  • demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a wide range of data science techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and detailed knowledge of at least one specialism
  • use these techniques to build data science solutions, including reports, models and dashboards

Roles that require this skill

Development process optimisation

Process optimisation involves ensuring your processes are accurately defined and capture the most efficient way to complete a task by monitoring modified procedures.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the importance of developing process efficiency and the common ways in which processes are optimised
  • support specific activities to improve development processes
  • spot or identify obvious deficiencies

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify process optimisation opportunities with guidance and contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse current processes
  • identify and implement opportunities to optimise processes
  • lead and develop a team of experts to deliver service improvements
  • help to evaluate and establish requirements for the implementation of changes by setting policy and standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Development process optimisation (management)

Process optimisation involves ensuring your processes are accurately defined and capture the most efficient way to complete a task by monitoring modified procedures.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work under guidance to identify process optimisation opportunities
  • contribute to the implementation of proposed solutions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse current processes
  • identify and implement opportunities to optimise processes
  • lead and develop a team of experts to deliver service improvements
  • help to evaluate and establish requirements for the implementation of changes by setting policy and standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set the strategy and manage resource allocation for solution development programmes
  • work with client functions to establish business requirements and identify, propose, initiate and lead these programmes

Roles that require this skill

Digital perspective

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of design, technology and data principles
  • demonstrate engagement with trends in design and can set relevant priorities
  • understand the internet and the range of available technology choices

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate responsiveness to changes in technology, adapting your approach accordingly
  • make decisions to meet user needs in the government context
  • understand the importance of assisted digital and can design services and make decisions to meet user needs

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply a digital understanding to your work
  • identify and implement solutions for assisted digital

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology, and understand how these impact in a government context
  • make decisions that set the standards for others to follow
  • understand working using Agile methodology at an organisational level
  • create an environment for success

Roles that require this skill

Empathy and inclusivity

Inclusion involves including everyone to incorporate disparate views and requirements, whether developing products and services or internal policies.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • incorporate a wide variety of views from underrepresented groups into product and policy work, using in-depth consulting and outreach strategies
  • be involved in the wider organisational diversity and inclusion plan
  • draw on your multidisciplinary background and personal experience to understand the consequences of data systems on a diverse range of stakeholders
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of social issues, types of bias and discrimination different groups can face, and you can use this knowledge to inform your data ethics work

Roles that require this skill

Enabling and informing risk-based decisions

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with risk owners to advise and give feedback
  • advise on risk impact and whether it's within risk tolerance
  • describe different risk methodologies and how these are applied, as well as the proportionality of risk

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with higher impact or more complex risks, advising on the impact and whether it's within risk tolerance
  • apply different risk methodologies in proportion to the risk

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • act as a point of escalation
  • be trusted by senior risk owners as an expert in security
  • apply risk methodologies at the most complex levels of risk

Roles that require this skill

Enterprise and business architecture (business analyst)

Enterprise architecture involves analysing how to achieve an organisation's objectives by designing and aligning its IT applications and technologies. Business architecture involves defining the business strategy, governance and most important processes of the organisation.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with limited direction to translate business drivers, goals and constraints into business objectives
  • help to define required capabilities and support organisational changes to create operating models that meet business objectives

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Enterprise architecture

Enterprise architecture involves analysing how to achieve an organisation's objectives by designing and aligning its IT applications and technologies.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain how to turn an organisation's goals into clear objectives
  • explain how an architecture that defines technology, people, process and other elements can be used to achieve the organisation’s objectives

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • turn an organisation's goals into clear objectives, with limited direction
  • design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives, with support

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives
  • work with others across the organisation to ensure your design is used to achieve the organisation’s objectives

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead others designing architectures defining the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives
  • work with others beyond the organisation to influence organisational structures, technology, people and processes to achieve objectives
  • ensure organisation-wide changes align with the architectural strategy

Roles that require this skill

Ethics and privacy

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the ethical considerations of potential data science approaches
  • show an awareness of the legislation applicable in this area, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA)
  • show an awareness of existing data and AI ethics frameworks in and outside government

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • expertly set and identify the ethical considerations of potential data science approaches
  • demonstrate a good working knowledge of the legislation applicable in this area, such as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA)
  • demonstrate expert knowledge of existing data and AI ethics frameworks in and outside government and can advise others seeking ethical guidance

Roles that require this skill

Ethics and privacy (data science)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show that you know the appropriate channels to discuss ethical issues

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of the ethical implications of using data science in your projects
  • identify the person within the organisation to raise concerns or suggestions with regarding ethical considerations and compliance

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an understanding of how ethical issues fit into a wider context and can work with relevant stakeholders
  • stay up to date with developments in data ethics standards and legislation frameworks, using these to improve processes in your work area
  • identify and respond to ethical concerns in your area of responsibility

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • oversee compliance with data ethics standards and legislation
  • develop and manage the ethical framework for how data, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques are used across the organisation, ensuring data governance complies with relevant legislation and standards
  • embed a culture of data ethics and explain why this is so important
  • ensure ethics guidance is appropriately applied to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes
  • assess and constructively challenge proposed policies and programmes

Roles that require this skill

Evidence- and context-based design

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the value of evidence-based design, and that design is a process

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • generate and test multiple solutions to a problem

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce simple designs

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design systems for use across multiple services and can identify the simplest of a variety of approaches

Roles that require this skill

Financial decision making for technology

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • assess the full financial implication of a technology buying decision
  • advise on the appropriate funding of shared technologies so that the cost is shared now and in future
  • guide decision making on appropriate approaches for buying technology, services and human resources so that technology investments achieve organisational goals

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • explaining financial implications of purchasing technology, particularly where the full lifetime cost is unpredictable
  • prioritising spending by balancing immediate problems with future uncertainties
  • gaining support for your recommendations by explaining your decisions to finance, risk, and commercial colleagues at board level

Roles that require this skill

Financial management

Financial management involves planning, organising and monitoring financial resources.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the financial impact of the work you do and how cost and budgets are created

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • balance cost versus value
  • consider the impact of user needs
  • report on financial delivery
  • monitor cost and budget
  • understand how and when to escalate issues

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • negotiate, influence or set budgets in complex environments
  • write or input into business cases and can communicate business-value propositions

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • influence or create complex budgets across an organisation, programme or product view
  • manage the budget you are given and make it work

Roles that require this skill

Financial ownership

Financial management involves planning, organising and monitoring financial resources.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • handle numbers confidently
  • collate information ensuring the accuracy of financial and performance data

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the marketplace
  • realise the benefit of a product and persuade others that it's the right one to use
  • integrate a product with other services
  • ensure that products get used
  • realise benefits by linking work in progress back to the business case
  • build business cases based on user needs

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop an Agile business case and own and iterate it throughout the product life cycle
  • develop benefits with others within the portfolio
  • understand the granularity of financial costs per sprint and the value delivered

Roles that require this skill

Functional testing

Testing involves ensuring that requirements have been fully met by using appropriate tools and techniques to verify that a product or service works.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of functional testing techniques
  • execute test scenarios and identify defects, raising awareness of them
  • run tests others have written and know the processes to do so
  • show an understanding of a range of standard testing techniques

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and execute test cases using standard testing techniques
  • come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and execute a wide range of testing techniques and communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • make decisions on the environment for testing, and can coach others
  • identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on up-to-date functional testing techniques
  • assess and peer-review the work of others
  • coach and mentor others
  • write test approaches for major projects and provide guidance on risk approaches
  • devise new test techniques and provide recommendations

Roles that require this skill

Governance and assurance

Governance and assurance involves defining and ensuring adherence to an organisation's quality control and compliance processes.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand technical governance
  • participate in the assurance of a service

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how governance works and what governance is required
  • take responsibility for the assurance of a service and know what risks need to be managed

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • evolve and define governance
  • take responsibility for working with and supporting other staff in wider governance
  • assure services across sets of services
  • use tools such as standards, guardrails and principles to effectively govern delivery

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how technical governance works with wider governance (such as budget)
  • assure corporate services by understanding important risks and mitigating them through assurance mechanisms

Roles that require this skill

Governance and assurance (accessibility)

Governance and assurance involves defining and ensuring adherence to an organisation's quality control and compliance processes.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse and provide feedback on governance and project documents, and on governance boards, according to a predefined framework, assessing them against accessibility standards

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • challenge teams, make full use of existing arrangements and build strong relationships to reduce or remove risk associated with not meeting accessibility standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • analyse governance and assurance systems and add appropriate measures to ensure accessibility is built into all project, programme and change activity

Roles that require this skill

Government Digital and Data perspective

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a basic understanding of design, technology and data principles
  • understand the range of available technology choices

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a working understanding of design, technology and data principles
  • understand the variety and complexity of users’ digital needs, and how the product will meet those needs
  • show an awareness of assisted digital support and can explain why it’s important
  • design services and make decisions to meet user needs

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate an advanced understanding of design, technology and data principles
  • identify and implement solutions for assisted digital
  • apply knowledge to work with other roles and groups in Government Digital and Data

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology
  • understand Agile working at an organisational level
  • create the environment for success
  • initiate and support working with other roles and groups in Government Digital and Data

Roles that require this skill

IT and mathematics

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of IT and mathematical skills
  • appreciate how they are applied in the environment

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply your knowledge and experience of IT and mathematical skills, including tools and techniques
  • adopt those most appropriate for the environment

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • share your knowledge and experience of IT and mathematical skills with others, including tools and techniques
  • define those most appropriate for the environment

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate knowledge and experience of the application of IT and mathematical skills
  • be a recognised specialist and adviser in these skills, including relating to user needs, generation of ideas, methods, tools, and leading or guiding others in best practice

Roles that require this skill

IT infrastructure

IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • support infrastructure solutions and services, and other computer, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS) and open source packages and solutions
  • support virtual and cloud computing, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • build, configure, administer and support infrastructure technologies and solutions. These technologies and solutions can include computing, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS), and open source packages and solutions. They can also include virtual and cloud computing such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, implement, administer and support infrastructure technologies, solutions and services. These can include computing, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS), and open source packages and solutions. They can also include virtual and cloud computing such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead teams and departments in the design, implementation, administration and support of infrastructure solutions and services

Roles that require this skill

IT infrastructure (network architect)

IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • build, configure, administer and support infrastructure technologies and solutions. These technologies and solutions can include computing, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS), and open source packages and solutions. They can also include virtual and cloud computing such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • create, design and implement infrastructure technologies, solutions and services. These can include computing, storage, networking, physical infrastructure, software, commercial-off-the-shelf software (COTS), and open source packages and solutions. They can also include virtual and cloud computing such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead teams and departments in the design, implementation, administration and support of infrastructure solutions and services

Roles that require this skill

Incident management

Incident management involves coordinating the response to incident reports, ensuring effective prioritisation, investigation and resolution.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and register incidents, gathering the required information and allocating it to the appropriate channel

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • diagnose and prioritise incidents, investigate their causes and find resolutions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the investigation and resolution of incidents

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Inclusive research

Inclusion involves including everyone to incorporate disparate views and requirements, whether developing products and services or internal policies.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate some awareness of the diversity of users of government services and the need to make government services usable and accessible for everyone

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the diversity of users of government services and the need to make services usable and accessible for everyone
  • work with colleagues to include many kinds of users in appropriate research activities

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help teams understand the diversity of users of government services
  • effectively include all kinds of users in appropriate research activities
  • advocate inclusive practices and help teams design and deliver accessible services that work for all users

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help organisations understand the diversity of users of government services
  • guide organisations to adopt inclusive practices and apply what they learn to design and deliver accessible services that work for all users

Roles that require this skill

Information security

Information security involves maintaining the security, confidentiality and integrity of information.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • discuss information security and the security controls that can be used to mitigate security threats within solutions and services

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate an understanding of information security and the types of security controls that can be used to mitigate security threats within solutions and services

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand information security
  • design solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered with mitigation of security threats as a core feature

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate in-depth knowledge of information security
  • design, quality review and quality assure solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered with mitigation of security threats as a core feature

Roles that require this skill

Innovation in digital and data

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

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

Roles that require this skill

Leadership and guidance

Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show commitment to agreed good practice for the team, teaching new starters and challenging substandard work by peers
  • recommend decisions and describe the reasoning behind them
  • identify and articulate technical disputes between direct peers and local stakeholders
  • show an understanding of the importance of team dynamics, collaboration and feedback

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to best practice guidelines
  • understand the sustainability and consequences of your decisions and can make decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity
  • resolve technical disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, taking into account all views and opinions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make decisions characterised by medium levels of risk and complexity and recommend decisions as risk and complexity increase
  • build consensus between services or independent stakeholders
  • identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them
  • engage in varying types of feedback, choosing the right type at the appropriate time and ensuring the discussion and decision stick
  • bring people together to form a motivated team and help create the right environment for a team to work in
  • facilitate the best team makeup depending on the situation

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • change organisational structures to fixable and sustainable designs
  • lead on the strategy for the whole organisation, marrying business needs with innovative analysis
  • make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity
  • build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent and diverse stakeholders
  • solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level
  • understand the psychology of a team and have strong mediation skills
  • coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution

Roles that require this skill

Leadership and guidance (frontend developer)

Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • follow agreed good practice for the team
  • show an awareness of the importance of team dynamics and collaboration
  • understand the importance of feedback

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the impact of decisions
  • make decisions characterised by different levels of risk and complexity
  • resolve technical disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, taking into account all views and opinions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make decisions characterised by medium levels of risk and complexity, and can recommend decisions as risk and complexity increase
  • contribute to best practice guidelines

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • change organisational structures to fixable and sustainable designs
  • lead on the strategy for the whole organisation, marrying business needs with innovative analysis
  • make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity
  • build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent stakeholders
  • solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level
  • understand the psychology of a team and have strong mediation skills
  • coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution

Roles that require this skill

Life cycle perspective

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how the needs of the team and the product vary across the stages of the product life cycle

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • recognise when to move from one stage of a product life cycle to another
  • ensure the team is working towards the appropriate service standards for the relevant phase
  • manage the delivery of products and services at different phases

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply experience in multiple parts of the product life cycle
  • recognise when it is right to move forward and when it is right to stop
  • recognise the appropriate deliverables and the right people to meet them
  • work with other Agile delivery operations throughout the product life cycle
  • plan and engage with the appropriate stakeholders at a particular stage in the project

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • successfully lead teams through the full product life cycle
  • identify which tools and techniques should be used at each stage
  • develop sustainable support models
  • identify and deal with potential risks across or between all stages of the product life cycle
  • coach others
  • contribute to the assessment of other teams, providing guidance and support as they move through stages of the product life cycle

Roles that require this skill

Logical and creative thinking

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify problems in databases, data processes, data products and services, with an understanding of the level of a problem (for example, strategic, tactical or operational)
  • contribute to the implementation of remedies and preventative measures

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • respond to problems in databases, data processes, data products and services as they occur
  • initiate actions, monitor services and identify trends to resolve problems
  • determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation, and with preventative measures

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure that the most appropriate actions are taken to resolve problems as they occur
  • co-ordinate teams to resolve problems and implement solutions and preventative measures

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • anticipate problems and know how to prevent them
  • understand how problems fit into the larger picture
  • describe problems and help others to do so
  • build problem-solving capabilities in others

Roles that require this skill

Maintaining delivery momentum

Delivery management involves improving the speed and efficiency with which products and services are developed.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • actively address internal risks and issues and know when to escalate them
  • set the team cadence and tempo, ensuring it is sustainable
  • track, manage, escalate and communicate dependencies
  • actively remove or minimise risks, issues or dependencies where possible
  • understand how the risks, issues or dependencies impact the work of a team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • facilitate the delivery flow of a team, managing the pace and tempo
  • actively address internal and external risks, issues and dependencies including where ownership exists outside the team

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • optimise the delivery flow of teams
  • actively address the most complicated risks, issues and dependencies including where ownership exists outside the team or no clear ownership exists
  • identify innovative ways to unblock issues

Roles that require this skill

Making a process work

Process optimisation involves ensuring your processes are accurately defined and capture the most efficient way to complete a task by monitoring modified procedures.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • guide teams to focus on the output rather than the process
  • help the team to find a process that works for them
  • support teams in establishing a process

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify and challenge organisational processes of increasing complexity and those processes that are unnecessarily complicated
  • add value and can coach the organisation to inspect and adapt processes
  • guide teams through the implementation of a new process

Roles that require this skill

Making and guiding decisions

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • recommend decisions and describe the reasoning behind them
  • identify and articulate technical disputes between direct peers and local stakeholders

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity, and recommend decisions as risk and complexity increase
  • resolve technical disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, considering all views and opinions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make decisions characterised by medium levels of risk and complexity, and recommend decisions as risk and complexity increase
  • build consensus between services or independent stakeholders

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity
  • build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent and diverse stakeholders

Roles that require this skill

Making architectural decisions

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • describe the reasoning behind architectural design decisions
  • gather information to inform decisions
  • understand architectural governance and assurance relevant to your work

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with others to make architectural design decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity
  • identify and address architectural risks relevant to your team or domain, for example, business, data, or security
  • engage with architectural governance and assurance to effectively manage decisions and risks, with support

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by medium risk and complexity
  • identify and address architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains
  • use architectural governance and assurance to make design decisions and manage technical risks at the appropriate level
  • contribute to the development of architectural governance and assurance

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by high levels of risk and complexity
  • identify and address architectural risks across the organisation or wider government
  • lead and evolve architectural governance and assurance
  • represent architectural governance as part of wider governance, for example, legal or commercial

Roles that require this skill

Managing decisions and risks

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify technical disputes and describe them in ways that are relevant both to direct peers and to local stakeholders
  • work collaboratively while recommending decisions and the reasoning behind them

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • generate multiple solutions to a problem and test them

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with consequential or complex risks
  • build consensus between services or independent stakeholders
  • lead others to make good design decisions
  • apply different risk methodologies in proportion to the risk

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity
  • build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent and diverse stakeholders
  • be trusted by senior risk owners as an expert in security
  • apply risk methodologies at the most complex levels of risk
  • guide others in applying risk methodologies in proportion to the risk

Roles that require this skill

Metadata management

Metadata management involves establishing policies and processes that ensure data can be accessed across an organisation.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain what metadata is
  • maintain the information stored in metadata repositories under the direction of others

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use metadata repositories to complete complex tasks such as data and systems integration impact analysis
  • maintain a metadata repository to ensure information remains accurate and up to date

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design an appropriate metadata repository
  • suggest changes to improve current metadata repositories
  • understand a range of tools for storing and working with metadata
  • advise less experienced members of the team about metadata management

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify how metadata repositories can support different areas of the organisation
  • communicate the value of metadata repositories
  • set up robust governance processes to keep repositories up to date

Roles that require this skill

Methods and tools

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • follow advice to apply the most appropriate tools and techniques to support the planning, analysis, development, testing, implementation and improvement of systems and services

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • select and use the most appropriate tools and techniques to support the planning, analysis, development, testing, implementation and improvement of systems and services within a project

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • build capability in methods and tools, ensuring they are adopted consistently and used effectively

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set direction and give others the means and authority to advise on the best methodologies and tools for the work, ensuring they are adopted consistently
  • assess the effectiveness of different approaches (such as Agile or plan-driven) and recommend tools to support organisational collaboration and build capability

Roles that require this skill

Modern standards approach

Modern development standards involves using the latest technologies and best practices to improve the quality of the software development process.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the importance of adopting a modern standards approach

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the most important principles of a modern standards approach and how they apply to the work you are undertaking
  • apply these principles under guidance

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • competently apply a modern standards approach and guide others to do so

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a strong understanding of the most appropriate modern standards and practices, and how they are applied
  • coach and guide others in these standards

Roles that require this skill

Non-functional testing

Non-functional testing involves verifying that a system (behind the functions and features) complies with requirements such as performance and usability.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of non-functional testing techniques
  • execute non-functional test scenarios and identify defects
  • run non-functional tests others have written and know the processes to do so
  • understand a range of standard non-functional testing techniques

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and execute non-functional test cases using standard testing techniques, in instructed environments
  • come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design and execute a wide range of non-functional testing techniques
  • communicate non-functional test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • make decisions on running types of non-functional testing
  • coach and mentor others
  • identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on up-to-date non-functional testing techniques
  • assess and peer-review the work of others
  • coach and mentor others
  • write non-functional test approaches for major projects and provide guidance on risk approaches
  • devise new non-functional test techniques and provide recommendations

Roles that require this skill

Operational management

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the operational processes of running and maintaining a product or service

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design operational processes for the running and maintenance of products or services throughout their product life cycle
  • redesign operational processes, amend existing processes, and plan and put into operation the stages of a new product or service development
  • act as the escalation point for operational issues and can fix complex operational issues
  • overcome operational constraints to deliver a successful product or service
  • work closely with operational delivery teams in Government Digital and Data

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • keep abreast of industry best practice and can cascade ways of working
  • make operations efficient
  • act as the escalation point for major operational issues and champion operational management across the community
  • work closely with leaders of operational delivery teams in Government Digital and Data

Roles that require this skill

Ownership and initiative

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of problem resolution processes
  • pass problems on to your team

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • own an issue until a new owner has been found or the problem has been mitigated or resolved

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take accountability for issues that occur and be proactive in searching for potential problems
  • achieve excellent user outcomes

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Performance measurement

Performance measurement involves collecting and interpreting data to identify how a team, product or service is performing.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the importance of performance measurement and business objectives

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • participate in discussions determining which performance measurements are appropriate, with guidance from more experienced colleagues
  • demonstrate experience in turning business needs and goals into performance measures

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the development of performance measurement frameworks including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
  • demonstrate a deep understanding of business goals and can turn these into tangible performance measures

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • oversee the development and consistency of performance measurement frameworks across multiple projects
  • ensure that these frameworks are aligned to business needs and strategy

Roles that require this skill

Planning

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the importance of planning and forecasting
  • show an awareness of the different ways to develop a plan

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the environment and prioritise the most important or high value tasks
  • use data to inform planning
  • manage complex internal and external dependencies
  • provide delivery confidence
  • remove blockers or impediments that affect plans and can develop a plan for difficult situations
  • ensure that teams plan appropriately for their capacity

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead a continual planning process in a very complex environment
  • plan beyond product delivery
  • identify dependencies in plans across services and co-ordinate delivery
  • coach other teams as the central point of expertise

Roles that require this skill

Problem definition and shaping

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the strategic context of your work and why it is important
  • collect information that helps with understanding organisational problems
  • use architectural representations produced by others, such as a problem definition statement, to support a team

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help to frame a problem characterised by managed levels of complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created
  • help to create options for solving problems at an appropriate level of detail

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • frame a problem characterised by medium complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created
  • produce architectural representations that enable different teams to have a shared understanding of problems throughout the life cycle
  • describe options for solving problems so that appropriate delivery methods can be decided

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created
  • coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions
  • help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options

Roles that require this skill

Problem management

Problem management involves anticipating and identifying problems in systems, processes or services, and ensuring appropriate solutions are implemented.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate problems in systems, processes and services, with an understanding of the level of a problem (for example, strategic, tactical or operational)
  • contribute to the implementation of remedies and preventative measures

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems
  • effectively consult specialists where required
  • determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation
  • determine preventative measures

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure that the right actions are taken to investigate, resolve and anticipate problems
  • co-ordinate the team to investigate problems, implement solutions and take preventive measures

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • anticipate problems and defend against them at the right time
  • understand how the problem fits into the larger picture
  • articulate the problem and help others to do so
  • build problem-solving capabilities in others

Roles that require this skill

Problem resolution (data)

Problem management involves anticipating and identifying problems in systems, processes or services, and ensuring appropriate solutions are implemented.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the types of problems in databases, data processes, data products and services

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • respond to problems in databases, data processes, data products and services as they occur
  • initiate actions, monitor services and identify trends to resolve problems
  • determine the appropriate remedy and assist with its implementation, and with preventative measures

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure that the most appropriate actions are taken to resolve problems as they occur
  • co-ordinate teams to resolve problems and to implement solutions and preventative measures

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • anticipate problems and know how to prevent them
  • understand how problems fit into the bigger picture
  • identify and describe problems, and help others to describe them
  • build problem-solving capabilities in others

Roles that require this skill

Product ownership

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the tools, terms and concepts used to deliver a product

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the tools, terms and concepts used to deliver a product, and how they can be adapted and applied to different phases of delivery

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply tools, terms and concepts in a variety of ways
  • be flexible, consider new ways of working and adapt to change

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • start to define and create approaches
  • coach others
  • implement new ways of working
  • show an awareness of what other sectors are doing
  • understand what is most important and applicable

Roles that require this skill

Product ownership (data ethics)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop data ethics tools and translate theoretical principles into practice
  • use a range of product management principles and approaches
  • consider new ways of working and adapt to change
  • capture and translate user needs into deliverables
  • demonstrate familiarity with feedback gathering, evaluation mechanisms and product promotion

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define and create organisation-wide data ethics tools and translate theoretical principles into practice
  • demonstrate expertise in product management principles and approaches
  • set new ways of working and adapt to change
  • capture and translate user needs into deliverables
  • demonstrate expertise in feedback gathering, evaluation mechanisms and product promotion

Roles that require this skill

Programming and build (data engineering)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, code, test, correct and document simple programs or scripts under the direction of others

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use agreed standards and tools to design, code, test, correct and document moderate-to-complex programs and scripts from agreed specifications and subsequent iterations
  • collaborate with others to review specifications where appropriate

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • set local or team-based standards for programming tools and techniques and can select appropriate development methods
  • advise on the application of standards and methods and ensure compliance
  • take technical responsibility for all stages and iterations in a software development project, providing method-specific technical advice and guidance to project stakeholders

Roles that require this skill

Programming and build (data science)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show a basic understanding of software development principles and can write simple scripts under supervision

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • write and test scripts and create basic models in one or more languages
  • collaborate on shared codebases, using a variety of methodologies

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • write moderate to complex programs and scripts
  • show a good understanding of testing methodologies and how to deploy code

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • write complex programs and scripts
  • seek to make code open source where appropriate
  • supervise junior analysts and set coding standards for your team
  • understand software architecture and how to write efficient, optimised code
  • perform user testing on products prior to launch

Roles that require this skill

Programming and build (frontend developer)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, code, test, correct and document simple user interfaces using the right standards and tools under the direction of others

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • collaborate with others to understand and review software requirements
  • design, code, test, correct and document user interfaces using the right standards and tools under the direction of others

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications
  • use the agreed specifications to build, test and document user interfaces of medium to high complexity, using the right standards and tools

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance
  • provide technical advice to stakeholders and set team-based standards for programming tools and techniques
  • collaborate with others when required to review specifications
  • use specifications to build, test and document user interfaces of high complexity, using the appropriate standards and tools

Roles that require this skill

Programming and build (software engineering)

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the process of software development and have a basic knowledge of how services are built

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • design, code, test, correct and document simple programs or scripts under the direction of others

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications
  • use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on the right way to apply standards and methods to ensure compliance
  • maintain technical responsibility for all the stages and iterations of a software development project
  • provide technical advice to stakeholders and set the team-based standards for programming tools and techniques

Roles that require this skill

Project management

Project management involves understanding the life cycle of a project to achieve its objectives within the agreed parameters.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of project management techniques, and an appreciation of how they are applied in the environment

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply your knowledge and experience of project management methodologies, including tools and techniques
  • adopt those most appropriate for the environment

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • share knowledge and experience of project management methodologies with others, including tools and techniques
  • define those most appropriate for the environment
  • oversee projects within a data analytics team

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate knowledge and experience of the application of project management methodologies
  • be a recognised specialist and adviser in project management, including user needs, generation of ideas, methods and tools, and leading or guiding others in best practice
  • oversee projects within a data analytics team

Roles that require this skill

Prototyping

Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain what prototyping is, and why and when to use it
  • understand how to work in an open and collaborative environment (by pair working, for example)

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand when to use a specific prototyping technique or method
  • show the value of prototyping to your team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • approach prototyping as a team activity, actively soliciting prototypes and testing with others
  • establish design patterns and iterate them
  • use a variety of prototyping methods and choose the most appropriate

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use a variety of prototyping methods
  • share best practice and coach others
  • look at strategic service design end to end

Roles that require this skill

Prototyping in code

Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a basic knowledge of how the internet works
  • use tools and change text
  • edit existing code and reuse it

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • write HTML and add new tags

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • create static HTML and CSS prototypes
  • code for different screen sizes
  • version and host a prototype

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • create and validate a dynamic prototype

Roles that require this skill

Requirements definition and management

Requirements definition and management involves identifying and validating user or business requirements for a product or service.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • support identifying, analysing, capturing and validating business and user requirements
  • work under supervision to manage requirements and support their prioritisation, within a defined scope
  • provide distinct task-based outputs for parts of the project as directed, using a predetermined requirements management life cycle

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify, analyse, challenge and validate business and user requirements
  • work under limited supervision to co-ordinate and review the prioritisation of requirements
  • use appropriate requirements management life cycle methods to complete tasks and outputs related to the project

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on the approach to requirements management within a project or programme
  • define the most appropriate requirements management life cycle methods and ensure the requirement can be traced in the design, build, test, tender and evaluation phases
  • co-ordinate and review the prioritisation of requirements and engage in the negotiation of solutions to help meet programme objectives

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • direct the approach to requirements management
  • enable others to select and apply appropriate life cycle methods
  • influence the prioritisation of complex requirement sets, enabling long-term strategic decision making and short-term tactical fixes
  • ensure the proposed solutions align with the organisational strategy and vision

Roles that require this skill

Research and innovation

Keeping actively informed of industry developments to make creative and cost-effective use of emerging technologies and tools, aligned with business goals and user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advise on developments to security properties in technology
  • identify new technologies and design their use in a business context

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to and inform developments on security properties in technology
  • identify new technologies and design the use of these in the business context across the organisation
  • engage with the broader security community

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Roles that require this skill

Research management, leadership and assurance

Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the importance of working to a user research plan and of following standards for user research

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure research has a clearly defined scope and purpose
  • get advice or support from someone more experienced when you need help to ensure research is defined before it starts
  • build your understanding of good practice standards for user research
  • improve your practice through reflection and feedback

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • evaluate the quality of research against accepted professional standards for user research
  • explain what good user research practice involves
  • give constructive feedback to other user researchers to ensure work meets good practice standards

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • establish and align user research programmes and teams to meet organisational goals
  • synthesise findings from research programmes, producing strategic insights to inform the organisation’s roadmap
  • set and assure good practice user research standards for the organisation, including ethics and safeguarding
  • assure user research quality across the organisation

Roles that require this skill

Security architecture

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • ensure the organisation’s technical architecture is appropriately resilient to cyber threats and attacks and has appropriate recovery mechanisms
  • oversee the use of processes, tools, platforms and other practices needed to effectively implement secure technical architecture
  • ensure your supply chain is managing cyber risk based on the level of risk your organisation accepts

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • educating senior leaders on the importance of security in the development of services and products
  • deciding when exceptions to security policy and processes are allowed
  • getting support for investment to ensure appropriate security in the organisation’s supply chain

Roles that require this skill

Security technology

Security technology involves understanding security architectures and identifying vulnerabilities to prevent and respond to cyber breaches.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate knowledge of system architectures
  • understand and articulate the impact of vulnerabilities on existing and future designs and systems, and can articulate a response
  • demonstrate broad knowledge of a range of systems, but may specialise in one

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate strong knowledge of system architectures
  • understand and articulate the impact of vulnerabilities on existing and future designs and systems, and how easy or difficult it will be to exploit these vulnerabilities
  • be recognised as an expert by peers in the broader security industry

Roles that require this skill

Service focus

IT service delivery involves overseeing the whole service life cycle, including the design, development, deployment and operation of a service.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of different products and services

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take inputs and establish coherent frameworks that work

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • see the bigger picture by taking groups of services and investigating how to get the best of underlying services

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • maintain focus on the entire life cycle of the service and ensure it’s at the forefront of readiness activities
  • understand and communicate service benefits to end users
  • ensure that service focus is championed within your team and actively recommend its adoption

Roles that require this skill

Service management framework knowledge

IT service management involves identifying, prioritising and implementing IT services, ensuring the organisation gets maximum value for money.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have a Level 3 service management framework qualification
  • demonstrate knowledge of the life cycle or capability elements of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have an expert certificate in the service management framework qualification

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • You have an expert certificate in the service management framework qualification
  • demonstrate an industry understanding of how to implement the framework into numerous environments

Roles that require this skill

Service reporting

IT service reporting involves analysing data to understand how an IT product or service has performed against the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • collate data from depositories and provide basic reporting

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • produce relevant reports in a standard format and agreed timeframe
  • work with important stakeholders to discuss any changes in the reporting processes
  • add a commentary that provides an interpretation of the data set

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use your data analytics skills to enhance business performance

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use prediction methodologies to derive and maintain a holistic view of important trends across multiple processes

Roles that require this skill

Service support

Service support involves fixing service faults and maintaining the underlying infrastructure, ensuring processes are in place to keep the service running efficiently.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help with the investigation and resolution of infrastructure problems, undertaking specific activities under direction

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help fix faults following agreed procedures
  • carry out agreed maintenance tasks on infrastructure

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify, locate and fix faults

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a breadth of understanding of service support

Roles that require this skill

Stakeholder relationship management

Stakeholder relationship management involves managing stakeholder requirements and communications throughout a project, while remaining focused on the user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • describe who your stakeholders are, what evidence is relevant to them and the importance of managing relationships with them

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly
  • tailor communication to stakeholders' needs and work with them to build relationships, while also meeting user needs
  • build and reach consensus
  • work to improve stakeholder relationships, using evidence to explain decisions made

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively
  • build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • direct the strategy towards stakeholder relationships
  • set stakeholder objectives and recommend that they’re met
  • influence important senior stakeholders and provide mediation

Roles that require this skill

Stakeholder relationship management (IT operations)

Stakeholder relationship management involves managing stakeholder requirements and communications throughout a project, while remaining focused on the user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify important stakeholders and relationships, and work with teams to build these relationships
  • understand how to work with stakeholders and contribute to improving these relationships

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively
  • build long-term strategic relationships
  • facilitate and deliver business outcomes

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • determine strategic vision and direction
  • positively influence important senior stakeholders
  • provide an arbitration function

Roles that require this skill

Stakeholder relationship management (business analysis)

Stakeholder relationship management involves managing stakeholder requirements and communications throughout a project, while remaining focused on the user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify, analyse, manage and monitor relationships with and between internal and external stakeholders
  • work under supervision to communicate with stakeholders clearly and regularly

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify, analyse, manage and monitor relationships with and between internal and external stakeholders
  • work under limited supervision to communicate with stakeholders clearly and regularly, clarifying mutual needs and commitments through consultation and consideration of impacts while focusing on user and business needs

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead on communicating with stakeholders, clarifying needs and commitments through consultation and consideration of consequences while focusing on user and business needs
  • develop or apply communication strategies to build relationships, using informal and formal channels to engage with stakeholders at all levels and resolving conflict where required

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop engagement strategies and lead on communication with stakeholders at all levels
  • actively establish relationships and apply the benefits of professional networks
  • act as a point of consultation and escalation to resolve conflict in complex situations

Roles that require this skill

Stakeholder relationship management (content design)

Stakeholder relationship management involves managing stakeholder requirements and communications throughout a project, while remaining focused on the user needs.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand who your stakeholders are, what evidence is relevant to them and the importance of managing relationships with them

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly
  • tailor communication to stakeholders' needs and work with them to build relationships, while also meeting user needs
  • build and reach consensus
  • work to improve stakeholder relationships, using evidence to explain decisions made

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • negotiate with and influence stakeholders, and manage relationships effectively
  • influence decisions, deal with challenging situations and remove blockers
  • build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders, supporting mutual needs and commitments while focusing on user needs

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • manage long-term strategic relationships with stakeholders, identifying where new connections need to be made and existing ones nurtured
  • direct the strategic approach for stakeholder relationships, establishing stakeholder objectives and ensuring these are clearly represented
  • act as a point of escalation if stakeholder relationships break down or become challenging for more junior members of the team
  • influence important senior stakeholders and arbitrate when blockers are escalated
  • facilitate discussions across high risk and complex areas or projects under constrained timelines

Roles that require this skill

Statistical methods and data analysis

Applied mathematics and statistics involves applying analytical methods including exploratory data analysis, visualisation and statistical testing to help make accurate recommendations.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the theoretical basis for applied practices
  • begin to apply the theory to practical examples

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand how and when to practically apply existing best practice solutions

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and apply a range of practices
  • develop deeper expertise in a narrower range of specialisms
  • start to apply emerging theory to practical situations

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand, teach and supervise a wide range of practices, or may have deep expertise in a narrower range of specialisms
  • apply emerging theory to practical situations

Roles that require this skill

Strategic cyber security planning

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • determine the right balance between the organisation's cyber and information security capabilities, acceptable level of risk and speed of technology progress
  • decide areas that need security investment
  • create a security roadmap that enables the organisation to achieve its objectives

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • explaining the mutual benefits of the security strategy to a range of stakeholders and teams to bring them onboard
  • advising other leaders on how to integrate security requirements in their strategies
  • ensuring security is part of all the organisation's initiatives, despite competing priorities
  • gaining support for investment in security from other leaders

Roles that require this skill

Strategic data planning

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

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

Roles that require this skill

Strategic design and business change

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a good understanding of business issues, events and activities, and their short to long term impact
  • support defining principles, patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements
  • effectively focus on outcomes rather than solutions
  • help to develop, maintain or update strategy in response to feedback and findings

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a strong understanding of business issues, events and activities and their short to long term impact
  • define principles, patterns, standards, policies, roadmaps and vision statements
  • effectively focus on outcomes rather than solutions and activities
  • develop, maintain or update strategy in response to feedback and findings

Roles that require this skill

Strategic ownership

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

This skill level is currently not defined.

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • effectively get buy-in from the team

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • effectively get buy-in from the organisation
  • work with scant information and explain it in abstract terms
  • develop a strategy

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • develop a long-term vision and objectives
  • take a discerning and disciplined approach to focusing on what is important and most relevant
  • develop the capability of others

Roles that require this skill

Strategic technology planning

Senior Civil Service

Description, including examples of leadership

You can:

  • determine the most appropriate technologies to achieve the organisation’s objectives
  • assess the effect of changes on different parts of the organisation and its partners
  • identify underlying causes of technology challenges faced by other leaders and make strategic recommendations to resolve them

Examples of leadership using this skill:

  • inspiring people with your vision so they support a more effective technology strategy
  • helping other leaders prioritise a strategic technical direction over immediate tactical concerns
  • educating colleagues about the potential benefits of chosen technologies
  • earning the trust of stakeholders who are invested in specific technologies so that they agree to change

Roles that require this skill

Strategic thinking

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the strategic context of your work and why it is important
  • support strategic planning in an administrative capacity

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals
  • contribute to the development of strategy and policies

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define strategies and policies, providing guidance to others on working in the strategic context
  • evaluate current strategies to ensure business requirements are being met and exceeded where possible

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met

Roles that require this skill

Strategic thinking (content design)

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • show an awareness of the strategic context of your work and understand why it is important
  • support strategic planning in an administrative capacity

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • support the creation and development of strategies and policies
  • contribute to iterating and improving processes and guidelines
  • understand how activities meet strategic goals

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • contribute to content strategies and policies
  • create content patterns or standards
  • provide support for content improvement projects
  • effectively focus on outcomes rather than solutions and activities

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • help lead the design and implementation of strategies, evaluating their impact and progress to ensure business objectives and the needs of users are being met
  • lead and direct strategic content improvement projects, focusing effort in the areas of greatest priority and ensuring goals and objectives are met

Roles that require this skill

Strategy design

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Skill level Description

Awareness

Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain how organisational objectives link to designing strategy
  • describe the purpose and application of strategy, standards, patterns, policies, roadmaps, vision, and mission statements

Working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • support the development of a strategy or vision that aligns with organisational objectives
  • challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities to develop strategy
  • support the implementation of a strategy or vision, for example, by using a roadmap or plan
  • use architectural principles, patterns, and constraints when appropriate

Practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define strategies or visions across teams that align with organisational objectives
  • direct the implementation of a strategy or vision, for example, by creating roadmaps or plans
  • define architectural principles and patterns
  • develop or maintain strategy in response to feedback and findings

Expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels