Data Lead

PURPOSE OF ROLE:

To lead the data analysis and data conversion planning for the project during its Elaboration phase working closely with multiple business units and 3rd party organisations to evaluate data conversion needs and data quality issues in relation to the source and target IT systems, and consequently deliver the Data Conversion and Cleansing Strategy and data analysis needed to plan the full delivery project and assess the risks, issues and effort pertaining to conversion of the data.

THE SOURCE DATA CONCERNS THE GERMAN MARKET AND THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE GERMAN BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS AND ORGANISATIONS. THEREFORE GERMAN LANGUAGE SKILLS ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR THIS ROLE, ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT IS ENGLISH.

The hub of the project is based in the UK, while presence in Germany will be desirable at times. While the default expectation was that the role would be primarily based in the UK, candidates currently based in Germany will also be considered provided that they meet the role requirements and can travel freely to the UK as needed.

KEY RESULTS AREAS

1. Data Mapping (approx. 50% of time)

- Develop an understanding of the target systems data structures through evaluation of documentation and knowledge sharing with key Delta team members
- Work with the PM and 3rd parties to identify and acquire the equivalent datasets from the source systems and to identify any pertinent data-related issues
- Analyse the source data against standard Delta data structures, data validation rules and code sets to identify the degree of fit between the source system data and the system data requirements.
- Work with the project team and key stakeholders to assess the business impact of non-standard aspects of the data - ie the significance of the data in business terms and in terms of any impact on business processes
- Work with the project team and key stakeholders to identify and define the mappings between source and Delta data and any associated rules that would need to be applied to scope or transform the data into a form that is compatible with Delta
- Structure the analysis so that it delivers a high level view of data fit and areas of potential complexity in a first iteration to support Data Conversion scoping, and a more detailed mapping in a second iteration where the level of detail is guided by the scoping decisions driven by and embodied in the Data Conversion Scope deliverable.

Document the analysis above in the following key project deliverables:

- Preliminary Data Analysis and Quality Findings Report
- Data Conversion Primary Object Mapping.

2. Data Conversion Scope and Strategy Definition (approx. 25% of time)

Based on the Preliminary Data Analysis and working with the project manager, business analysts, Delta team and key project stakeholders, deliver a scope definition for Data Conversion that defines:

- What source system data will be converted and at a high level, with what level of transformation and broadly by what technical means
- What source system data will not be converted and why
- Relevant data volumetric information
- The rationale for this recommended approach. Based on the 2nd level of data analysis as outlined above (Data Conversion Primary Object Mapping) and the agreed Data Conversion Scope, deliver a recommended strategy for data conversion that defines what will be converted, how it will be validated and transformed and by what technical means, and; and also whether any non-converted data will be made available post-cutover by other means outside Delta.
- The strategy document must outline the structure of the conversion process in terms of sequencing of extraction and processing steps, input and output datasets, rough estimates for processing times and key resources required to support the process. It is therefore a key input to project planning.

Document the above analysis and recommendations in the following key project deliverables:

- Data Conversion Scope
- Data Conversion and Cleansing Strategy.

3. Data Cleansing Scope and Strategy Definition (approx. 25% of time)

- Analyse data quality of significant samples of source data and identify any data quality issues that would impact the quality of the conversion and the use of the data in a Delta context. Work with other key team members to assess the impact of the data quality issues. This will take place in parallel with the initial (preliminary) data analysis outlined above.
- Identify and evaluate options for pre-conversion data cleansing in terms of what needs to be addressed in terms of impact, how it would be addressed, by who and with what tools.
- Deliver a Data Cleansing strategy, working with the project manager and other key team members, that defines the scope, approach, any necessary sequencing, roles and high level resource and effort implications for data cleansing based on the evaluation of options outlined above.

Document the Data Cleansing strategy as a key component of the following deliverable:

Data Conversion Scope and Cleansing Strategy.

4. Project Working

- The role will report day-to-day to the project manager and will need to participate effectively in team ways of working and reporting progress
- Good communication skills, both verbal and written, coupled with an effective and positive manner when dealing with stakeholders is key to the role. An overly technical way of communicating will be counterproductive in some situations and the capability to explain complex issues in a clear way to non-technical stakeholders is important
- The agreement of priorities and options evaluation will require a collaborative process with other team members and project stakeholders. The role requires the capability to facilitate these kinds of discussion when needed
- It is understood that some aspects of planning information will require input from the project manager and other team members. The role requires the skills to identify and agree inputs required from other parties in good time and to work with the PM to ensure effective quality review of all outputs
- Meetings and interactions with team members and stakeholders will take place both on site and remotely using telephone/Lync/Webex technologies primarily
- High quality documentation and effective presentations are an expectation of the role
- Consulting skillsets will be useful in working with the different groups in and around the project and conversely, a narrowly technical perspective will not be sufficient
- On occasions, and subject to detailed planning, the role may require the tasking and temporary supervision of other team members.