Data and Analytical Lead

Job summary
Data and Analytical Lead - Band 8A
East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA)
Location: County Hall, Leicester (Hybrid Working)
Band: 8A
Responsible to: Senior Programme Manager

Use data to transform cancer services across the East Midlands

Are you passionate about turning complex data into meaningful insight that drives better patient outcomes?

The East Midlands Cancer Alliance (EMCA) is seeking an experienced Data and Analytical Lead to provide strategic leadership for cancer intelligence, performance reporting and advanced analytics across one of the largest cancer systems in England.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the analytical function of a regional Cancer Alliance, leading the development of innovative reporting, performance intelligence and data-driven improvement programmes that support earlier diagnosis, faster treatment and improved outcomes for more than five million people across the East Midlands.

Main duties of the job
As the Data and Analytical Lead, you will lead the development of EMCA's analytical capability, ensuring high-quality intelligence underpins every aspect of cancer improvement across the region.

Working alongside Senior Programme Managers, clinicians, provider Trusts and Integrated Care Boards, you will translate complex performance data into actionable insight that supports strategic decision-making and operational improvement.

You'll be responsible for:

• Leading the development of regional cancer performance reporting.
• Designing innovative dashboards and automated reporting solutions.
• Providing strategic analytical leadership across all EMCA programmes.
• Delivering detailed pathway analysis to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Developing evaluation frameworks for major transformation programmes.
• Supporting Executive, Board and Clinical Delivery Group reporting.
• Driving innovation through automation, advanced analytics and business intelligence.
• Ensuring high standards of data quality, governance and information management across the Alliance.

What you'll be working on
Your work will directly influence regional cancer improvement programmes including:

• Cancer Waiting Times (CWT)
• Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS)
• Cancer pathway performance
• Diagnostic improvement
• Personalised care programmes
• Early diagnosis initiatives

About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
Apply through our website

Job responsibilities
About you
We're looking for an experienced analytical leader who combines technical expertise with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across complex healthcare systems.

You'll have:

• Degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) in a quantitative discipline such as Data Science, Statistics, Informatics or Analytics.
• Significant experience delivering advanced analytics within the NHS or a complex organisation.
• Expertise in SQL and either Python or R.
• Experience developing Power BI or Tableau dashboards.
• Strong understanding of performance reporting, forecasting and trend analysis.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex analytical information to clinical and executive audiences.
• Experience leading analytical work programmes and developing analytical capability.
• A passion for continuous improvement and innovation.

Why join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance?
At EMCA you'll play a critical role in transforming cancer services across the East Midlands by ensuring that every improvement programme is informed by robust, high-quality intelligence.

You'll join a supportive, ambitious team working at the forefront of cancer improvement with opportunities to:

• Influence regional and national cancer strategy.
• Lead innovative analytical projects.
• Work alongside senior clinical and operational leaders.
• Develop new analytical tools and methodologies.
• Shape how data is used to improve outcomes for cancer patients.

We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working.
• NHS Pension Scheme.
• Excellent annual leave entitlement.
• Professional development and CPD opportunities.
• A collaborative and supportive team culture.

Working arrangements
The role is based at County Hall, Leicester, with hybrid working available. Regular travel across the East Midlands is required, including attendance at provider Trusts, Integrated Care Boards and regional meetings. The successful candidate must be able to travel independently throughout the region.

Join us
If you're an experienced analytical professional who wants to use data to influence healthcare at a regional level, drive innovation and improve outcomes for thousands of patients, we'd love to hear from you.

Join the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and help transform cancer care through the power of data.

Person Specification
Knowledge, Training and Experience
Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in a quantitative discipline (e.g., statistics, data science, informatics); advanced training/CPD in analytics/BI. Evidence of CPD

Communication and Relationship Skills
Essential

• Provide and receive highly complex/sensitive/contentious information; communicate complex analytics to clinical and operational leaders; collaborate with BI teams and national partners

Analytical and judgement skills
Essential

• Advanced proficiency in SQL and either R or Python; experience building automated pipelines and reproducible analysis; ability to conduct deep dives, forecasting and trend analysis, breach/end-reason analysis, and evaluation design for pathway intervention

Planning and organisational skills
Essential

• Develop long-term strategic plans for service improvement in cancer analytics; manage multiple projects and reporting cycle

Responsibilities for policy and service deployment implementation
Essential

• Responsible for policy development and implementation in cancer analytics across EMCA

Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
Essential

• Support budgetary management for analytics projects

Responsibilities for human resources
Essential

• Support and collaborate with analytics and PMO team; contribute to training and development.

Responsibilities for information resources
Essential

• Develop and maintain documents and reports from relevant cancer data

Responsibilities for research and development
Essential

• Undertake surveys and research in cancer analytics; implement best practice.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).