Head of Data

Our client, within the education sector in central London, is seeking an experienced Head of Data to join their IT leadership team. In this pivotal role, you will oversee the day-to-day management and advancement of the data function, driving the development and operation of a comprehensive suite of dashboards and reports.

You’ll also help define the technical strategy for data and analytics, crafting a compelling transformational roadmap and storytelling to secure buy-in from stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data professionals responsible for dashboards, reports, and data pipelines
• Oversee the end-to-end development, deployment, and maintenance of data dashboards and reporting tools
• Manage all statutory external returns processes ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Collaborate with academic, administrative, and executive stakeholders to translate requirements into actionable insights
• Drive technical strategic thinking around data architecture, platforms, and governance
• Develop and present a transformational roadmap for the data function, securing buy-in through clear business storytelling
• Champion best practices in data quality, governance, security, and compliance
• Partner with IT and business teams to integrate new data technologies and analytics solutions

Key Requirements

• Proven experience leading a Data/BI team within a large, complex organisation
• Strong track record in managing data assets, dashboard/report development, and data operations
• Expertise in database management systems and proficiency with data analysis tools and languages (e.g., SQL, Python, R, Power BI, Tableau)
• Experience handling statutory reporting requirements and other external data submissions
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business cases
• Demonstrated success in shaping and driving data strategy, architecture, and governance frameworks
• Strong leadership and people-management skills, with a focus on coaching and developing high-performing teams

If you’re a data leader passionate about driving strategic impact through analytics and platform innovation, we’d love to hear from you!