Leading Transportation organisation are seeking to hire a Head of Data & Engineering in this newly created role. You will lead a team of developers and analysts to provide a robust data platform on their journey to self-serve information, providing insight and analysis with the sole purpose of providing excellent service to customers. Outside of Data Engineering you will fulfil a broad remit across, Data Architecture, Security and Data Quality ManagementClient DetailsLeading Transportation organisationDescriptionLeading Transportation organisation are seeking to hire a Head of Data & Data Engineering in this newly created role. You will lead a team of developers and analysts to provide a robust data platform on their journey to self-serve information, providing insight and analysis with the sole purpose of providing excellent service to customers. Outside of Data Engineering you will fulfil a broad remit across, Data Architecture, Data Security and Data Quality Management.Dimensions of the role:Deliver a wide range of projects with internal and external suppliers and have autonomy over an annual budget of £1M - £2M.Projects will typically consist of contributing to 3-7 smaller projects and 1 - 2 larger projects.Manage a team of 3 staff with the scope to hire additional headcount in 2025Strategy & Planning, typically annually and up to 3 years in advance. Key Responsibilities:Lead and manage the Data Engineering team, by providing strategic direction, and fostering a high-performing and collaborative working environment to ensure alignment with business goals, foster innovation and enhance productivity.Develop and implement a robust data engineering strategy that aligns with the IT and Digital Services Strategy and Data Strategy by providing alignment with business objectives, engagement with key stakeholders, assessment of the current data landscape, defining clear objectives, and developing a data governance framework, to ensure a robust data engineering strategy that aligns with business goalsOverseeing the development, implementation and management of a robust data platform ecosystem to leverage the power of data and AI initiatives by setting measurable goals such as; reducing operational costs, increasing data accessibility and by designing and building a scalable and flexible Azure Cloud environmentSupport ETL common data structure and business intelligence architectures by designing and implementing ETL processes, establishing common data structures, and developing business intelligence architectures to provide improved data quality and consistency and operational efficiencyChampion the adoption of data-driven decision-making across the organisation by securing leadership buy-in, articulating a clear vision and setoff measurable goals for the adoption of data driven practices, and through training and education, to ensure significant improvements in efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall organisational performance.Lead on the build of a data community through the creation of cross functional working, shared platforms and data stewardship where communities of data engineers and analysts work together on stable, accurate and assured data sets to improve decisions and performance.Foster a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement within the team by developing and implementing training programs to ensure the team has the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality services.Lead the development and execution of a data governance framework by defining its objectives and scope, establishing a governance structure, developing policies and standards, and implementing data management processes to ensure data quality, regulatory compliance, data security, operational efficiency and strategic decision making.Oversee the implementation and integration of big data technologies and tools, including a focus on optimising performance and efficiency for AI workloads by selecting relevant technologies and tools, designing and implementing data pipelines, and ensuring data quality and governance, to enhance the quality and usability of data to also foster a culture of innovationLead on performance improvements by collaborating with IT and Digital Services Team senior team to identify data-driven solutions to business challenges ProfileKey Skills and Experience:Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.Significant experience of developing and delivering data strategies.Demonstrable experience in leading and managing data platform development and operations within a large organisation.In-depth knowledge of data platform technologies, including Azure data warehouses, data lakes, and data governance tools.Knowledge of optimising data pipelines, pipeline architectures and integrated datasets.Demonstrable knowledge of working with and understanding data architecture principles and best practice.Experience of procuring and implementing cloud-based data management solutions.Experience of implementing data security and compliance frameworks.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.Experience of leading a team and providing solutions to data challenges.Experience with scripting languages (e.g., Python, SQL)Job OfferOpportunity to work on a major Data Transformation ProgrammeOpportunity to drive Data Strategy, Platforms and Growth