Head of Data
Location: Southampton/remote with some travel to other offices.
£100,000 – 110,000 + bonus + benefits
Azure Data Services / Azure Purview / Azure Data Lake / Azure Data Factory
My client, a market leader in engineered solutions for water and wastewater treatment, with a global presence across the UK, Europe, and the US, is experiencing rapid growth and is looking to recruit a Head of Data to drive their digital transformation initiatives.
As the Head of Data, you'll be at the forefront of shaping the company’s data strategy, governance, and analytics efforts. Your mission will be to unlock the full potential of data across all business units, helping the company make better decisions, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer engagement.
You’ll lead data architecture initiatives, ensure data integrity, and build advanced analytics solutions that offer meaningful business insights. Additionally, you'll lead a talented data team and work closely with senior management to ensure that data-driven decisions are made across all levels of the business. You'll also oversee compliance, security, and data governance in line with global standards.
Key Responsibilities for the position of Head of Data:

• Develop and implement a group-wide data strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead the development of analytics platforms, using tools like AI, machine learning, and data science to innovate and improve efficiency.
• Oversee the design of data architecture and lead decisions on storage, processing, and system integration.
• Work closely with senior leaders to provide actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making.
• Ensure data governance, security, and compliance with industry standards (e.g., GDPR).
• Foster a culture of collaboration and innovation across a high-performing data team.

Key experience required for the position of Head of Data:
You should be a seasoned data expert with a track record of building and executing successful data strategies in global environments. Familiarity with Microsoft Azure and advanced analytics platforms is key, and experience in managing data-driven transformations is highly valued.

• Strong expertise in data architecture, governance, and advanced analytics (Azure Synapse, Data Lake, Databricks).
• Extensive experience with cloud-based data platforms, particularly in Microsoft Azure. Proficiency in using Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Factory for ETL processes, Azure Data Lake Storage for scalable data storage, and Azure Stream Analytics for real-time analytics. Familiarity with Azure Purview for data governance and compliance, as well as Azure Machine Learning for building and deploying predictive models.
•  Experience managing data strategies and processes at a global scale, with an understanding of regional data regulations and challenges. Skilled in using Azure Data Governance tools like Azure Purview to ensure compliance.
• Leadership experience in building and mentoring data teams.
• A strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving skills and a focus on performance improvements through data-driven insights.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Relevant certifications in Azure Data Services, data management, and analytics are highly desirable.

Azure Data Services / Azure Purview / Azure Data Lake / Azure Data Factory