Interim Head of Data & Analytics

Binley Woods
9 months ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Senior Data Analyst

Product Performance and Data Scientist

Azure Data Engineer for Healthcare Analytics Platform

FMCG Product Performance Data Scientist — 12-Month

Product Performance and Data Scientist

Data Engineer - Outside IR35 - Healthcare/Insurance

We’re building thriving communities as one of the UK’s largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing.

We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes.

If you want to experience work that’s truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive.

Work for Orbit. Believe in people.

The role

The Interim Head of Data & Analytics will join Orbit on a 12 month fixed term contract (maternity cover) to steer Orbits data strategy and provide leadership to ensure seamless integration of data initiatives across the organisation.

This role is pivotal in driving excellence in data quality, governance, and analytics, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making.

Responsible for executing the data activities specified in the Integrated Data and Technology Strategy. This includes measuring progress and revising delivery plans as necessary throughout the duration of the Strategy.

Lead the central Data function to execute data activities and provide thought leadership for the Strategic Portfolio of Change as directed by the CID function.

Encourage and promote higher data maturity across Orbit by continuing to develop and integrate a data-driven culture. This includes making data available for self-service, ensuring proper data governance, and supporting colleagues in understanding, communicating, analysing, and interpreting data (data literacy).

This role is part of Technology & Information where you'll help us give colleagues the infrastructure, support and insight they need to be brilliant.

What you'll achieve

Leadership of the Data function, shaping the teams and direction to align and deliver on our Integrated Data and Technology Strategy commitments and annual Strategic Portfolio of projects and programmes.
Lead and oversee the ongoing development of our central data platform, the enterprise data model, and the enablement of self-service analytics capabilities throughout the organisation.
Oversee Orbit’s approach to Data Governance embedding a framework to govern conceptual data domains across Orbit’s data estate establishing roles and responsibilities in the business including data owners and data stewards who will enable data quality improvements in the operational teams.
Lead the development and application of data analysis and insight approaches across Orbit paving the way for predictive analytics and advanced analysis techniques.
Engage with stakeholders across Orbit to promote the work of the data teams, support leaders in understanding the role they play in creating and embedding a data driven culture in their teams.
Continually assess and develop the skillsets of all Data team members, supporting the management team to create appropriate development pathways for their team members.
Contract management, engagement and governance of 3rd parties and suppliers for data services.
Budget management for the Data function overseeing both capital and revenue spend.
Provision of regular management information reporting for department SMT’s, ET and Orbit committees and boards.
Responsible for building and maintaining our strategic partner engagement with Microsoft for all data and analytics related technologies, ensuring we are maximising utilisation of our unified contract.What you'll bring

Essential skills

Experience leading central data functions including, but not limited to, Data Architecture, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Data Governance, Data Quality and Data Enablement (literacy).
Experience of leading teams who work with leading edge data transformation technologies such as Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Lake and analytical tools such as Power BI.
Experience developing Data Enablement (Literacy) programmes and embedding a data driven culture across an organisation.
Excellent demonstrable leadership skills including the ability to create and deliver on vision, create strategic delivery plans and influence across the organisation.
Comprehensive knowledge of information governance and data architecture principles and best practices.
Excellent presenting skills and ability to convey complex data deliveries and process to technical and non-technical audiences at all levels of the organisation.
Desirable skills

Social Housing experience
Experience of Property Asset DataWhy Orbit?

Choosing us means being rewarded in every sense.

Here’s what you can expect to enjoy with us.

A rewarding experience that works for you

We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles.

A place to progress

From training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate or experienced professional we’ll support you to grow.

For leaders, our tailored development journeys are designed to stretch and strengthen your leadership skills. As well as practical training, we give you access to renowned business schools and experiential programmes for greater breadth and depth of learning.

A purpose to feel proud of

We’re proud to make a difference to people together. We’re values-driven with a commercial focus on performance - because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people.

What brings us together is a passionate belief in progress and people.

Read more about the values and purpose that drive us on our careers website.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair:

Online application
Interview(s)
Decision and offerWe put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

The Skills Gap in Machine Learning Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Machine learning has moved from academic research into the core of modern business. From recommendation engines and fraud detection to medical imaging, autonomous systems and language models, machine learning now underpins many of the UK’s most critical technologies. Universities have responded quickly. Machine learning modules are now standard in computer science degrees, specialist MSc programmes have proliferated, and online courses promise to fast-track careers in the field. And yet, despite this growth in education, UK employers consistently report the same problem: Many candidates with machine learning qualifications are not job-ready. Roles remain open for months. Interview processes filter out large numbers of applicants. Graduates with strong theoretical knowledge struggle when faced with practical tasks. The issue is not intelligence or effort. It is a persistent skills gap between university-level machine learning education and real-world machine learning jobs. This article explores that gap in depth: what universities teach well, what they routinely miss, why the gap exists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build successful careers in machine learning.

Machine Learning Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

Are you considering a career change into machine learning in your 30s, 40s or 50s? You’re not alone. In the UK, organisations across industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, government & technology are investing in machine learning to improve decisions, automate processes & unlock new insights. But with all the hype, it can be hard to tell which roles are real job opportunities and which are just buzzwords. This article gives you a practical, UK-focused reality check: which machine learning roles truly exist, what skills employers really hire for, how long retraining realistically takes, how to position your experience and whether age matters in your favour or not. Whether you come from analytics, engineering, operations, research, compliance or business strategy, there is a credible route into machine learning if you approach it strategically.

How to Write a Machine Learning Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Machine learning now sits at the heart of many UK organisations, powering everything from recommendation engines and fraud detection to forecasting, automation and decision support. As adoption grows, so does demand for skilled machine learning professionals. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Machine learning job adverts often generate high volumes of applications, but few applicants have the blend of modelling skill, engineering awareness and real-world experience the role actually requires. Meanwhile, strong machine learning engineers and scientists quietly avoid adverts that feel vague, inflated or confused. In most cases, the issue is not the talent market — it is the job advert itself. Machine learning professionals are analytical, technically rigorous and highly selective. A poorly written job ad signals unclear expectations and low ML maturity. A well-written one signals credibility, focus and a serious approach to applied machine learning. This guide explains how to write a machine learning job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and strengthens your employer brand.