Data Activation Lead

Virtual Hire Staffing; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working from Bristol office

Comprehensive benefits package

Up to 15% annual bonus

Job summary

Virtual Hire Staffing in Bristol is seeking a Data Activation Lead to drive how we turn customer data into action across email, app and web. You will head the Data Activation team, shape our MarTech stack, and partner with Privacy and Risk to ensure responsible data use.

The role demands building activation-ready data products, managing data pipelines from our cloud data warehouse, and aligning cross-functional teams around a shared roadmap with clear OKRs.

Qualifications

• Experience leading cross-channel activation through an enterprise MarTech stack with measurable uplift.
• Track record building and leading multidisciplinary data/MarTech teams, setting vision and OKRs.
• Strong understanding of data architecture with activation-ready data products, models and pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the Data Activation team, setting vision, OKRs and coaching capability.
• Owning frameworks and delivery plans for personalisation, tiering and targeted support.
• Managing data pipelines that feed activation from our cloud data warehouse.
• Identifying opportunities to use data to improve client and commercial outcomes through the MarTech stack.
• Prioritising the backlog against commercial value, client need and technical feasibility.
• Acting as the go-to person for what's possible with data activation.
• Ensuring MarTech solutions meet architecture, compliance and security standards.

Skills

MarTech

Personalisation

Team Leadership

Data Architecture

GDPR/PECR

Privacy by Design

Server-side Tagging

Cloud Platforms

Stakeholder Management

Budget Management

Digital Marketing

Conversion APIs

Audience Sync

Tools

Segment

Braze

Snowflake

AWS

GCP

Job description

Job Summary

Data Activation Lead

Location: Bristol (Hybrid)

Salary: £85,000–£95,000 + benefits + up to 15% bonus

About the role

We're looking for a Data Activation Lead to take charge of how we put customer data to work — powering smarter personalisation, more relevant messaging and better commercial outcomes across every channel we use to reach our clients. You'll lead the team that owns our MarTech stack, turning data into action across email, app, web and beyond, and you'll be a key voice in how we invest in and evolve our marketing technology, especially as AI opens up new possibilities.You'll work closely with teams across the business — and with Privacy and Risk — to make sure everything we do with customer data is both effective and responsible.

What you'll be doing

• Leading and developing the Data Activation team, setting vision, OKRs and coaching capability
• Owning frameworks and delivery plans for personalisation, tiering and targeted support
• Managing the data pipelines that feed activation from our cloud data warehouse
• Identifying new opportunities to use data to improve client and commercial outcomes through the MarTech stack
• Prioritising the team's backlog against commercial value, client need and technical feasibility
• Acting as the go-to person for the business on what's possible with data activation
• Ensuring MarTech solutions meet architecture, compliance and security standards

What we're looking for

• Experience leading cross-channel activation through an enterprise MarTech stack (e.g. Segment, Braze, Snowflake), ideally within a regulated industry, with evidence of measurable performance uplift
• A track record of building and leading multidisciplinary data/MarTech teams, setting vision and OKRs, and developing people
• Strong understanding of data architecture, with experience owning activation-ready data products, models and pipelines
• Comfort working across cloud platforms (AWS/GCP) to support activation infrastructure
• Deep knowledge of consent, GDPR/PECR and privacy-by-design in a regulated environment
• Experience connecting first-party data to paid and owned channels (conversion APIs, server-side tagging, audience sync), with clear evidence of improved match rates, CAC/ROI or deliverability
• Strong stakeholder management skills, aligning marketing, product, engineering, privacy and external agencies around a single roadmap
• Experience managing budgets, vendors and delivery governance

What's on offer

• £85,000–£95,000 base salary
• Up to 15% annual bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Hybrid working from our Bristol office

Key skills: MarTech (Segment, Braze) Personalisation & CDP Snowflake Team Leadership Data Architecture GDPR & PECR Privacy by Design Stakeholder Management Vendor & Budget Management Digital Marketing Conversion APIs & Server-side Tagging Cloud Platforms (AWS/GCP)