Data and Information Lead

The 3 18 Education Trust; Shrewsbury; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The 3 18 Education Trust is seeking an exceptional Data and Information Lead to work across our 14 schools, ensuring data correctness, system alignment, and timely access to insights for leaders. You will report to the Director of IT and coordinate across the central team.

You will lead data quality across MIS, HR and safeguarding platforms, oversee dashboards and statutory returns, and drive GDPR compliance while supporting a network of school data managers to share best practice.

Qualifications

• Experience in school MIS administration and statutory returns.
• Working knowledge of UK GDPR in schools.
• Ability to communicate professionally at all levels.
• Experience training others and leading a network of data managers.

Responsibilities

• Lead rolling data quality programme across all trust systems.
• Oversee data behind dashboards and statutory returns.
• Deliver data protection compliance program operations.
• Support and share standards across the Trust.

Skills

Data governance

MIS administration

GDPR knowledge

Data quality management

Stakeholder communication

Training / teaching

Tools

MIS software

UK GDPR compliance tools

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional Data and Information Lead: someone on the ground and working across our schools, making sure our data is always correct, our systems align, data issues are solved as they arise, and leaders can access what they need, when they need it, to support their decision making.

About the role

Working in our central team and reporting to the Director of IT, you will be the Trust’s lead administrator and expert for our management information systems, run a rolling data quality programme across every system that holds Trust data, from MIS to HR and safeguarding platforms, and assure the data behind the dashboards our leaders rely on, including oversight of the Trust’s statutory returns. You will also deliver the day-to-day work of our data protection compliance programme, from subject access requests to staff training, and lead a supportive network of school-based data managers, sharing standards and best practice across the Trust.

About you

You will be a meticulous, well‑organised data professional with substantial experience of school MIS administration, including statutory returns, a working knowledge of UK GDPR as it applies to schools, and the confidence to communicate professionally at all levels. You enjoy teaching others, you build credibility with school colleagues, and you are comfortable constructively challenging established practice where it creates risk. You do not need to be a developer or programmer: this role is about data discipline, accuracy and people.

Why the 3‑18 Education Trust?

• A growing, ambitious Trust of 14 schools and around 900 staff across Shropshire.

• A brand‑new role you can genuinely shape, with visibility at executive and Board level.

• A supportive central team culture with a strong focus on wellbeing and belonging.

• Excellent professional development, including support for data, MIS and data protection qualifications, and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

What we can offer you:

• Flexible and hybrid working and in addition to a comprehensive induction and a commitment to your ongoing training and career progression, we also offer a range of employee benefits. To find out more information please visit our Trust's Careers Page or our Trust Website.

  For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Tim Goodman, Director of IT at [e-mail]

  The 3‑18 Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013, 2020 and 2023). Guidance on disclosing convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. Under the Immigration Act 2016, candidates for customer‑facing roles must meet the necessary standard of spoken English. It is an offence to apply if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. Employment is subject to medical fitness, satisfactory references, right to work in the UK, and an Enhanced DBS check. Online social media checks will be carried out on successful applicants.