Data Insight and Assurance Lead

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA); Birmingham; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Healthcare plans

Gym discount

Bike purchase scheme

Eye care scheme

Costco membership access

Volunteering leave

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is seeking a Data Insight and Assurance Lead to develop and assure insight that supports Bus Company performance. You will turn complex data into clear narratives and dashboards for the Board and senior audiences.

You will combine analytics with strong communication, guiding action with evidence and building trusted relationships across WMCA, governance teams and data owners. This is a 2 year fixed-term contract or secondment.

Qualifications

• Experience with governance reporting that informs senior decision-making.
• Ability to define data requirements and validate information.
• Produce concise Board-level insights distinguishing fact and action.
• Apply data-quality and information-governance standards.
• Collaborate across organisational boundaries to improve reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, assurance and presentation of insight for Bus Company performance.
• Turn complex data into concise narratives and dashboards for boards.
• Develop forward-looking indicators to identify emerging risks.
• Ensure data completeness, accuracy, consistency and reliability.
• Triangulate information from multiple sources to show performance.
• Provide evidence-based challenge and escalate significant issues.

Skills

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Governance

Performance reporting

Data quality

Education

Degree or equivalent in data analytics/related fields

Tools

Power BI

Excel

BI tools

Job description

Can you turn complex data into insight that drives better decisions?

At the West Midlands Combined Authority, data isn't just about reporting what has happened. Used well, it helps us understand performance, identify emerging risks and opportunities and make better, evidence-led decisions.

We’re looking for a Data Insight and Assurance Lead to lead the development, assurance and presentation of the insight that supports WMCA and the Bus Company Board in overseeing Bus Company performance.

This is a role for someone who can see beyond individual numbers and datasets, bring information together from multiple sources and turn complexity into a clear and compelling story for decision-makers.

You’ll lead insight across safety, operational, financial and customer performance, ensuring senior stakeholders have reliable evidence on which to base decisions, challenge performance and identify where action is required.

This position is as a 2 year fixed term contract or secondment

What you will be doing.

You’ll take the lead in developing WMCA's client data and insight approach for oversight of the Bus Company, aligned to agreed corporate intelligence, evaluation and data frameworks.

You’ll:

• Turn data into insight, identifying trends, exceptions, risks and opportunities across safety, operational, financial and customer performance.
• Look ahead, not just backwards, developing forward-looking insight and early-warning indicators to help identify emerging risks before they become material.
• Build confidence in the evidence, defining data requirements and assuring the completeness, accuracy, consistency and reliability of reported information.
• Tell the story behind the data, presenting complex information through concise narrative, dashboards and accessible insight for Board, senior and operational audiences.
• Influence action, providing constructive, evidence-based challenge and escalating significant issues through the appropriate governance routes.
• Bring evidence together, triangulating information from different sources to develop a clearer view of performance.
• Strengthen performance and assurance, helping establish measures, baselines, targets, tolerances, reporting frequencies and escalation thresholds.
• Work collaboratively, building trusted relationships with the Bus Company, WMCA colleagues, governance teams, data owners and wider partners.

What’s essential.

You’ll combine strong analytical capability with excellent communication and influencing skills.

You’ll be comfortable working with complex quantitative and qualitative information, but equally comfortable stepping away from the detail to understand the bigger strategic and operational picture.

You’ll have experience of:

• Working with complex performance, operational, financial, safety or customer data to support governance, assurance, Board reporting or senior decision-making.
• Defining data requirements, commissioning inputs and validating information.
• Producing concise Board-level insight that clearly distinguishes fact, interpretation, risk and recommended action.
• Applying analytical, evaluation, data-quality and information-governance standards.
• Working across organisational boundaries to improve reporting, assurance and performance.
• Communicating complex information clearly to different audiences.

You’ll need strong knowledge of performance management, data assurance, information governance and controls, alongside the curiosity to identify patterns, trends, risks and opportunities from disparate data sources.

You’ll be educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and experience in a relevant discipline such as data analysis, performance management, transport, business, economics, finance, statistics, governance or public administration.

Experience of business intelligence, data visualisation or comparable analytical reporting tools would be advantageous.

Location.

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3SD with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans.
• Discounted gym membership, will writing,and mortgage advice.
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer.
• Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a Costcomembership through the WMCA.
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

• Collaborative - We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.
• Driven - We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.
• Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.
• Innovative - We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the