Group Head of Management Information Systems

National Skills Agency Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

National Skills Agency Ltd is seeking a Group Head of Management Information Systems in Surrey with hybrid working and periodic travel to Leicester. The role focuses on funding data integrity, ILR processing, and a two-provider platform migration while delivering consolidated group reporting and governance.

The candidate will use strong SQL and Power BI skills to own data strategy, reporting, and outsourced processing, ensuring data protection and stakeholder satisfaction throughout the

Qualifications

• Substantial ILR and apprenticeship funding data experience.
• Experience consolidating data across systems and producing reliable MI.
• Proven track record of data or platform migrations while protecting data integrity.
• Experience managing outsourced or offshore services and maintaining operational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Own accuracy and timeliness of ILR and funding data across two providers.
• Oversee monthly funding returns and reconciliation with delivery.
• Translate funding rule changes into processes, systems and supplier instructions.
• Lead data strategy for transferring business provision between registrations during migration.
• Provide operational leadership with a consolidated performance view across two UKPRNs and platforms.
• Own the two-year platform migration, including data mapping and cutover planning.

Skills

SQL

Power BI

Data governance

Leadership

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Job description

Job Title: Group Head of Management Information Systems

Location: Surrey, hybrid working, with periodic travel to Leicester

Salary: £58,000–£72,000, subject to benchmarking.

Purpose of the role

The role is accountable for funding data integrity, management information, outsourced processing, consolidated group reporting and the two-year migration of systems across two apprenticeship providers. It will establish a single group view while maintaining separate funding returns and supporting the transfer of business provision between registrations.

This is a build role, with the Group Head of Management Information Systems expected to shape the future data, reporting and platform environment rather than simply operate an established function.

Key accountabilities

• Own the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of ILR and funding data across both providers, maintaining separate returns until migration is complete.
• Oversee monthly funding returns, reconciliation of funding against delivery, variance resolution and responses to departmental queries, audits and information requests.
• Maintain current funding-rule knowledge and translate changes into processes, systems and supplier instructions.
• Own the data strategy for transferring business provision between registrations, ensuring correct learner, employer and levy arrangements and no learners lost across the transition.
• Provide operational leadership with a consolidated performance view across two UKPRNs and platforms.
• Own the two-year platform migration, including data mapping, sequencing, cost, parallel running and cutover, while protecting funding and historic data integrity.
• Design and establish consolidated group reporting, including Board MI, achievement-rate modelling and forecasting.
• Own the outsourced enrolment and quality assurance service, including performance, access control, service reviews and invoice approval.
• Maintain clear operational and commercial boundaries with the supplier, including evidence of the at-cost basis and an agreed first-time-right standard.
• Monitor supplier rejection rates and ensure the boundary between outsourced processing and retained provider judgement remains effective.
• Act as internal data protection lead, working with the outsourced Data Protection Officer while maintaining clear separation of responsibilities.
• Maintain data protection records, impact assessments, subject access requests, breach response and processor arrangements.
• Lead and develop the Administration and Management Information and Compliance teams across both providers.
• Support external funding compliance scrutiny, act on findings and ensure unresolved matters have a direct route to Audit and Risk.

Person specification

• Substantial apprenticeship funding and ILR experience, including ownership of the monthly return cycle.
• Experience consolidating data across multiple systems and producing reliable management information.
• Proven experience delivering data or platform migrations while protecting data integrity.
• Experience managing outsourced or offshore services and maintaining effective operational boundaries.
• Strong practical data skills, including SQL and a reporting tool such as Power BI.
• Line management experience, sound judgement and working knowledge of data protection in education or training.
• Desirable: Experience of multi-registration providers, funding assurance audits, Ofsted evidence requirements, apprenticeship platforms or an internal data protection role/qualification.

First twelve months

• Month 3: Both ILR returns operating without incident; supplier instructions, first-time-right standards and rejection baseline established; platform estate, data dictionary and migration risks mapped; data protection review completed.
• Month 6: First consolidated group reporting layer in use; migration plan approved with sequence, cost and dependencies; first external compliance scrutiny cycle supported and findings actioned.
• Month 9: Business transition data strategy operating effectively; learner and employer movements controlled; supplier review cycle established with rejection rates and at-cost evidence monitored.
• Month 12: Migration underway to plan; achievement-rate forecasting established for both providers and used by the Board; no outstanding data protection or regulatory gaps.

Role context

The position is deliberately being created before the final operating model is fixed. The postholder will be expected to shape the platform, migration and transition strategy, not simply implement decisions already made.

Paul Feldman is the National Skills Agency Data Protection Officer. Your data will be stored until notice is given by you for it to be removed. Our Data Protection Policy will be forwarded to you on request. As we get a high number of applications we may be unable to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates. We will retain your details to keep you informed of other opportunities. National Skills Agency Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy and is an Equal Opportunities employer

we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.