Head of Data

Colossus Recruitment Ltd; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Central Birmingham location

Job summary

Colossus Recruitment Ltd in Birmingham is seeking a Head of Data to own the data strategy, platform & AI roadmap. You will lead a talented data team within a wider technology function, shaping data-driven decisions and driving innovation across the business.

You'll balance strategic leadership with hands-on architecture, data engineering and analytics, delivering scalable cloud-based solutions and governance. Hybrid role based in Central Birmingham with growing technology investments.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Analytics or Data Leadership roles.
• Experience delivering data transformation programmes and enterprise-scale data platforms.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft cloud data technologies.
• Experience implementing Data Governance and Data Quality frameworks.
• Demonstrable success delivering AI, Machine Learning or Advanced Analytics initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience operating in fast-paced, growing organisations.
• Strong commercial awareness with a focus on business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the company's Data & AI Strategy.
• Build a roadmap that supports business growth and innovation.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to drive data-led decision-making.
• Establish data as a key strategic asset across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation and emerging technologies.
• Design and lead the development of modern cloud-based data platforms.
• Build scalable data lakes, lakehouses and analytics solutions.
• Ensure security, resilience and future-readiness of solutions.
• Remain hands-on with architecture, technical design and implementation.
• Provide technical leadership across complex data initiatives.
• Drive adoption of Generative AI, ML and Intelligent Automation.
• Develop innovative solutions that create measurable business value.
• Embed responsible AI governance and best practice.
• Enhance reporting, dashboards and KPI frameworks.
• Deliver actionable insights that support operational and commercial success.
• Promote self-service analytics capabilities.
• Develop advanced analytics and predictive reporting capabilities.
• Lead, mentor and develop a team of data professionals.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Data Leadership

Data Architecture

Cloud Data Platforms

AI & ML initiatives

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Data Governance

Data Engineering

Tools

Azure Databricks

Azure Synapse Analytics

Power BI

SQL

Python

Azure Fabric

Job description

Head of Data - Hybrid Working Central Birmingham

Competitive Salary + Benefits

Lead the Future of Data, Analytics & AI

Are you a strategic data leader who still enjoys getting hands-on with technology?

Do you want the opportunity to build, shape and lead a modern data function while driving innovation through AI, analytics and cloud technologies?

Our client is looking for an ambitious and forward-thinking Head of Data to join their our growing organisation and help transform the way we use data to drive business performance, client outcomes and future growth.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a successful and rapidly expanding business of approximately 80 employees with annual turnover exceeding 10 million. Reporting directly to the senior leadership team, you'll play a key role in defining and delivering our data and AI vision while leading a talented team of data professionals.

This is far more than a management position. We are looking for someone who can combine strategic leadership with technical expertise, remaining actively involved in architecture, solution design, platform development and innovation.

The Opportunity

As Head of Data, you will take ownership of our data strategy, modern data platform, analytics capability and AI roadmap.

You'll work closely with business leaders across the organisation to unlock the value of data, improve decision-making, enhance operational efficiency and identify opportunities for growth.

Leading a team of data specialists within a wider technology team, you'll help create a culture where data becomes a genuine competitive advantage.

What You'll Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Define and deliver the company's Data & AI Strategy.
• Build a roadmap that supports business growth and innovation.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to drive data-led decision-making.
• Establish data as a key strategic asset across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation and emerging technologies.

Data Engineering & Architecture

• Design and lead the development of modern cloud-based data platforms.
• Build scalable data lakes, lakehouses and analytics solutions.
• Ensure solutions are secure, resilient and future-ready.
• Remain hands-on with architecture, technical design and implementation.
• Provide technical leadership across complex data initiatives.

AI & Innovation

• Drive the adoption of Generative AI, Machine Learning and Intelligent Automation.
• Develop innovative solutions that create measurable business value.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify practical commercial applications.
• Embed responsible AI governance and best practice across the organisation.

Business Intelligence & Analytics

• Enhance reporting, dashboards and KPI frameworks.
• Deliver actionable insights that support operational and commercial success.
• Promote self-service analytics capabilities across the business.
• Develop advanced analytics and predictive reporting capabilities.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of data professionals.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage priorities, workload and professional development.
• Help shape and grow the future data function.

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience

You will bring:

• Significant experience in Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Analytics or Data Leadership roles.
• A proven track record of leading technical data teams.
• Experience delivering data transformation programmes and enterprise-scale data platforms.
• Strong expertise in Microsoft cloud data technologies.
• Experience implementing Data Governance and Data Quality frameworks.
• Demonstrable success delivering AI, Machine Learning or Advanced Analytics initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience operating in fast-paced, growing organisations.
• Strong commercial awareness with a focus on business outcomes.

Technical Expertise

We would expect experience across many of the following:

• Microsoft Fabric
• Azure Databricks
• Azure Synapse Analytics
• Azure Data Factory
• Azure Data Services
• Power BI
• SQL
• Python
• Lakehouse Architecture
• Data Governance
• Data Modelling
• Cloud Data Platforms
• AI & Machine Learning
• DataOps / DevOps

Who Will Succeed in This Role?

You are someone who can confidently present a data strategy to the Board in the morning and review architecture designs with engineers in the afternoon.

You enjoy leading from the front, remain curious about emerging technologies and are passionate about turning ideas into tangible business value.

You'll thrive in an entrepreneurial environment where innovation is encouraged, bureaucracy is low and your work will have a direct impact on the future success of the organisation.

Why Join ?

• Key leadership role with significant influence across the business
• Opportunity to shape and lead the Data & AI strategy
• Modern Microsoft technology stack including Fabric, Azure and Power BI
• Freedom to introduce new technologies and innovative approaches
• Hybrid working based in Central Birmingham
• Growing company with ambitious plans and strong investment in technology
• Opportunity to build a genuine centre of excellence for data and AI

Ready to lead our data transformation journey?

If you're a hands-on data leader who combines strategic thinking, technical excellence and a passion for innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

All our roles are UK based. When submitting your application to Colossus, please ensure the following

• Your CV has your address and postcode.
• You also have your correct phone number and email address so we can contact you asap regarding your application.