Head of Data
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Above analytics are generated algorithmically based on job titles and may not always be the same as the company's job classification. You can also check detailed occupation eligibility, and salary criteria on our UK Visa Eligible Occupations & Salary Thresholds page.
Disclaimer: Hunt UK Visa Sponsors aggregates job listings from publicly available sources, such as search engines, to assist with your job hunting. We do not claim affiliation with Eden Smith Group. For the most up-to-date job details, please visit the official website by clicking "Apply Now."
This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-paced, forward-thinking organisation at a pivotal point in its growth and work directly with the C-Suite and broader team on initiatives that shape the company’s future.
The Head of Data will be accountable for shaping and executing the enterprise data strategy, ensuring data is a trusted, governed and value-creating asset across the business. This hybrid role combines responsibilities of a Head of Data (strategy, governance, insight enablement) with those of an experienced Data Architect (hands-on, designing scalable, secure, modern platforms and data models).
Working closely with the C-Suite, data science, risk, finance and business stakeholders, this role will drive the transformation of the data estate into a modern, cloud-native, AI-ready data platform that underpins regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and commercial growth.
Key Responsibilities:
Data Architecture & Design
- Own the enterprise data architecture, ensuring scalability, performance, resilience and cost efficiency.
Strategic Leadership
- Build the vision for a modern, cloud-based data platform (e.g. Microsoft Fabric, Synapse, Databricks, Snowflake), enabling real-time analytics, AI/ML and self-serve BI.
- Define and deliver the enterprise data strategy, aligned with business and regulatory priorities.
- Act as the senior owner of data governance, ensuring compliance with FCA, GDPR and other obligations.
- Establish and chair data governance forums, embedding data stewardship across the business.
Delivery & Operations
- Manage a small data engineering and BI capability, balancing in-house skills with managed service partners.
- Oversee the delivery of reliable, automated pipelines for ingestion, transformation, and quality assurance of data.
Governance & Risk
- Ensure data platforms and processes adhere to best-practice security models (Entra, IAM, conditional access).
- Embed robust processes for data quality, lineage, auditability and model governance (critical in lending and regulated environments).
- Support the CTO in board-level reporting on data risks, opportunities, and investment roadmaps.
Skills & Experience:
- Proven experience in a senior data leadership role (Head of Data, Data Architect, Data Engineering Manager) within a regulated financial services.
- Deep expertise in enterprise data architecture, cloud platforms (Azure preferred), and modern data warehousing/lakehouse technologies.
- Strong knowledge of data governance, GDPR, and FCA regulatory requirements.
- Hands-on technical ability across SQL, Python, ETL/ELT, APIs and cloud-native data services.
- Experience introducing AI/ML and advanced analytics capabilities into operational and decisioning contexts.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, able to translate technical concepts into business value for executives and non-technical teams.
- Track record of leading small, high-performing data teams and managing external partners.