Group Data lead

Group Data Lead 

📍Hybrid | UK or France  

💼 Full-Time | Permanent or Contract

💷 £(phone number removed) Depending on experiance 

We are seeking a Group Data Lead to take ownership of all data-related activities within the Infor ERP implementation program - Leapfrog. This pivotal role bridges the business and technical domains, ensuring that data across all sites is clean, consistent, and implementation-ready to meet the project’s delivery milestones (2026).

Beyond the ERP implementation (2026/2027+), the Group Data Lead will define and establish the foundation for group-wide master data management and data governance, helping transition Gardner from a decentralized, inconsistent data landscape to a centrally managed, structured environment. This role is instrumental in shaping the company’s future data-driven operating model and reporting practices.

Key Responsibilities

Data Readiness & Cleansing

• Drive and complete ongoing data cleansing and harmonization efforts across all sites and business units (cf. conversion cycles) 
• Ensure that data is accurate, consistent, and migration-ready, supporting the Infor ERP Construction & Transition Phases.
• Oversee data filtering, simplification, and validation activities, ensuring alignment with project timelines and quality standards.

Data Mapping & Migration Coordination

• Facilitate the mapping of legacy data structures to the Infor ERP data model, ensuring full business alignment and clarity.
• Act as the bridge between business users, stream leads, and technical teams to ensure seamless data translation between systems.
• Coordinate data conversion and migration cycles across key phases:

                             System Testing (September)

                             End-User Testing (December)

                             Final migration and Go-Live

• Coordinate with data experts, and secure/synchro that an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) utility tool is build alongside the process to industrialize data transfers.

Master Data & Governance Foundations

• Define the blueprint for Group Master Data and Data Governance, setting long-term rules, standards, and ownership models.
• Establish consistent data definitions, hierarchies, and quality controls across all business domains (customer/commercial, engineering, programmes, manufacturing)
• Leverage Infor’s platform to implement scalable, maintainable governance practices.

Business–Technical Coordination

• Serve as the functional data lead within the Infor ERP project structure, working closely with: 

                            The DT technical data team (Gardner and Infor)

                            Project leadership and stream leads 

                            Business stakeholders (data owners) and Data Task Force

• Ensure full alignment of data activities with project milestones and overall delivery objectives.
• Translate business needs into actionable data rules, ownership structures, and governance frameworks.

Reporting Continuity & Future Readiness

• Ensure continuity of reporting post go-live by designing consistent data structures to support operational, site, and group-level reporting.
• Lay the groundwork for future analytics and business intelligence capabilities.
• Promote the adoption of standardized and simplified data structures to improve visibility and decision-making.

Ongoing Group Data Leadership (Post-Implementation)
       Following ERP go-live, this role will evolve into an                                                             ongoing Group Data Lead / Data Officer position, responsible for maintaining,                 optimizing, and driving Gardner’s data-driven operations across systems and                 functions.

Key priorities include:

* Cross-System Data Harmonization: Ensure alignment and integration    of data between the Infor ERP and other business-critical systems (including Industry     4.0, IoT, and digital manufacturing systems), maintaining a single version of truth             across the enterprise.

*  Data Governance & Stewardship: Establish and oversee a sustainable governance       framework, defining ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement of               master data quality and standards across all entities.

*  Simplification & Reporting Continuity: Drive simplification of data structures and             processes, ensuring continued group-level reporting consistency and supporting             performance insights across functions and business units.

Skills and Experience

Essential

*  Proven experience in data leadership, data management, or data governance roles.

*  Strong understanding of data lifecycle management, cleansing, migration, and integration in ERP contexts (Infor preferred).

*  Demonstrated ability to bridge business and technical teams, translating business needs into structured data solutions.

*  Excellent coordination, stakeholder management, and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse teams.

*  Highly organized, detail-oriented, and structured, able to manage multiple data streams under tight timelines.

*  Fluent in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills for coordination across functions and geographies.

Desirable

*  Prior involvement in Infor ERP implementation projects or other large-scale ERP transformations.

*  Experience establishing data ownership and governance frameworks at group level.

Attributes

*  Pragmatic and delivery-focused, balancing strategic vision with hands-on execution

*   A collaborative communicator who builds trust and alignment across business and technical stakeholders.

*  Passionate about data quality, consistency, and simplification as drivers of operational excellence.

*  Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-visibility transformation       environment.

Why Join

This is a strategic and career-defining role at the heart of Gardner’s digital transformation. You will not only ensure successful data delivery for the Infor ERP program but also shape and lead the Group’s long-term data governance, harmonization, and reporting framework — building the foundation for a truly data-driven organization.