Head of Data, Insight & Automation

Abbeygate Search is supporting an established and growing professional services business with the appointment of a Head of Data, Insight & Automation.

This is a newly created position with genuine scope to shape how data is managed and used across the organisation. Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will develop the data strategy, strengthen the underlying platform and introduce reporting, automation and analytical solutions that improve commercial decision-making and operational performance.

This is not purely a strategic leadership role. The successful person will be comfortable setting the direction while remaining sufficiently hands-on to understand the technology, solve problems and help establish the capability from the ground up.

The role

Your responsibilities will include:

• Creating and delivering a practical data and analytics strategy that supports the organisation’s wider growth plans.
• Improving the quality, structure and accessibility of data held across different business systems.
• Developing a modern, secure and scalable data environment, including data pipelines, integrations, storage and modelling.
• Producing meaningful dashboards and management information that give senior leaders a clearer view of performance, trends and commercial opportunities.
• Working with stakeholders across operational and client-facing teams to understand their requirements and turn them into workable data solutions.
• Identifying opportunities to automate manual or inefficient processes using low-code technology and workflow tools.
• Helping to improve the organisation’s use of CRM, including data governance, system integration, workflow design and reporting.
• Supporting the responsible adoption of AI and emerging technology where it can deliver a measurable business benefit.
• Establishing appropriate standards around data ownership, accuracy, security and consistency.
• Building and developing a data and analytics team as the function grows.
• Over time, helping the business explore how its data expertise could be developed into services for external clients.

About you

We are looking for an experienced data leader who combines strong commercial judgement with credible technical knowledge.

You are likely to have:

• Previous experience leading a data, analytics, business intelligence or data engineering function.
• A track record of developing data capability within an organisation, rather than simply maintaining an established function.
• Strong experience of business intelligence and visualisation, ideally including Power BI.
• Good working knowledge of SQL and modern data architecture.
• Experience within a cloud-based data environment, ideally Microsoft Azure.
• An understanding of data engineering, including ingestion, transformation, modelling, pipelines and storage.
• Exposure to workflow automation or low-code tools such as Power Automate, Power Apps or comparable technologies.
• Experience improving CRM platforms, integrations and the quality of customer or client data.
• The ability to translate technical information into clear commercial recommendations.
• Confidence working with board-level and senior operational stakeholders.
• A collaborative, pragmatic approach, with the willingness to remain involved in delivery.
• Experience recruiting, managing or developing a data and analytics team.

Experience within professional services, consultancy, financial services or another stakeholder-led environment would be useful, but it is not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate that they have successfully introduced structure, improved data maturity and influenced senior decision-makers in another sector.

Why consider this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a newly established function with strong support from senior leadership. You will have the freedom to assess the current environment, define the priorities and build a data capability that has a visible impact across the organisation.

The position offers:

• A highly competitive salary.
• Hybrid working
• Direct exposure to senior decision-makers.
• The opportunity to build and shape a function.
• A broad remit covering data strategy, analytics, platforms, automation, CRM and AI.
• Long-term scope to develop a client-facing data and advisory offering.
• A comprehensive benefits package.

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.

If you would be interested in discussing the opportunity confidentially, please apply with an up-to-date CV.