Job Title : Head of Data & Analytics
Location : London Area, United Kingdom
Job Type : Full Time
Job Summary
Our client, a global education group, is seeking a visionary Head of Data & Analytics to lead enterprise-wide data transformation and establish a unified, insight-driven foundation across the organization. This senior leadership role will shape how data is architected, governed, and leveraged to enhance academic outcomes, operational performance, and strategic decision-making.
Role Overview
The Head of Data & Analytics will define and execute a group-wide data strategy, building a modern, scalable data ecosystem that consolidates information from student systems, learning platforms, CRM, and enterprise applications. This role requires deep domain knowledge in higher education data, strong cloud architecture expertise, and the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple institutions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
* Define and deliver an enterprise data and analytics strategy aligned with academic, operational, and business priorities
* Establish a unified data architecture that integrates information across institutions and systems
* Lead the creation of a centralized data warehouse serving as the authoritative source for student, academic, financial, HR, and marketing data
* Partner with academic and operational leaders to embed data-driven decision-making across the organization
Data Platform & Architecture
* Architect and implement a cloud-based data platform, preferably leveraging Microsoft Azure technologies such as Synapse, Data Factory, and Power BI
* Design and manage enterprise data pipelines to ingest, transform, and harmonize data from a wide range of platforms and applications
* Develop standardized data models that represent the full student lifecycle—from recruitment through alumni engagement
* Ensure high performance, scalability, reliability, and security of all data solutions
Analytics & Insights
* Establish an enterprise analytics framework delivering dashboards, KPIs, and institutional scorecards
* Enable self-service analytics for business users and senior leadership
* Introduce advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to support enrolment forecasting, retention, and student success initiatives
* Work closely with academic and operations teams to translate insights into measurable action
Governance, Risk & Compliance
* Design and implement a group-wide data governance framework, including policies, standards, and ownership models
* Ensure compliance with GDPR, data protection requirements, and education-sector regulations
* Implement data quality, metadata management, and stewardship practices
Leadership & Collaboration
* Build and lead a centralized data and analytics team, including architects, engineers, BI developers, and analysts
* Collaborate with institutional technology leaders and senior stakeholders to balance local needs with enterprise standards
* Manage relationships with technology vendors, implementation partners, and service providers
Required Experience & Qualifications
* Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
* Senior leadership experience in data architecture, analytics, or business intelligence
* Proven background in the higher education sector, ideally within multi-campus or multi-system environments
* Strong expertise in cloud data platforms, particularly Azure-based data and analytics services
* Demonstrated success delivering enterprise data warehouses, system integrations, and governance frameworks
* Deep understanding of education data domains such as admissions, enrolment, academic progression, retention, and outcomes
* Experience integrating data from platforms such as student information systems, LMS, CRM, and ERP solutions
* Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills within complex, global organizations
* Exposure to AI or machine learning applications supporting student success or operational forecasting
Desirable Experience
* Knowledge of ETL/ELT architectures, API-based integrations, and metadata management
* Experience managing multi-region data environments and regulatory compliance
* Background leading hybrid or distributed teams
Personal Attributes
* Strategic thinker with the ability to balance vision and execution
* Excellent communicator who can articulate data value to both technical and non-technical audiences
* Passionate about improving education outcomes through data and technology
* Collaborative leader focused on enabling institutional success through shared capabilities
* Committed to innovation, quality, and continuous improvement