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# Head of Data

- **Company:** Michael Page
- **Location:** Harrogate, UK (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** £75,000.0 - £90,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Business Analytics Applications, Data Architecture, Information Engineering, Data Governance, Data Infrastructure, Data Warehousing, Meta-Data Management, Microsoft SQL Server, Migration Manager, Database Optimization, Data Strategy, Microsoft Fabric, Data Management, Data Pipelines, Databricks
- **Published:** August 6, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.michaelpage.co.uk/job-detail/head-data/ref/jn-082026-7078086

## About the Role

* Strategic data leadership, including the ability to define, refine and deliver an enterprise data strategy aligned to organisational objectives.
 * Proven experience leading data engineering and analytics teams, including coaching, mentoring, capability building and performance management.
 * Strong knowledge of data architecture, data platforms, data modelling, data warehousing, integration patterns and scalable analytics solutions.
 * Hands-on credibility with SQL Server environments and experience supporting migration to modern platforms such as Databricks, Microsoft Fabric or comparable technologies.
 * Strong understanding of data governance, data ownership, data stewardship, metadata management, data quality standards and assurance frameworks.

## Description

The successful Head of Data will be involved with but not limited to:

 * Refine and implementing our existing Data Strategy.
 * Have a deep understanding of our current technologies, including existing SQL Server environments, and incorporate this knowledge to drive the decommissioning and migration strategy as part of the Database Optimisation programme, including the transition to modern data platforms such as Databricks or Microsoft Fabric and the adoption of modern data engineering practices.
 * Select and lead on the delivery of techniques and technologies to deliver resilient, scalable and future proofed analytics solutions
 * Lead the development and oversee data quality standards, assurance frameworks and compliance practices. Ensuring the adoption of data governance and ownership through a team of data owners and data stewards
 * Ensure robust governance of data models and data cataloguing for internal and external requirements
 * Ensure secure, efficient and scalable data pipelines and integrations between systems using modern best practice.
 * Lead, manage and develop an expanding team of circa 10 data specialists, including Data Engineers and Analysts, through regular coaching and mentoring, driving technical excellence by supporting the team in their respective roles to further develop their skills, technical and industry knowledge


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