Head of Data & Intelligence

Hackney Council is looking for an exceptional data leader to transform how data, intelligence and performance information shape decisions, improve public services and deliver better outcomes for residents.

This is a significant corporate leadership role with the opportunity to establish an integrated Data and Intelligence function and influence strategy, investment, performance and transformation across the whole Council.

You will lead the development and delivery of Hackney’s enterprise data and intelligence strategy. Your portfolio will include data platforms and management, analytics and insight, data engineering and migration, data architecture, data quality and standards, corporate performance, data ethics, and the responsible application of artificial intelligence and automation.

This is not simply a technical data role. We need a strategic and delivery-focused leader who can turn complex information into clear organisational intelligence, challenge assumptions and ensure that insight leads to action.

You will work with senior leaders, elected Members and services to identify the questions that matter most. You will ensure they have access to timely, trusted and accessible evidence about resident needs, inequalities, demand, performance, cost and risk. Your leadership will help the Council make better decisions, target resources effectively, identify emerging pressures and demonstrate whether investment and transformation are achieving their intended benefits.

A key priority will be developing a coherent corporate performance framework that connects the Council’s ambitions with meaningful measures, clear accountability and timely intervention. You will help the organisation move beyond reporting activity towards understanding outcomes, causes, risks and the action required to improve performance.

You will also lead the responsible use of AI, automation and advanced analytics. This means identifying opportunities that can improve services and organisational efficiency while ensuring appropriate governance, transparency, human oversight and protection against bias, exclusion and unintended consequences.

We are looking for a visible, inclusive and influential leader who can bring together multidisciplinary professional teams and strengthen the Council-wide data and analytics community. You will build capability, improve data literacy and create a culture of curiosity, professional challenge and evidence-based decision-making.

Operating in a complex and politically accountable environment, you will build trusted relationships with senior officers, elected Members, partners, communities, suppliers and professional networks. You will need to communicate complex technical and analytical issues clearly, navigate competing priorities and secure commitment to significant organisational change., * Establish a clear data and intelligence strategy and target operating model, aligned with the outcome of the Council’s wider SES review and organisational priorities.

• Strengthen data governance, ownership, quality and accessibility, enabling trusted and responsible use of data across the Council.
• Improve the availability of timely, accessible and actionable intelligence to support strategic decision-making, service improvement and better outcomes for residents.
• Expand the use of analytics, automation and insight to identify inequalities, understand demand, measure impact and uncover opportunities for greater efficiency.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

• Significant senior leadership experience in a large, complex and politically sensitive organisation.
• A strong record of developing and implementing enterprise data, insight or performance strategies.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across data engineering, analytics, insight, architecture or performance.
• Evidence of using data and intelligence to influence major decisions and deliver measurable improvements for residents or customers.
• Experience of designing effective corporate performance frameworks and benefits-realisation arrangements.
• Successful leadership of complex data platforms, products, migrations or transformation programmes.
• An ability to engage and influence elected Members, senior leaders, services and external stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of data governance, ethics, quality, privacy, security and responsible innovation.
• Evidence of using data, AI or automation to improve productivity, reduce costs or deliver greater public value.
• A commitment to developing people, professional capability and inclusive, high-performing teams.

This is an opportunity to shape a critical corporate function and ensure that trusted evidence becomes central to how Hackney understands its communities, improves performance and makes decisions.

If you can combine strategic vision with professional credibility, strong people leadership and a relentless focus on turning insight into measurable action, we would like to hear from you.