Head of Data and Artificial Intelligence

Responsible for leading the delivery and development of AFG’s Data & AI capability, implementing the organisation’s data strategy and transitioning from fragmented, report-led management information (MI) practices to a structured, governed, and scalable data platform, reducing reliance on third-party delivery partners over time. The role combines strategic contribution with hands-on leadership of delivery, capability build, and operational control. Operating within a developing function, the postholder will contribute directly to data platform delivery where required, while establishing standards, governance, and sustainable internal capability. The role is accountable for building a unified, controlled approach to data across the organisation, ensuring data is a trusted, auditable, and consistently structured asset that underpins operational decision-making and AI capability. Dimensions

• 3 direct reports
• Responsible for the operational Data & AI budget
• Contributes to reducing long-term supplier dependency through development of internal capability, * Leads delivery of a modern data platform (Microsoft Fabric / lake-based architecture)
• Works alongside third-party delivery partners for platform implementation and capability transfer
• Owns data readiness, governance, and assurance required to enable AI capability across the organisation
• Owns AI governance frameworks and controls, ensuring all AI solutions delivered by Business Applications and third parties are secure, compliant, auditable, and aligned to data platform principles
• Contributes to reducing long-term supplier dependency through development of internal capability

Data Strategy Delivery & Leadership * Leads the development and execution of AFG’s Data & AI strategy, working with the Director of IT and wider leadership team

• Establishes a structured, scalable Data & AI function with defined roles, standards, and operating model
• Provides clear accountability for data delivery across the organisation

Data Platform & Architecture * Leads delivery of a modern data platform, ensuring alignment to organisational requirements and architecture principles

• Contributes directly to data engineering and platform activity where required, particularly in early-stage capability build
• Ensures development of scalable data pipelines, structured data models, and reusable datasets
• Provides technical oversight and challenge to partner-led delivery, ensuring solutions are aligned to standards and long-term ownership

Financial & Commercial Management * Holds responsibility for the operational Data & AI budget, including data platform licensing, tooling, training and third-party specialist expenditure.

• Manages a delegated budget of at least £15,000 per annum, ensuring expenditure supports agreed strategic and operational priorities.
• Provides financial oversight of Data & AI supplier contracts, ensuring value for money, budget compliance and effective utilisation of resources.
• Contributes to annual budget planning, forecasting and investment proposals relating to Data & AI capability.

Data Operating Model & Functional Leadership * Defines and implements AFG’s data operating model, transitioning from decentralised reporting practices to a structured, platform-enabled approach

• Provides direct line management and leadership for reporting and data practitioners across business functions
• Establishes consistent standards for data extraction, transformation, modelling, and publication
• Leads the transition of locally developed reporting processes into governed, reusable data assets
• Reduces duplication, inefficiency, and inconsistency across distributed data activities

Data Engineering & BI Delivery * Oversees and actively hands-on in the delivery of data engineering and BI outputs, ensuring alignment to defined standards and organisational priorities

• Ensures development of robust data pipelines, structured data models, and reusable datasets
• Balances short-term reporting needs with long-term platform maturity
• Ensures effective integration between data engineering and reporting capabilities

Data Governance, Quality & Control * Establishes and operates data governance frameworks including data quality, lineage, ownership, and access control

• Ensures data solutions are auditable, traceable, and aligned to regulatory requirements
• Embeds consistent governance and control across both central and federated data activities

AI & Data-Driven Capability Enablement * Owns data readiness, governance, and assurance required to enable AI capability across the organisation

• Owns AI governance frameworks and controls, ensuring all AI solutions are underpinned by trusted data, clear lineage, and appropriate risk management
• Works with Applications teams to support AI-enabled solutions through structured, governed data foundations

Supplier & Partner Management * Leads engagement with third-party data and platform delivery partners

• Drives knowledge transfer into internal teams to build sustainable capability
• Supports a transition from partner-led delivery to internally owned capability over time

Cross-Organisation Working * Works with stakeholders across HR, Operations, Finance and IT to align local data practices to enterprise standards

• Works closely with Business Systems to support the delivery of AI-enabled solutions, ensuring clear separation between solution delivery and data capability ownership
• Drives adoption of data standards, governance frameworks, and platform usage across the organisation
• Ensures data supports operational decision-making, performance management, and regulatory reporting
• Contributes to executive insight and organisational performance reporting

• Strong practical understanding of modern data platforms (e.g. Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, Databricks or equivalent), including data ingestion, transformation, and modelling
• Ability to contribute directly to data engineering and platform delivery where required, particularly within a small team or early-stage function
• Strong understanding of data governance principles including data quality, lineage, ownership, and auditability
• Ability to define and enforce data standards and operating models across multiple teams
• Understanding of how structured data platforms underpin reporting, analytics, and AI capability
• Ability to bridge technical delivery and leadership, translating architecture into practical implementation
• Ability to operate effectively in controlled environments with regulatory, audit, and risk considerations

Values & Attitudes

• Demonstrates ownership and accountability for delivery, outcomes, and organisational impact
• Comfortable operating in a hands-on leadership role within a developing function
• Takes a structured and disciplined approach to establishing standards and controls
• Strong focus on data quality, consistency, and integrity
• Proactive in identifying inefficiencies and improving processes
• Able to lead change, particularly in transitioning from localised to standardised practices
• Works collaboratively across functions, balancing control with engagement
• Maintains a service-focused mindset aligned to care delivery outcomes
• Demonstrates professionalism and integrity in handling sensitive data

Experience

• Proven experience leading delivery of data or analytics capability within a modern data environment
• Demonstrable experience designing and delivering data pipelines, data models, or platform components in a cloud-based data platform
• Experience operating in a hands-on leadership role, combining technical delivery with team or function leadership
• Experience leading or managing multi-disciplinary data or reporting teams
• Experience standardising or improving data or reporting practices across an organisation, including addressing fragmented or decentralised approaches
• Experience implementing or working within data governance, data quality, and control frameworks
• Experience working with third-party delivery partners, including oversight, challenge, and knowledge transfer, * Degree-level education
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in data, technology, or leadership

Other

• Able to travel across organisational sites where required
• Able to operate flexibly in support of a multi-site, 24/7 operational environment
• Able to manage competing priorities across strategic, operational and delivery responsibilities

This is a is a predominantly home based role, with travel to our collaboration hub in Liverpool and other sites within the north west required. We therefore require applicants to live within the north west of England with the use of a vehicle to facilitate in person working. With our extended flexible working options, you can choose to work your 35 hours per week on a 9-day fortnight or a 4.5-day week basis, supporting our employees with their work life balance. This post is Band IV as per our structure

We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition. We’re proud to have been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years. We have a vision to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create a personalised, outcome-focused plans to achieve their aspirations. As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you. At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.