Intelligence Lead

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities. Lead the development and delivery of the HS2’s Data Intelligence capability by providing robust analysis of Project Controls, Commercial, Cost, Quantities, Schedule, Risk, and Performance data. Drive data-led decision-making through the creation of robust intelligence products, reporting, and predictive analytics, transforming complex data sets into actionable insights. Ensure performance measurement, analysis, and assurance while supporting digital transformation and continuous improvement to enhance project delivery, organisational performance, and value for money. About the Role

• Lead the Data Intelligence function, delivering trusted insights, driving data transformation, and governing intelligence solutions to improve performance and support data-driven decision-making.
• Maintaining data governance and the Microsoft Fabric environment, ensuring high-quality, secure, integrated, and accessible project controls, commercial, cost, schedule, and risk data.
• Develop and apply advanced analytics, predictive modelling, benchmarking, and rates libraries to enhance forecasting, productivity measurement, performance assessment, and value-for-money assurance.
• Deliver intelligence-led assurance, reporting and strategic performance analysis to support governance, investment decisions, and organisational objectives.

• Membership of RICS, ACostE, ICES, or a similar relevant professional association, and degree qualified or equivalent experience, or achieved NVQ Level 2 in Project Controls. Additional certifications such as APM PFQ, PMQ, or EVM is highly desirable.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and drive data-led decision-making.
• Strong project controls expertise across cost, schedule, risk, estimating, forecasting, performance, commercial, procurement, and supply chain management.
• Extensive experience in data governance, enterprise data management, and reporting solutions, with proficiency in Microsoft Fabric, Power BI and Data Analysis.
• Advanced analytical capability in predictive modelling, forecasting, trend analysis, and performance intelligence to support strategic decisions.
• Experience delivering benchmarking, assurance, dashboards, and Value for Money (VfM) insights to improve performance and outcomes.
• Knowledge of major infrastructure and capital delivery environments, with a strong focus on information governance, innovation, and AI-enabled analytics.

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of data governance, data quality, information assurance, data architecture and data integration.
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, data warehousing, data lakes, business intelligence platforms, predictive analytics, machine learning, data science, and quantitative analysis methods to deliver actionable business insights.
• Strong understanding of performance management, benchmarking, assurance, KPI frameworks, data visualisation, regulatory and information governance requirements, and the application of emerging digital, AI, and automation technologies to improve business outcomes.
• Knowledge of major infrastructure delivery frameworks, government assurance processes, public sector reporting requirements, and experience working within complex projects and environments, including rail, transport, utilities, and other large-scale infrastructure sectors.

Type of Experience

• Proven experience leading Project Controls and Data Analysis teams, delivering key products within large-scale infrastructure projects and applying hands-on methodologies to support successful project delivery.
• Proven experience in transforming and structuring large datasets using Power Query, and skilled in advanced data analysis with DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) for generating deep insights and calculations.
• Expertise in Power BI, Advanced Excel, including complex formulas, data visualization, and automation to support robust data analysis and reporting.