We’re building thriving communities as one of the UK’s largest housing groups and a leading developer of affordable housing.

We believe everyone is entitled to a good home they can afford, in a place they are proud to live. More than 100,000 people live in our homes.

If you want to experience work that’s truly rewarding, join us. Because when we achieve together, customers and communities thrive.

Work for Orbit. Believe in people.

The role

The Interim Head of Data & Analytics will join Orbit on a 12 month fixed term contract (maternity cover) to steer Orbits data strategy and provide leadership to ensure seamless integration of data initiatives across the organisation.

This role is pivotal in driving excellence in data quality, governance, and analytics, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making.

Responsible for executing the data activities specified in the Integrated Data and Technology Strategy. This includes measuring progress and revising delivery plans as necessary throughout the duration of the Strategy.

Lead the central Data function to execute data activities and provide thought leadership for the Strategic Portfolio of Change as directed by the CID function.

Encourage and promote higher data maturity across Orbit by continuing to develop and integrate a data-driven culture. This includes making data available for self-service, ensuring proper data governance, and supporting colleagues in understanding, communicating, analysing, and interpreting data (data literacy).

This role is part of Technology & Information where you'll help us give colleagues the infrastructure, support and insight they need to be brilliant.

What you'll achieve

• Leadership of the Data function, shaping the teams and direction to align and deliver on our Integrated Data and Technology Strategy commitments and annual Strategic Portfolio of projects and programmes.
• Lead and oversee the ongoing development of our central data platform, the enterprise data model, and the enablement of self-service analytics capabilities throughout the organisation.
• Oversee Orbit’s approach to Data Governance embedding a framework to govern conceptual data domains across Orbit’s data estate establishing roles and responsibilities in the business including data owners and data stewards who will enable data quality improvements in the operational teams.
• Lead the development and application of data analysis and insight approaches across Orbit paving the way for predictive analytics and advanced analysis techniques.
• Engage with stakeholders across Orbit to promote the work of the data teams, support leaders in understanding the role they play in creating and embedding a data driven culture in their teams.
• Continually assess and develop the skillsets of all Data team members, supporting the management team to create appropriate development pathways for their team members.
• Contract management, engagement and governance of 3rd parties and suppliers for data services.
• Budget management for the Data function overseeing both capital and revenue spend.
• Provision of regular management information reporting for department SMT’s, ET and Orbit committees and boards.
• Responsible for building and maintaining our strategic partner engagement with Microsoft for all data and analytics related technologies, ensuring we are maximising utilisation of our unified contract.

What you'll bring

Essential skills

• Experience leading central data functions including, but not limited to, Data Architecture, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Data Governance, Data Quality and Data Enablement (literacy).
• Experience of leading teams who work with leading edge data transformation technologies such as Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Lake and analytical tools such as Power BI.
• Experience developing Data Enablement (Literacy) programmes and embedding a data driven culture across an organisation.
• Excellent demonstrable leadership skills including the ability to create and deliver on vision, create strategic delivery plans and influence across the organisation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of information governance and data architecture principles and best practices.
• Excellent presenting skills and ability to convey complex data deliveries and process to technical and non-technical audiences at all levels of the organisation.

Desirable skills

• Social Housing experience
• Experience of Property Asset Data

Why Orbit?

Choosing us means being rewarded in every sense. Here’s what you can expect to enjoy with us.

A rewarding experience that works for you. We strive to create an inclusive experience with benefits and wellbeing programmes designed to help you, and your loved ones, to thrive. For a better work life balance, we offer flexible working opportunities for many roles.

A place to progress. From training programmes to professional qualifications, we provide opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of your career. Whether you’re a student, graduate or experienced professional we’ll support you to grow.

For leaders, our tailored development journeys are designed to stretch and strengthen your leadership skills. As well as practical training, we give you access to renowned business schools and experiential programmes for greater breadth and depth of learning.

A purpose to feel proud of. We’re proud to make a difference to people together. We’re values-driven with a commercial focus on performance - because the more profit we make, the more we can achieve for people.

What brings us together is a passionate belief in progress and people.

Read more about the values and purpose that drive us on our careers website.

How we hire

We aim to make our hiring process simple and fair:

1. Online application
2. Interview(s)
3. Decision and offer

We put the safeguarding of our customers, colleagues and contractors at the heart of everything we do and as such, certain roles will be subject to a DBS check.