Head of Data

This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior Data leadership role at AO, shaping how data is used to drive decisions across the entire business. At AO, we generate and hold a significant volume of data. The opportunity here is to unlock its full value - turning insight into action, improving outcomes for our customers and enabling better decision making at every level of the organisation. You'll lead our Data function, owning the design, delivery and evolution of our data strategy across visualisation, governance, advanced analytics and AI. Alongside this, you'll ensure the stability of a 24/7 production environment, while supporting multiple high priority transformation programmes. It's a role with real scope, real challenge and real impact.Here's What You Can Expect To Be Doing You'll take accountability for the performance, direction and output of the Data function, leading and developing high performing teams across Data Engineering, Platforms, BI & Analytics, Data Science & AI, Solution Architecture and Data Governance. Operating at a senior level, regularly engaging with executive stakeholders and the Board to demonstrate progress, value and strategic direction, this role strikes a balance between strategic thinking and rolling your sleeves up to get stuck in. Working closely with teams across the AO group, you'll play a central role in connecting data to meaningful business outcomes.

• Lead and develop multi-disciplinary Data teams, building strong capability and performance
• Define and deliver a scalable, secure and reliable data architecture, establishing a single source of truth
• Shape and execute a clear, business-aligned Data strategy and roadmap
• Embed governance, standards and best practices across the data landscape
• Support and evolve a product-led, agile mindset across Systems and Engineering
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation
• Strengthen AO's data capability, operating model and team structures
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders across the business
• Act as a visible advocate for Data, both internally and externally
• While this role has significant scope, it's backed by strong organisational support and a collaborative network - ensuring you have the infrastructure, commitment, and buy-in needed to succeed.
  
  You're an experienced Data leader with a track record of building, leading and developing, engaged high performing, multi-disciplinary teams. Whether across a full Data function or areas such as engineering, analytics or architecture, you bring strong technical expertise alongside commercial judgement, translating both into clear business outcomes.
• You have deep knowledge of modern data ecosystems, including cloud platforms, data engineering approaches and lakehouse architectures, with experience using tools such as Snowflake, Databricks, MSSQL, dbt and Airflow. You also have a solid understanding of Machine Learning and AI.
• You've shaped and delivered Data strategies aligned to business goals, embedding governance, standards and Agile ways of working, with a clear focus on value and prioritisation.
• You build credibility quickly and influence at senior levels, communicating clearly at Executive and Board level while remaining comfortable in technical discussions.
• You're passionate about developing people and capability, with a growth mindset and interest in emerging technologies, and are comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing others with you to drive meaningful change
• We know that great candidates don't always meet every requirement.
• If your experience is aligned to much of what we're looking for and you're excited by the opportunity, we'd still love to hear from you
  
  We're known for helping our customers brilliantly - and it's no different for AOers. We care about more than what's on your CV, because together we can do extraordinary things.
  
  Holidays; 25 days, plus bank holidays (increasing to 27 days after 2 years with us!
• Flexible benefits; including 9% employer pension contribution and private healthcare
• Opportunity to participate in the AO incentive programme
• Be a VIP at the AO Arena; we have loads of opportunities to win free tickets and pre-sale access!
• Health & wellbeing; discounted gym membership, an onsite spa and our Help @ Hand scheme giving you access to virtual GP's, Mental Health support and much more.
• Discounts; exclusive discounts across our product range.
• Family leave; Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption leave.
• Making a difference; 2 fully paid days a year to donate your time to any charity of your choice.
• On site perks; start your day with free on site parking, grabbing a complimentary breakfast and a coffee at our in house coffee shop!, Surname
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That's great! We'd love to know more about you! How do you describe your gender identity? How do you describe your ethnic background? How do you like to describe your sexual identity or sexual orientation? Do you identify as a person with a disability or are you a person with accessibility needs? How would you describe your Neurodiversity?Great! Do you require any reasonable adjustments if we were to invite you to an interview? Reasonable adjustmentsWhat are reasonable adjustments? We want to make sure you have the best possible experience throughout our recruitment journey. If there's anything we can do to make the process more comfortable or accessible, like arranging a ground floor meeting room for an interview or having a sign language interpreter join you, please let us know below. We're here to support you every step of the way. If this role was recommended to you by someone already working at AO, please tick the box and let us know their name. Referrer First Name Referrer Last Name By ticking, this means you are giving us your permission to keep in touch with you over the next 12 months using the information you have submitted. We will share content with you every now and then about AO and update you on relevant job opportunities. To opt out at any point, please email careers@ao.comYour applications in! One of our recruitment team will be in touch soon with an update as soon as they can. In the meantime, why not check out what life at AO is all about! Explore Now Current / last job title
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• Takes just 2 minutes to complete!AO is for everyone! We should all feel that we belong. That's why we are creating a welcoming and inclusive place to work. We're proud to be different. From how we look to the way we talk to our customers, we skip to the beat of our very own drum. We know that being different together is our superpower and we celebrate it because it makes us stronger, more creative, and better at what we do. We believe the people we employ should reflect the diversity of our customer base; that way, we can communicate in a way that recognises all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, abilities, and sexual orientations. And that's why we're asking these questions. Making sure our recruitment process is inclusive is a key part of what we're doing at AO to encourage diversity as an employer. Read more How will we use the data? After we've collated the data, we'll look at the patterns to assess if we are inclusive at each stage. If it turns out that we aren't, then the data may help us identify where we can improve. The data collated won't have any impact on your application and is not shared with hiring managers or the recruitment team.