Head of Data Science and Architecture

Head of Data Science & Architecture

• Manchester Airport based
• Permanent Role
• Flexible/Hybrid working for a better work/life balance
• We are proud to be a diverse employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds

Manchester Airport Group:

At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UK owned airport operator, we serve over 60 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate.

Sustainability is one of our core values, and it shapes everything we do. We're committed to protecting the environment and supporting our local communities.  Our programmes include airport and airline decarbonisation, comprehensive education, skills and employment support and community engagement initiatives including volunteering opportunities.

At MAG, we recognise creating a first-class journey for our customers starts by creating a first-class career journey for our colleagues and we are committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive. You’ll also have access to some great benefits including:

• Bonus scheme
• 11% company contribution pension
• Car allowance
• Private medical scheme
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Free parking
• Subsidised public transport
• Huge range of company discounts
• Free Virtual GP service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Care Concierge service
• Two volunteering days per year

The Role:

MAG is on a mission to build the worlds most intelligent airports.

As the Head of Data Science and Architecture within our Data and Strategic Analytics team at MAG Technology, you'll be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and technical governance of data science initiatives. Leading a team of data scientists and analysts, you'll work collaboratively with stakeholders across the organization to align data science initiatives with business objectives.

Working closely with the product leadership team, you will ensure that data science solutions support MAG's enterprise architecture and align with the organization's overall strategy. You'll collaborate with Product Managers and business stakeholders to develop and implement data-science solutions that drive innovation and efficiency.

In addition to your technical expertise in data science and analytics, you'll be instrumental in developing and mentoring your team members, providing guidance and support to ensure their success. Through effective leadership and coordination, you'll empower your team to deliver impactful solutions that address key business challenges, such as digitizing the passenger journey, optimizing operational processes, and enhancing employee experiences.

Together with your team, you'll leverage data and analytics to identify opportunities for improvement, drive operational efficiencies, and solve complex business problems across the organization.

Role Responsibilities

• Portfolio of change for Data and Strategic Analytics is more than £1.5m annually for which this role will be a key influencer and decision maker on how this technology investment is designed/delivered
• Direct the creation and review of a cross-functional, enterprise-wide approach and culture for generating value from data science and analytics.
• Drive the identification, evaluation and adoption of data science and analytics capabilities to transform organisational performance. Lead the provision of the organisation’s data science and analytics capabilities.
• Ensures that the strategic application of data science and analytics is embedded in the governance and leadership of the organisation.
• Align business strategies, enterprise transformation and data science and analytics strategies.
• Define detailed data science specifications to facilitate engineering processes.
• Recommend and design data science structures and tools to meet business requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, business analysts, and product leads to develop data science solutions aligned with business objectives and timeframes.
• Foster productive relationships with suppliers and third parties, balancing collaboration with commercial considerations.
• Conduct market studies and evaluations, contribute to business case development, and identify and realize benefits.
• Support testing efforts, define test cases, assess results, and approve integration tests relevant to data science designs.
• Contribute to defining the wider Technology roadmap and provide innovative ideas.

Decision-Making

• Organise and lead a team of data scientists and data analysts on both on a direct and matrix management basis to ensure business requirements and objectives are meet.
• Develop a culture of innovation, empowerment and drive amongst your peers and direct reports – setting the bar high in terms of performance levels.
• Add value to business change discussions, propose and demonstrate data solutions and IT capabilities that will improve MAG’s commercial and competitive goals.  This will be achieved through research into and staying continually educated in data science emerging technologies and new ways of doing business.
• Provide mentoring, coaching and direction to MAG Technology colleagues identifying and actioning any skill gaps.

What will make you a great Head of Data Science & Architecture:

• Proven experience of managing data science and analytics within a transformational business effecting successful IT change
• Proven experience of designing and delivering data science and analytics strategy and full development life cycle to implement solutions.
• Extensive experience of data, information, advanced analytics and data science solutions and best practise
• Data modelling, design, and road mapping
• Strong understanding of future developments in cloud computing and experience of re-platforming
• 10 years or more cloud experience on AWS including S3 and Redshift, and SQL coding.
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex technical information and influence decision-making.
• Ability to understand and articulate the interplay between business functions, processes, and IT components.
• Proven track record of staying abreast of emerging technology trends and effectively leveraging new technologies.
• Experience in devising data science transformation strategies and plans.
• Ability to provide data science expertise and guidance to technology leaders and business stakeholders Highly credible at senior levels and passionate about achieving success for the Business.
• Experience of leading and developing a high performing team, including recruitment and performance management
• Ability to communicate clearly and be listened to at all levels of the organisation.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience as Lead Data Engineer.
• TOGAF or equivalent experience
• A degree level qualification and/or equivalent experience in a relevant field
• Experience of working in multiple global organisations

Equal Opportunities & Reasonable Adjustments

At MAG we believe in the importance of diversity & inclusion for all. We are committed to creating a workforce that is reflective of our society. As such we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We’re also committed to well-being with a focus on mental health and supporting colleagues from underrepresented groups through our Colleague Resource Groups.

As a Disability Confident employer we are committed to creating an environment where candidates and employees can perform at their optimum. Please let us know if we can provide you with any reasonable adjustments to aid your application or interview process.

You can contact the team by emailing HR.Recruitment@MAGAirports.com

Our Colleague Resource Groups include: Women’s Network, Embrace - Race & Ethnicity Group, Fly With Pride (LGBTQIA+), Mental Health, Parent & Carers, Disabilities including neurodiversity