Head of Data Management & Insight, SOCIAL WORK ENGLAND

Social Work England is the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change, and ultimately improve people’s lives.

About the role

The Head of Data Management & Insight leads Social Work England’s data insight, data management, and data engineering capabilities as part of an integrated DDaT function. The role ensures data is securely managed, well-governed, and effectively engineered, providing high-quality insight and analytics to support regulation, organisational performance, and decision-making.

Working closely with senior leaders and stakeholders, the role translates organisational and regulatory needs into a clear data strategy, overseeing the development of data platforms, analysis, and reporting. It ensures data is treated as a strategic asset underpinned by robust governance, with a focus on delivering value and building data maturity.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and set clear direction for data management, data engineering, performance reporting, and insight, ensuring high-quality delivery and continuous improvement across the full data lifecycle.
• Maintain and enhance professional knowledge and awareness of best practice through relevant learning and networks.
• Develop and deliver a strategy and forward plan for data management and insight, coordinating priorities including data governance, data literacy, performance reporting, and analysis.
• Provide strong, visible, and inclusive leadership to the data and insight function, setting clear objectives and expectations while building a high-performing, engaged, and resilient team.
• Drive a culture of continuous learning by identifying and addressing capability gaps and supporting ongoing professional development.
• Lead the development of high-quality management information, insight, and analysis, embedding best practice and consistent methodologies that ensure strong validation, clear documentation, and quality assurance.
• Ensure the delivery of accurate and consistent performance reporting that supports organisational confidence and strategic decision-making.
• Provide strategic leadership for the development and ongoing management of data platforms, pipelines, and data infrastructure, ensuring scalable, secure, and resilient data management and engineering solutions with clear ownership, architecture standards, and long-term sustainability.
• Establish and maintain robust data governance, ensuring data is managed as a strategic organisational asset and complies with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with finance, people and development, and operational teams to develop and maintain forecasting models, performance, and efficiency metrics that support organisational planning, budget-setting, and resource decisions.
• Promote self-service reporting and data literacy across the organisation to foster a data-driven culture, enhancing organisational capability to use data and insight effectively.
• Provide strategic leadership and expertise for data-related change across core systems and digital platforms, ensuring data capabilities align with organisational priorities and deliver long-term value.
• Act as data workstream lead for the DDaT improvement programme, coordinating and delivering priority projects to make Social Work England a more digitally mature, service-oriented regulator.
• Collaborate effectively as a member of the wider directorate and organisational leadership team, prioritising organisational needs and role-modelling values and leadership behaviours.
• Maintain and strengthen Social Work England’s analytical capability, drawing upon external expertise and professional development where relevant.
• Collaborate with the internal research team and operational teams to identify and deliver priority analytical and evaluation work.

Requirements

• Significant expertise and experience in data management, data governance, and data quality, including the design and implementation of data standards and controls.
• Ability to combine strong technical and analytical expertise with the ability to set direction and embed effective use of data across an organisation.
• Extensive experience delivering performance reporting, management information, and statistical analysis at a senior level in a complex organisation.
• Strong leadership and people management experience, including accountability for line management, performance management, capability development, and wellbeing within multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge and experience of data architecture, including the design and development of organisational data models, data platforms, and quality/technical standards that support analytics, insight, and secure data use.
• A demonstrable commitment to inclusion and diversity, championing equitable and ethical use of data, addressing bias in insight and reporting, and fostering an inclusive, high-performing team culture.
• Strong technical experience using data tools and software (e.g., Power BI, SQL, Excel) with a sound understanding of how to work across a wider data and analytics technology stack.
• Experience building effective relationships and influencing at all levels, including senior management and board members.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex data and technical concepts clearly and credibly, both orally and in writing.

Benefits

• Hybrid working
• 25 days annual leave, rising with service to 30 days per annum, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days of annual leave per annum
• A TIDE award-winning inclusive culture, with staff networks, social events, and forums
• A contributory NEST pension, life insurance, an employee recognition scheme, and cycle to work scheme

Pay

£63,526 per year, rising to £65,924 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Schedule

Full time. Flexible working is offered subject to business need.

Location: Sheffield/Hybrid