Head of Data Operations - Nottingham

Dependent on Experience

Since our launch back in 1982 we have taken the sports retail world by storm. With over 500 stores both at home here in the UK and in over 19 European countries as well as a full multi-channel retail website - we are still growing.

Our mission is to enable SDI (Sports Direct International) to become more intelligent in our decision-making by bringing together our data in a manner that is fast, actionable, and customer-led.

Introduction to the Role.

SDI relies on its data assets to function effectively and make daily business decisions.

To do so, mission critical OLTP, Mongo, SQL Server, Oracle and document databases need to have high availability in order for the business grow.

Purpose of Role.

SDI is looking for a Head of Data Operations to provide ownership for the effective functioning of existing, mission critical data products.

The Head of Data Operations will ensure that SDI has mastery of data fundamentals and a strong engineering culture, with robust DevOps processes.

You will work within the Information Technology team to grow the value of our data (as measured by quality, richness, trust, accessibility) and so maintain and improve the data products that the SDI needs to achieve our goals.

You will work closely with the SDI’s Data Project & Business Intelligence teams to implement best practice and ensure future data platforms can transition into robust, mission critical assets.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities.

• Single point of responsibility for existing and mission critical data assets ensuring that SDI’s data infrastructure has high availability and accessibility.
• Solutioning: Design, structure and lead the right projects to improve the reliability and quality of the existing infrastructure.
• Prioritisation and project management: Ensure that your teams work is prioritised against the business need to ensure that we are first delivering those capabilities with greatest impact, lowest effort, and least dependency. Drive delivery of the backlog, providing clear communication with stakeholders.
• Instilling the right culture and approach, relating to DevOps, Technology, Team Operations, etc.
• Governance, regulation and risk: Ensure that our data infrastructure is compliant with policies as set out for data privacy, protection and assurance, for information security, and for our broader governance, regulatory and risk policies and framework. Helping to create these policies where they don’t exist.

Knowledge and experience

Must have

The right candidate will bring a multi-disciplinary skill-set to include:

• A wealth of experience maintaining and creating production standard databases in consumer-orientated organisations. Likely having worked as a DBA or DBA team lead before
• Experience with the majority of Oracle, NoSQL (including MongoDB), SQL Server and its services, BI Systems / visualisation tools
• The capability of delivering against a “data as a product” vision, and to execute effectively by leading a team of DBAs and engineers
• An understanding of all or parts of the data domain, including data governance, data architecture, data modelling, data engineering, data delivery, data quality, master data, and the role of data to enable analytics, reporting and business intelligence
• Highly attentive to detail, with a structured problem-solving approach. Experience writing clear business requirements documentation
• Experience handling multiple projects and priorities, managing timescales and delivery across a technical, cross-functional team
• Robust knowledge of GDPR and likely implications on global data management
• Experience with rapid development methodologies, e.g., Agile, SCRUM, Kanban

Right to work in the UK

Preferred

• Degree qualified, likely in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and/or a Business and Management discipline
• Likely with relevant industry credentials, e.g., TOGAF qualified, Kimball trained
• Experience operating with an engineering, agile and DevOps mindset. Technical expertise with Git, Jira, etc.
• Some experience working in consumer retail
• Experience working within teams of product owners, data architects, data engineers or BI engineers

If you believe you meet the above criteria and feel that this could be the role for you then APPLY NOW!