Head of Data

Head of Data?? Location: London (Hybrid)?? Contract Type: Permanent?? Sector: Professional Services

Are you a senior data leader with a passion for strategy, governance, and driving meaningful change through data? A leading global professional services firm is seeking a Head of Data to lead the development and execution of its data strategy — managing risk, maximising value, and enabling business-wide transformation.

• Join a forward-thinking, international firm undergoing digital and cultural transformation.

• Be the driving force behind data governance, integration, and innovation.

• Collaborate with senior leaders and make a firm-wide impact across key operational and commercial functions.

As Head of Data, you’ll work with stakeholders across the business to build a data strategy that improves data quality, supports strategic growth, and embeds a robust data culture. You’ll lead initiatives covering data governance, classification, integration, quality improvement, and more. The role also includes engaging and educating teams across the business to maximise the value of data.

• Establish and chair a data governance group to define and enforce standards.

• Improve system integration and data accuracy to enable better decision-making.

• Collaborate on data-related policies (e.g. data retention, usage) and compliance.

• Drive process improvements through automation and streamlined workflows.

• Work closely with learning and change teams to embed a strong, sustainable data culture.

• Recruit and lead a team of data specialists as needed.

• 3+ years in a senior data leadership role within a legal or professional services environment.

• Demonstrated experience influencing stakeholders at C-suite or Partner level.

• Strong communication skills - able to translate complex data topics for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Track record of delivering change programmes under pressure and to tight deadlines.

• A strategic, commercially aware mindset with attention to detail and a collaborative approach.

• Tenacious, curious, and confident in constructively challenging the status quo.

• Comfortable working flexibly to meet business needs.

• Results-oriented with a pragmatic and professional approach.