At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data engineering strategy and modernise data platforms for Aviva's IWR business.
- Company: Join Aviva, a leader in financial services, driving innovation through data.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus opportunities, generous holidays, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of data transformation, shaping AI-driven solutions and inspiring a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading data initiatives, with skills in data architecture and big data tools required.
- Other info: Aviva values inclusivity and offers various flexible working arrangements.
The predicted salary is between 96000 - 168000 £ per year.
Join Aviva’s Data Revolution. At Aviva, data is more than a function—it’s our foundation. We’re on a bold journey to transform how we harness data to drive innovation, power AI, and deliver exceptional outcomes for our customers. As we accelerate this transformation, we’re seeking a visionary leader to join us as Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement.
A bit about the job:
This is a pivotal, high-impact role at the heart of our Insurance, Wealth & Retirement (IWR) business—one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic financial services portfolios. You’ll lead the modernisation of our data platforms, architect next-generation solutions, and embed AI-driven intelligence into the fabric of our operations. Working in close partnership with our Data Science and Technology teams, you’ll shape and execute a bold data engineering strategy that delivers secure, scalable, and high-quality solutions—empowering smarter, faster decisions across the enterprise. Beyond the technology, you’ll build and inspire a high-performing team of data engineers, champion a culture of innovation and agility, and ensure our data assets are governed, accessible, and future-ready.
What you’ll be doing:
- Define and lead the data engineering strategy for IWR, aligning with business goals and future data needs.
- Transform legacy systems into scalable, cloud-native platforms with embedded AI and machine learning.
- Deliver data solutions focused on business fulfilment, operational efficiency, and measurable impact.
- Champion best practices in data quality, governance, metadata, and regulatory compliance.
- Partner across functions and lead a high-performing data engineering team, fostering innovation and agility.
Skills and experience we’re looking for:
- Demonstrated success leading complex data initiatives and transformation programmes within large-scale organisations, particularly in financial services.
- Skilled in managing outsourced and third-party data environments, with a strong focus on aligning data capabilities to business transformation goals.
- Deep knowledge of data architecture, modelling, integration, and governance, with hands-on experience in tools like Snowflake, DBT, SQL Server, and programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala.
- Proficient in big data tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and embedding AI/GenAI into scalable data infrastructures.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and the ability to translate technical solutions into strategic business value, with a solid understanding of regulatory and financial environments.
What you’ll get for this role:
- National salary circa £120,000 and London salary circa £140,000 (depending on location, skills, experience, and qualifications).
- Bonus opportunity – 25% of annual salary. Actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s.
- Generous pension scheme - Aviva will contribute up to 14%, depending on what you put in.
- 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days.
- Make your money go further - Up to 40% discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts.
- Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme.
- Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave.
- Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work.
- Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your 3 paid volunteering days to help others.
- We take your wellbeing seriously with lots of support and tools.
Aviva is for everyone: We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares. We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending around 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.
To find out more about working at Aviva take a look here. We interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Once you’ve applied, please send us an email stating that you have a disclosed disability, and we’ll interview you.
We’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please give Harjot Kaur a call on +44 07353 163239 or send an email to leena.manga@aviva.com.
Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement (Perth) employer: Aviva plc
Contact Detail:
Aviva plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement (Perth)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Aviva's data strategy and recent initiatives. Understanding their approach to data engineering and AI integration will help you align your vision with theirs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Aviva, especially those in data roles. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've led data transformation projects in the past. Highlight your experience with tools like Snowflake and programming languages relevant to the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your leadership skills by discussing how you've built and inspired teams in previous roles. Aviva is looking for someone who can foster a culture of innovation and agility.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of IWR Data Engineering and Enablement (Perth)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in data engineering and transformation programmes, particularly within financial services. Use specific examples that demonstrate your success in leading complex data initiatives.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for data and innovation. Clearly outline how your skills align with the role's requirements, especially in areas like data architecture, governance, and AI integration.
Showcase Technical Skills: Be explicit about your technical expertise in tools such as Snowflake, DBT, and programming languages like Python or Java. Mention any experience with big data tools and cloud platforms, as these are crucial for the role.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Since this is a leadership position, emphasise your ability to build and inspire teams. Provide examples of how you've fostered a culture of innovation and agility in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Aviva plc
✨Understand the Role and Responsibilities
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the job description. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities, such as leading data engineering strategy and transforming legacy systems. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with relevant tools and technologies like Snowflake, DBT, and big data platforms. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully implemented these technologies, especially in a financial services context.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As this role involves leading a high-performing team, be ready to share examples of how you've inspired and managed teams in the past. Discuss your approach to fostering innovation and agility within your team, as well as how you handle challenges.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Questions
Expect questions about how you engage with stakeholders and translate technical solutions into business value. Prepare examples that illustrate your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, particularly in a regulatory and financial environment.