At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data transformation to improve lives and services for over 340,000 residents.
- Company: Brent Council, a diverse and ambitious local authority in London.
- Benefits: Generous leave, pension scheme, flexible working, and health support.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact using data to drive positive change in the community.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in data analytics and a passion for public service.
The predicted salary is between 90865 - 111270 £ per year.
Salary range: £90,865 - £111,270 per annum inclusive of London weighting
Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Civic centre and other locations from time to time
Shape the future of one of London’s most ambitious boroughs through the power of data. Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, with communities, ideas and experiences from across the world helping to shape who we are. Working here means joining a council that is focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people. Our values shape how we work and what people can expect from us. We collaborate proactively, lead inclusively, embrace change, are bold and curious, and celebrate and share our success. For people who care about public service and want their work to matter, Brent offers the chance to make a meaningful difference.
About the role
At Brent Council, we believe data is more than numbers – it is the key to improving lives, reducing inequalities and creating better services for our residents, communities and businesses. We are looking for an exceptional Head of Data, Analytics and Insights to lead our data transformation journey and help us unlock the full potential of data-driven decision making across the council. This is a rare opportunity to take a strategic leadership role at the heart of the organisation, influencing how services are designed, resources are targeted and outcomes are delivered for more than 340,000 residents.
Why this role matters
Every day, local authorities make decisions that affect people's lives – from housing and social care to community safety, digital services and economic growth. As our Head of Data, Analytics and Insights, you will ensure that those decisions are informed by robust evidence, deep insight and innovative analytics. You will help Brent become a truly data-driven organisation, where information is used ethically, intelligently and creatively to deliver better outcomes for our communities. You will be the council's senior leader for data and insight, working with elected members, senior leaders and service teams to turn complex information into clear action.
This role offers you the chance to:
- Lead the development and delivery of Brent's Data, Analytics and Insights Strategy.
- Shape how data influences major policy decisions, service transformation and innovation programmes.
- Build and champion a council-wide culture of evidence-based decision making.
- Drive the use of advanced analytics, predictive modelling and responsible AI to improve services.
- Lead investment in modern data platforms, infrastructure and cloud-based technologies.
- Manage and develop a highly skilled multidisciplinary team covering business intelligence, analytics, data science, GIS, data platforms and insight functions.
- Represent Brent at regional and national forums, helping shape the future of data and analytics across local government.
What you'll be doing
You'll sit within our Service Reform and Strategy directorate, reporting to the Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, and play a key role in Brent's wider corporate leadership team. You will:
- Oversee the council's Data Lake and future data architecture.
- Build strong partnerships across Brent and with external organisations to unlock the value of shared intelligence.
- Lead and inspire a team of around 20 specialists, creating an environment where innovation, learning and collaboration thrive.
- Manage a budget of approximately £2.5 million and ensure excellent value for money.
About you
We're looking for a passionate and visionary leader who can combine data operations leadership with insights that can transform public services. Significant senior leadership experience in data, analytics and insight. Strong experience leading specialist analytical and data science teams. Deep understanding of data governance, information management and data protection. Strategic thinking, curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement. A passion for using data ethically to improve outcomes and reduce inequality. Experience within local government or another public service environment would be advantageous, as would knowledge of advanced analytics, predictive modelling, responsible AI and modern cloud-based data architectures.
Why join us?
We know people achieve their best when they feel valued. At Brent, you’ll benefit from:
- 27 days’ annual leave, rising with length of service, plus bank holidays
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
- Hybrid and flexible working options for most roles
- Supportive family-friendly policies, including carers’ leave, paternity leave and compassionate leave for eligible employees
- Health and wellbeing support, including eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Financial wellbeing support, including education sessions, childcare deposit loans, and season ticket loans
- Travel support, including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme, and onsite facilities
- Learning and development opportunities to support your career
- Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment
To learn more about our staff benefits, visit Our offer to you.
Closing date: Wednesday 19 August 2026 (23:59)
Brent Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects the people we serve. We welcome all applications from all sections of the community and encourage applicants to complete the diversity survey section of the application. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness. We expect all employees to demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promote inclusive, non-discriminatory practices in their work. This commitment forms part of our recruitment process, and candidates may be assessed on their understanding of and ability to contribute to an inclusive working environment.
The information we collect from you will be shared with Cifas, who will use it to help prevent fraud and other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. Further details on how your information will be used by Brent and Cifas, and your data protection rights can be found here.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. This includes people with hidden disabilities, long term health conditions, diagnosis, and mental health conditions. We also guarantee an interview to care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria. Information shared for this purpose will be treated fairly and used only to confirm eligibility under these schemes. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@brent.gov.uk
Brent has a positive approach to flexible working.
Head of Data Analytics and Insights employer: Brent Council
Brent Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and culturally diverse environment for Educational Psychologists. With generous benefits such as up to 33 days of annual leave, excellent pension contributions, and the flexibility of hybrid working, employees are encouraged to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in Greater London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Data Analytics and Insights
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
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Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like Brent Council.
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Data Analytics and Insights
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Brent Council, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at Brent Council. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brent Council
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
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Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at Brent Council!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
