At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a data engineering team to transform operational data into actionable insights.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company revolutionising manufacturing analytics.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities to influence at all organisational levels.
- Why this job: Shape the future of manufacturing analytics and drive meaningful business outcomes.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading data teams and strong knowledge of industrial data systems.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Drive Data-Driven Manufacturing Excellence. We are looking for a Business Analytics Lead to play a pivotal role in transforming operational data into actionable business insight across our Paper Division. Leading a small but highly capable data engineering team, you will build and develop the OT-to-business data infrastructure that underpins operational analytics, advanced analytics, and strategic decision-making. By connecting manufacturing systems with business platforms, you’ll help unlock performance improvements, optimise asset utilisation, and support critical 80/20 business priorities. This is an exciting opportunity for a data leader who combines technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement and a passion for delivering measurable business value.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Data Engineers, setting priorities and ensuring high-quality delivery.
- Design, build, and maintain scalable OT-to-business data architectures and ingestion pipelines, supporting both real-time and batch processing.
- Integrate operational technology platforms, including AVEVA PI, with ERP, maintenance, quality, and other enterprise systems.
- Develop and maintain standardised, granular datasets and data models that enable operational reporting, advanced analytics, and business intelligence.
- Establish and champion data governance best practices, including data quality, lineage, metadata management, and documentation.
- Create reusable analytics assets, KPI frameworks, and self-service data products that empower site and corporate teams.
- Partner with Operations, Asset Management, IT, and Business Leadership teams to identify opportunities, prioritise initiatives, and deliver impactful analytics solutions.
- Implement monitoring, automation, and CI/CD practices to ensure reliable and efficient data workflows.
- Translate complex data into clear insights, dashboards, and recommendations that support operational and strategic decision-making.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience leading data engineering, analytics, or business intelligence teams.
- Strong understanding of industrial data environments and operational technology (OT) systems.
- Experience working with platforms such as AVEVA PI, industrial historians, or similar manufacturing data systems.
- Demonstrated expertise in building data pipelines, data models, and enterprise analytics solutions.
- Strong knowledge of data governance, metadata management, data quality, and data architecture best practices.
- Experience integrating manufacturing, ERP, maintenance, quality, and other business systems.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
- A proactive, problem-solving mindset with a focus on delivering tangible business outcomes.
Why Join Us?
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of manufacturing analytics within a large-scale industrial environment. You’ll work at the intersection of operations, technology, and business strategy, delivering solutions that directly influence performance, productivity, and long-term growth. If you’re passionate about turning complex operational data into meaningful business value and leading teams that drive transformation, we’d love to hear from you.
Business Analytics Lead employer: DS Smith
Join us as a Business Analytics Lead and be part of a forward-thinking company that values innovation and data-driven decision-making. Our collaborative work culture fosters professional growth, offering you the chance to lead a talented team while shaping the future of manufacturing analytics. With a focus on employee development and a commitment to delivering impactful solutions, we provide a rewarding environment where your contributions will directly enhance operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Analytics Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website where you can display your projects, data models, and analytics solutions. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your expertise beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to data engineering and analytics. Think about how you can articulate your experience with platforms like AVEVA PI and your approach to stakeholder engagement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Analytics Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Business Analytics Lead. Highlight your experience with data engineering and analytics, especially in manufacturing environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about transforming operational data into business insights. Share specific examples of how you've led teams or projects that delivered measurable outcomes.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on your technical expertise! Mention your experience with platforms like AVEVA PI and your knowledge of data governance practices. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make sure we know what you bring to the table.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Data Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of data engineering and analytics, especially in relation to operational technology systems like AVEVA PI. Brush up on your knowledge of data pipelines and how they integrate with business systems, as this will be crucial for demonstrating your expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and mentoring teams. Think about specific situations where you set priorities or ensured high-quality delivery. This will help you convey your ability to lead a small but capable data engineering team effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice translating complex data concepts into simple insights. You’ll need to demonstrate your stakeholder management skills, so be ready to discuss how you’ve influenced decisions at various levels within an organisation. Clear communication is key!
✨Demonstrate a Problem-Solving Mindset
Be prepared to discuss challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached solving them. Highlight your proactive attitude and focus on delivering tangible business outcomes, as this aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for in a candidate.
