Data Programme Manager

Own and run ISP’s Data Strategy as a single, integrated enterprise programme, turning strategy into executed outcomes. The role is accountable for mobilising, orchestrating and governing delivery across:

• Unified Data Spine (governed data movement & lineage)
• Master Data Management (MDM) & identity resolution
• Canonical Data Model (CDM) adoption
• Certified KPIs / semantic layer
• Unified Student Profile (USP) and Unified Customer/Household Profile (UCP)

This role ensures the data strategy delivers measurable business value: earlier intervention on retention risk, improved learning evidence, reduced manual workload in schools, faster M&A onboarding, and IPO-grade transparency.

Scope & Complexity

• Enterprise-wide, multi-country environment
• Cross-cuts ERP, HRIS, SIS, CRM, EdTech, Finance, Learning and regional platforms
• Orchestrates multiple delivery streams and partners
• Balances speed of value delivery with governance and auditability

ISP Principles

• Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success.
• Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
• Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
• Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
• Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.
• Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise Data Strategy Programme Ownership

• Own the integrated Data Strategy delivery roadmap and critical path
• Translate strategy into sequenced, outcome-based waves
• Maintain dependency map across Spine, MDM, CDM, KPI certification and USP/UCP

• Coordinate delivery across data engineering, integration, platform owners, BI/analytics, and regions
• Establish and operate delivery cadence (weekly execution, monthly steering, quarterly outcomes)
• Ensure work is properly sized, sequenced and resourced

• Ensure initiatives touching data are gated through: Design Authority, Data Governance Council, CAB, DPIA / Security review
• Enforce programme reporting standards and delivery discipline

• Define measurable outcomes for each wave
• Track and evidence benefits including:

• Reduction in manual reporting and reconciliation
• % certified KPIs vs shadow reporting
• Data quality and completeness trends
• Time-to-insight improvements
• Retention early-warning enablement
• M&A data onboarding time

• Produce ExCo-level reporting and evidence packs
• Clearly articulate: what is live, governed, certified, adopted and scaled
• Surface risks early with mitigation plans

• Manage delivery partners where used
• Own SOW outputs, quality, and acceptance
• Ensure partners follow ISP architecture, data and governance standards

• Propose and manage Data Strategy backlog and sequencing (subject to Portfolio Governance)
• Enforce programme reporting standards and delivery cadence
• Escalate and challenge non-compliance with standards or gating
• Recommend pause or resequencing of work where foundations are at risk

Key Responsibilities (Day-to-Day)

• Maintain integrated plan and dependency map
• Run weekly Data Strategy delivery forum
• Maintain RAID and decision log
• Coordinate Wave planning
• Track benefits and adoption
• Provide input into Portfolio Governance and ExCo reporting

Key Deliverables (First 6 Months)

• Integrated Data Strategy roadmap (Spine, MDM, CDM, KPIs, USP/UCP)
• RAID and dependency map across NetSuite, Workday, iSAMS, HubSpot, EdTech
• Governance operating cadence live
• Data Strategy evidence pack
• Release/change calendar aligned with Service Ops
• Benefits tracking framework

Success Measures / KPIs

• Data Strategy programme live with stable cadence by week 4-6
• Trend improvement in milestone predictability
• X% priority data feeds using governed Spine patterns
• Growing % of certified KPIs used in leadership dashboards
• Reduction in duplicate/conflicting metrics
• Reduction in manual reporting effort

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• 8-10+ years programme delivery on enterprise data / analytics / platform transformations
• Strong dependency and RAID management across complex landscapes
• Comfortable operating in governance-heavy, regulated environments
• Proven experience turning strategy into executed outcomes

Core Competencies

• Execution discipline
• Structured, systems thinking
• Confident escalation
• Clear, crisp communication
• Outcome-first mindset

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.