Data Programme Manager in London

ISP Data Programme Manager – Data StrategyRole ProfilePurpose of RoleOwn 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 PrinciplesBegin 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 ResponsibilitiesEnterprise 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

Delivery Orchestration & Cadence

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

Governance, Gating & Controls

Ensure initiatives touching data are gated through: Design Authority, Data Governance Council, CAB, DPIA / Security review

Enforce programme reporting standards and delivery discipline

Value & Benefits Realisation

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

Executive Transparency

Produce ExCo-level reporting and evidence packs

Clearly articulate: what is live, governed, certified, adopted and scaled

Surface risks early with mitigation plans

Partner & Vendor Management

Manage delivery partners where used

Own SOW outputs, quality, and acceptance

Ensure partners follow ISP architecture, data and governance standards

Decision Rightsn 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 PrinciplesISP 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 BelongingISP 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.

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