Data & Insights Project Consultant (12-month FTC) - Smart Recruiters in London

The opportunity: This position will be the Talent Insights & Analytics Subject Matter Expert for a critical new system launch within the Talent ecosystem. This role will work closely with the core project team and will own the Data & Insights development. The consultant will lead data discovery, architecture assimilation, capability assessment, and insights enablement for the new platform, translating business and talent requirements into a clear data scope, roadmap, and initial insights capability. The role will work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver foundational data pipelines, data assets, reports, and insights to support system launch and early adoption. The focus is on establishing data readiness, accelerating time-to-value, and enabling a sustainable handover to steady-state teams post-launch.

The position is responsible for overseeing the delivery of core reports and insights, including BAU reports, compliance/legal reporting, strategic reporting, ad hoc analysis, technical/complex requests, management reporting, and cross-functional report development, ensuring that all outputs meet established quality and timeliness standards. The consultant will also proactively develop and manage dashboards, lead and serve as a critical escalation point for Data Engineers, Data & Insight developers, and facilitate access to and transformation of data necessary for reporting and dashboard creation.

Essential Functions of the role:

• Establish Talent data and insights readiness for the new system at launch.
• Define and deliver the data & insights scope, roadmap, and priorities.
• Build foundational data engineering pipelines, data assets, and core reporting.
• Act as the single point of accountability for TIA input into the program.
• Enable a clean transition to core Data & Insights teams.
• Oversee the delivery of core reports and insights, ensuring adherence to quality and time standards.
• Manage complex, ad hoc report analytics requests, leveraging analytics expertise to meet client needs.
• Support the implementation of advanced and predictive reporting techniques for Talent Executive teams.
• Provide integrated and standardized data reports and dashboards to enhance insights.
• Implement processes to monitor health of reports, data accuracy and relevance, driving continuous improvement in reporting practices.
• Collaborate with resources across multiple teams/groups, and ensure consistent delivery of various reporting types, including BAU, compliance, strategic, and ad-hoc analyses.
• Configure and create new data/reporting solutions to meet operational and management demands.
• Utilize advanced technical skills in SQL, Power BI, Python to develop and optimize reporting solutions.
• Partner with data engineers to define transformations, semantic layers, and access patterns.
• Manage reporting portfolios, prioritizing requests based on business impact and resource availability.
• Engage with clients to gather feedback on reporting outputs and make necessary adjustments to enhance value.

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities:

• Work as a core member of the program team, representing TIA across design, build, and testing phases.
• Act as the primary analytics SME interface with product owners, system integrators/vendors, data platform team, and talent stakeholders.
• Proactively surface data-related risks, dependencies, and decision points.
• Discover and document the existing data model, architecture, and integration points.
• Assess data availability, quality, lineage, and gaps against Talent reporting and analytics needs.
• Partner with ET, Data Strategy, System vendors, platform teams, and data engineers to validate end-to-end data flows.
• Translate system architecture into insights-ready data designs.
• Define the insights and reporting scope aligned to system launch and business priorities.
• Develop a phased data & insights roadmap (launch / post-launch / stabilization).
• Identify minimum viable reporting, critical metrics, and priority insights for Day-1 readiness.
• Ensure alignment with enterprise data standards, governance, and security requirements.
• Share market insights and review findings with key stakeholders/networks influencing change as required.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements:

• Strong experience in data discovery and analytics enablement during system implementations.
• Proven ability to translate system data models into insights-ready designs.
• Hands-on experience with SQL, Power BI, Python, etc.
• Strong understanding of Talent, HR and a consulting mindset with comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Ability to influence without authority and work across global, matrixed teams.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and expectation management skills.
• Strong business acumen – ability to understand Digital landscape and to consider the functionality and integration requirements in line with the capabilities required to implement reporting and data priorities.
• Ability to participate effectively in virtual teams and networks across diverse and dispersed geographies.
• Proactive consulting skills that drive business impact; able to interpret functional/technological requirements and, where prioritized, co-create the most relevant, pragmatic approach.
• Strong communication skills for sharing thought leadership across EY and externally to enhance EY reputation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail – the ability to operate within budget and effective time frames.
• Strong research and analytical skills to track and interpret trending directions for designing the reporting and analytics solutions and to identify potential future options.
• Significant ability to cope with ambiguity; drive change and performance outcomes in a complex and agile environment.

Supervision Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage resources across multiple teams across Talent Insights & Analytics teams without supervisory reporting to contribute coherently.
• Oversee the delivery from team members, setting clear expectations, conducting regular evaluations, and providing constructive feedback to enhance individual and team productivity.
• Manage resource allocation within the team, ensuring that workloads are balanced and that team members are effectively utilized to meet operational demands and project deadlines.
• Collaborate with extended teams to ensure effective execution of technology implementation, drive quality and performance standards.
• Work closely with the teams across the Digital and wider Talent Functions for configuration, development, testing, and implementation of technological solutions that support business and functional delivery.
• Ability to develop people, skills in coaching, mentoring, and learning on the job.
• Effectiveness in building trust, respect, and cooperation among teams.

Other Responsibilities:

• Due to the global nature of the role; travel and willingness to work alternative hours will be required.
• Due to the global nature of the role; English language skills – excellent written and verbal communication will be required.

Experiences:

• Experience in delivering functional reporting solutions for business.
• Experience of supporting reporting capabilities and its implementation (SAP, Oracle, SuccessFactors, custom solutions) in a relevant industry or consulting environment.
• Experience of having worked on reporting and analytics solutions and its delivery.
• Demonstrable experience of collaborating with talent colleagues to understand needs/requirements and of underlying reporting and data governance processes & systems.
• Experience of participating in global dispersed teams to enhance services, processes, and standards.
• Demonstrable experience of working in fast-paced, ambiguous, stressful environments to deliver required results.
• Demonstrable experience of working with third-party vendors/external system implementors to deliver reporting solutions.
• Demonstrable experience of anticipating issues and challenges and proactively working to navigate challenges.
• Experience of conducting internal and external research and analysis, providing best practices and insights to drive improvements.
• Demonstrable experience of having worked in a collaborative environment or provide SMR advice to achieve successful change outcomes.

What we offer you:

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognised for the value you bring to the business. Our Total Rewards package includes a discretionary bonus program, comprehensive medical, prescription drug and dental coverage, a defined contribution pension plan, a great vacation policy plus firm paid days throughout the year, statutory holidays, paid personal days and a range of exciting programs and benefits designed to support your physical, financial, and social well-being.

Support and coaching from some of the most engaging colleagues in the industry. Learning opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career. The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you.

Additional compensation details: base salary range for this job in the US is $145,500 to $280,000; for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) the base range is $174,500 to $318,200. Incentives, pension and 401(k) plans, and paid time off are included.