At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Data Team and drive innovative data services with AI and ML capabilities.
- Company: Join Target, a forward-thinking organisation focused on data-driven success.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 30 days holiday, private medical insurance, and wellness support.
- Other info: Dynamic team culture that values individuality and offers career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data and make a real impact in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Strong experience in Data Management and excellent leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Cardiff / Hybrid | Contract: Permanent
Help us shape the future of data at Target. We’re looking for a visionary, collaborative and strategically minded Head of Data to lead our Data function and drive our journey towards becoming a truly data‑driven organisation. If you’re passionate about transforming how businesses leverage data, and you enjoy leading talented teams to deliver innovative, secure and high‑quality data services, this could be an exceptional next step in your career.
In this role, you’ll sit as a key member of the IT leadership team, setting the direction of our data strategy and ensuring the quality, integrity and value of the data services that underpin Target’s success and that of our clients.
What you’ll be leading
- Data Architecture – shaping and evolving our future-state data architecture, scanning the horizon for opportunities to innovate.
- Data Management – ensuring data accuracy, high‑quality CAIS reporting and effective data housekeeping.
- Data Warehouse – managing secure, scalable data warehouse capabilities for Target and our clients.
- Data Migration – onboarding new client data with accuracy, integrity and full lineage into Target platforms.
- Analytics & Reporting – delivering timely operational and regulatory reporting, while developing next‑generation analytics capabilities.
A major focus of the role will be to build AI and ML capability into the organisation, positioning data as a powerful enabler of both insight and revenue growth.
What it’s like to be part of the team
The Data Team is at the heart of Target. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across Technology, IT Services & Operations, Change, Security and our Solutions Teams — as well as directly with our clients — to shape services that truly make an impact. Our team brings deep expertise and a passion for partnership. You’ll find an environment where collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement are celebrated. You’ll receive regular feedback in 1:1s, recognition through our My Recognition platform, and space to grow your skills and career. We care about wellbeing, we embrace technology, and we love creating a positive, fun and supportive place to work.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead and develop the Data Team, building capability for new technologies.
- Manage stakeholders effectively whilst embedding AI/ML across all data services.
- Shape the blueprint for future data services and align data architecture with business and tech needs.
- Define data requirements, monitor industry trends and deliver insights and recommendations to clients.
- Manage projects, budgets and resources whilst ensuring security‑ and privacy‑by‑design.
- Influence reporting and analytics for change whilst driving standardisation and optimisation.
- Support commercial modelling and vendor management whilst setting and enforcing standards and governance.
- Centralise and streamline reporting whilst driving automation and efficiency.
- Act as technical authority for data solutions.
Requirements
What you’ll bring
Skills & Personal Qualities
- An experienced leader capable of managing teams across BAU and change.
- A clear, confident communicator skilled at translating technical and business concepts.
- Logical, methodical and inquisitive — always seeking improvement.
- Commercially minded and committed to continuous learning.
- Skilled at building strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
Experience & Qualifications
- Strong experience in Data Management, Data Governance and Business Intelligence.
- A track record of delivering solutions that improve data integrity and accuracy.
- Advanced capability in tools such as SSRS, Power BI (including DAX), Fabric and related technologies.
- Experience using data to drive business performance improvement.
- The ability to work with SMEs to gather and refine complex data requirements.
Benefits
Why join us?
- A varied, interesting workload across multiple clients and products.
- A supportive team culture that values individuality and wellbeing.
- A chance to contribute directly to risk management and customer protection.
- Opportunities to grow your knowledge and progress your career.
- Regular feedback, recognition and development support.
We also offer industry leading benefits including:
- Competitive Salary of up to £80,000 per annum.
- 30 days holiday entitlement plus bank holidays.
- Defined Pension Contribution Scheme (Employer matched up to 6%). Plus, option to contribute via Salary Exchange (alternatively known as Salary Sacrifice).
- Employee Discount Scheme, access to discounts and offers across 100s of leading retailers. Plus, cashback on purchases.
- Company Paid Private Medical Insurance (benefit in kind).
- Group Life Assurance.
- Group Income Protection.
- Discretionary Annual Pay Review.
- Discretionary Annual Bonus Scheme.
- Loyal Service Scheme.
- Help@Hand – Confidential access to health and wellbeing support to include Employee Assistance Program.
- Free Flu Vaccinations, Eye Tests and employer contribution towards glasses.
- Recognition Scheme.
- Free Mortgage Advice and Support.
- Wisdom Wellbeing, your go to for wellbeing resources and solutions.
- Everest Funeral Concierge.
- Free Bereavement and Probate Advice and Support.
- Access to a GP 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through GP24.
- Paid eye tests and employer contribution towards spectacles specifically for VDU use. You can also select other benefits, we cover the upfront cost and make monthly deductions from your pay, interest free!
- Technology Buying Scheme.
- Discounted Gym Memberships.
- Taste Card / Coffee Club Membership.
- Charitable Payroll Giving.
- Cycle to work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice).
Ready to lead the future of data at Target? We’d love to hear from you. Apply today!
Head of Data in Cardiff employer: Target
At Target, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work culture that values innovation and collaboration. As the Head of Data, you'll lead a talented team in Cardiff, driving impactful data strategies while enjoying industry-leading benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a commitment to employee wellbeing. Join us to shape the future of data in a positive and engaging environment where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Data in Cardiff
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Data in Cardiff
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!
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Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at Target, 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 Target. 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 Target
✨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!
✨Showcase Your Projects
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 Target!
✨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.
