Head of Development and Data

Location

Preston, Lancashire | United Kingdom

Job description

The Head of Development and Data will be responsible for leading and managing the function within the Expleo Digital Team with a focus on our Engineering customers. This role requires a strategic and hands-on approach to drive decision-making, deliver actionable insights, and enhance business performance for our clients. The successful candidate will lead a team of developers, data experts, analysts, and engineers, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions and drive growth opportunities. You will have a technical background, also have a strong commercial understanding that translates into proposing and building solutions for our customers within the Aero, Rail, Marine and Defence, Auto and Technology sectors.

• Leadership:
  • Set out the strategy and roadmap for this business unit, working closely with the Director of Digital, and driving execution of these plans.
  • Support the Director in developing department business plans, workforce and learning and development plans
  • Manage budgets and resources to ensure we can deliver to the changing needs of clients, including cost control, awareness of margins and ensuring return on investments.
  • Lead consulting teams to drive continuous improvement and knowledge transfer across teams to provide a seamless service to our clients
  • Ensure top talent is attracted into the Software Development and Data Service areas, clear objectives are agreed and set, and both technical and personal capability plans are in place for all employees.
• Service Innovation:
  • Lead the service innovation for Software Development and Data services, ensuring that Expleo remains best in class and that all solutions are fit for purpose and in-line with client demand and Company's long term strategy
  • Create, publish and deliver against a well-defined and signed off service roadmap
  • Responsible for building, maintaining and extending awareness of the service amongst the business and the internal consultant community
  • Actively promote the service more broadly, both in Expleo (UK and internationally) and externally, be recognised as the associated spokesperson/expert and can evidence this with outside contacts/talks
  • Deliver white papers or blogs that add further insight and thought in the solution area
• Delivery:
  • Be a key part in the bid process
  • Map customer requirements and have strategic leadership with technical expertise
  • Accountable for the delivery of services of your business unit to our clients.
  • Develop all services within Software Development and Data and support their delivery to the allocated budget.
  • Present service performance information through regular service reviews and reports
  • Responsible for delivery of high-quality client solutions, ensuring all clients & projects are properly scoped, completed on or ahead of schedule, costs are managed to budget, and customer expectations are exceeded
  • Develop strong relationships with peers to ensure all service lines are provided in accordance with Expleo best practice processes
  • Support the tender management process by owing the service input for tenders and sales pitches as delegated by the Market Unit Directors and / or Directors.
  • Leverages Company global assets, actively promotes off shore delivery in line with the business strategy.
• Business Development:
  • Translate client requirements into actionable proposals, solutions and presentations. This role is key to leading the sales effort within the Digital team.
  • Identifies opportunities to grow our revenue streams with new or existing clients, working closely with our Sales Directors, Bid Manager and Service Directors.
  • Plays a key role in the pre-sales process.
  • Lead activities to develop a growing revenue stream with an agreed gross profit margin
  • Explores and acts upon new business opportunities
  • Develops and leverages existing business or client networks, current contacts, business relationships and opportunities to make an immediate impact 
  • Creates and maintains an engagement pipeline to ensure that revenue and margin targets are met.
• Talent Management:
  • Responsible for resourcing, pre-sales and local/global collaboration within associated service.
  • Define and deliver a well-defined and signed off workforce plan for your service area
  • Support HR with assessing talent and capabilities within the appropriate workforce plan and attract new talent required for the size and future growth of the business
  • In conjunction with HR fully support the performance and talent/development management programme.
• Personal Development:
  • Ensure own skills and knowledge of the industry are current through informal and formal learning
  • Represent, and be an ambassador for Expleo at external events
  • Be a constructive contributor to senior the management team to advance the success of the Delivery service and deliver against strategic objectives
  • Act as a role-model and a proactive member of the Expleo community contributing to the continuous development of the organisation and its employees

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience (e.g., Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Business Analytics). Advanced degree preferred

• Excellent client-facing skills
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the Software Development, Data and the IT services industry
• Strong understanding of the complexities of Software Development outsourcing
• People management skills
• Team work and emotional intelligence
• Good self-management – continuous performance is both an objective and a mind-set
• Has an innovative approach – a bold thinker and doer, matching creativity with vigilance

• Proven experience in a leadership role within data and analytics, preferably in a consulting or professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of data management, analytics, and visualization techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute data strategies that drive business outcomes.
• Proficiency in data manipulation, statistical analysis, and data modelling tools (e.g., Python, R, SQL, Tableau, Power BI).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a track record of building and leading high-performing teams.
• Familiarity with data privacy and compliance regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) is desirable.

• Must be eligibale to work in the UK
• Ability to travel to sites across the UK, primarily Midlands and London.

• Collaborative working environment – we stand shoulder to shoulder with our clients and ours peers through good times and challenges
• 25 days annual leave (increased to 27 after 2 years of service)
• Access to discounts and offers through my Expleo benefits
• Expleo academy - enables you to acquire and develop the right skills by delivering a suite of accredited training courses
• Competitive company benefits such as medical and dental insurance, pension, life assurance, employee well being programme, sports and social events, birthday hampers and much more
• Enhanced maternity and paternity, adoption and shared parental leave package
• Flexible, blended working model
• Full details of the package on offer will be revealed once we receive your application.

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”. 

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