Data Specialist

Location: Newport/Cardiff/Agile
Salary: From £58,000 Per Annum
Hours Per Week: 35
Closing Date: 16/04/2025 23:59
Expiry Date: 16/04/2025 23:59

We’re on an exciting transformation journey, with data at its core. As our new Data Specialist, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping our strategy, ensuring we harness data to drive better decision-making, enhance efficiency, and improve customer outcomes.

This role will be a Transformation requirement in the first instance, initially focused on driving data-led change across the organisation while establishing long-term, sustainable improvements. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a data-focused transformation while embedding a culture of data-driven thinking across the Society.

What will we offer you?  

Firstly, what will we offer you as a one of our valued colleagues?

  • 28 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays PLUS a day off on your birthday to help you celebrate!
  • Opportunity to purchase additional holidays.
  • A commitment to your ongoing training and development including a rotational development programme.
  • Up to 14 hours of paid Society leave to volunteer for a local community initiative.
  • ‘Dress for your Day’ approach when in the office.
  • Various health and wellbeing benefits such as 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme, subsidised flu jabs and eye tests.
  • Private healthcare (subject to selection & completion of medical disclosure form).
  • Personal health cash plan and dental cover (subject to selection).
  • Life Assurance – 4 times your basic salary life cover, along with critical illness cover.
  • Generous Stakeholder Pension Scheme – where the Society contributes a massive 10% on top of your 3% contribution!

What will you be doing?

As a Data Specialist, you’ll lead our data strategy and governance, ensuring data is well-managed, secure, and accessible to the right people. You’ll work closely with senior leaders to implement a robust data governance framework and develop business intelligence solutions that empower teams across the organisation. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll drive innovative approaches to data management and analytics.

Your key tasks and responsibilities will include:

  • Leading the development and implementation of the Society’s data strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Establishing and overseeing a new data governance framework to improve data quality, security, and compliance.
  • Driving the adoption of business intelligence tools, such as Power BI, to enhance reporting and analytics capabilities.
  • Collaborating with senior stakeholders to ensure data-driven decision-making is embedded across the organisation.
  • Supporting the automation of data extraction and reporting processes to enhance efficiency.
  • Identifying and implementing modern data technologies that improve our data infrastructure and capabilities.
  • Fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

What type of person will you need to be?

You’ll be a proactive and strategic thinker, passionate about leveraging data to drive positive change. With a natural ability to translate complex data concepts into meaningful insights, you’ll be comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels. As a strong leader, you’ll inspire and develop your team while championing a data-driven culture across the organisation. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple priorities with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.

Essential qualifications and experience:

  • Proven experience in a senior data, analytics, or governance role, preferably within financial services.
  • Strong understanding of data governance principles, data quality management, metadata management, and data security.
  • Experience in designing and implementing data governance frameworks, policies, and best practices.
  • Proficiency in business intelligence tools such as Power BI, SQL, and cloud-based data platforms.
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex data concepts to non-technical audiences.
  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead cultural change in how data is used and governed within an organisation.
  • Experience with data architecture, ETL/ELT processes, especially in Azure solutions.

Desirable qualifications and experience:

  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements related to data management in financial services (e.g., GDPR, FCA regulations).
  • Familiarity with programming languages such as Python or R for data analytics.
  • Understanding of delivery methodologies and data governance operating models.
  • Experience building end-to-end ETL pipelines in Azure.
  • Experience with Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Factory and Databricks.
  • Experience with PySpark or equivalent distributed data processing systems e.g. Apache Spark in Scala/Java

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of data at the Society and make a meaningful impact. If you’re ready to be part of a forward-thinking, data-driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you!  

Additional information:

We’re committed to diversity and equal opportunity and as an inclusive employer, we encourage applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/long term health condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing) and any other protected characteristic.

Just let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment processes, we’ll try to accommodate them.

We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.

Our roles often generate a lot of interest and can close early so don't miss out this opportunity to apply!

Personal data held by the Monmouthshire Building Society relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with GDPR regulations our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

Monmouthshire Building Society values the diversity that all sections of the community can bring to our Society, we welcome applications from everyone who shares our values.

As a financial services organisation regulated by the PRA and FCA our staff must be honest, financially sound and maintain high levels of competence and capability in their role. Therefore our pre-employment checks include adverse credit checks and criminal records checks (DBS checks) at a basic disclosure level for the majority of roles but at the standard level for certain roles.