VP Data Engineering

Role & responsibilities

• You will work with teams across technology to identify, design and deliver transformation/cloud enablement usecases to improve efficiency and add capability & value to the business.
• You will head the data engineering across your verticals on the data platforms
• You will contribute to growth of creating data products ensuring high data standards of quality
• You will work with other core teams in the org for delivery, security compliance, governance , data architecture, embracing new tech and best practices.
• Drive the best use of our strategic technology with our stakeholders in conjunction with the Leads across Life, Wealth & CFT.
• Ensure key processes and controls are in place, fully documented and operate with enough cover to give assurance of system availability to meet deadlines and business demands including management of regression testing to ensure functionality is maintained following regular patching and upgrade cycles across the platform.
• Manage the service and small change within the Enterprise Data Platform Hydra & Kronos.
• Ensure a consistently high-quality level of service and support is provided to the data platform stakeholders
• Help to lead system and process improvements and upgrades to existing products working with the wider IT and security teams and our stakeholders across CFT. This will include leadership of the prioritisation process for development work on the Data and MI CFT platforms, ensuring upcoming work is pushed through the front door process.

Additional Responsibilities :

• Ensure that established M&G SDLC practices are followed across all platforms including the use of appropriate tools to support version control and requirement traceability (e.g. DevOps, JIRA, segregation of duties)
• Proactively look for opportunities to make enhancements and improvements to data platforms, reporting and data analytics capabilities to drive increased efficiency and productivity
• Ensure future developments are accepted into service and relevant teams built or enhanced to ensure applications are supported.

Preferred candidate profile

Knowledge & Skills (Must Have) :

• Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake Storage V2, Azure SQL , Azure DataBricks, Pyspark, Azure DevOps , Power BI and other emerging tech
• Technical leadership
• In depth understanding of IT solutions, technology and architecture
• Comprehensive understanding of the IT environment
• Familiarity with Agile delivery methodologies
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and spoken
• In depth understanding of business processes and how business processes work

Knowledge & Skills (Additional) :

• Solid technical and analytical skills, with ability to interpret & present data clearly
• Practical knowledge of IT service management e.g. ITIL3/4 and related toolsets (Preferred)
• Strong leader, able to achieve through influence and experience
• A self-confident, optimistic self-starter with a positive attitude and a can-do” approach.
• Must have the ability to operate in a coaching manner. Friendly, approachable and collaborative team player who enjoys working with people from across the firm.
• Must be responsive, approachable, down-to-earth, candid and straightforward.
• Must have the stature, maturity, intellect and commercial acumen to work effectively and inspire confidence with the team, as well as externally with advisors and business partners.
• Unquestioned ethics and integrity with the ability to act as a culture carrier and change agent
• Effective communicator to senior levels in matrix organisation setup
• Strong analytical, numeric and critical reasoning skills capable of delivering practical solutions to complex problems

Experience:

• Solid and relevant experience, in and outside the UK / Europe, in a senior technology and change role within financial services or insurance industry.
• Experience of working in regulatory environments – especially life and pensions
• Experience of implementing Data and MI systems on cloud
• Prior experience of implementing organisational strategy for technology, specifically relating to design and operating models to ensure suitable business alignment, as well as efficient and effective technology service delivery
• Strong people management and communication skills and a mindset focused on ensuring our stakeholders get the best levels of service.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands across the CFT landscape

Educational Qualification:

• Graduate/Post-graduate. Preferably with specialisation in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Engineering or related discipline

Microsoft Azure certification (good to have)