Head of Data Insights and Analytics

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 433543

**Salary**:

- £57,515
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Grade 7

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- MCA - Corporate Services

**Type of role**:

- Analytical
Architecture and Data
Information Technology

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Southampton

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
Are you ready to lead a high-impact analytics team shaping the future of maritime and coastal safety?

Can you turn complex data into powerful insights that drive strategic decisions?

Can you confidently engage with senior stakeholders and challenge decisions to drive better outcomes?

If so, we’d love to hear from you

Join the Data and Analytics team at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), where we are transforming how data is used to save lives and ensure safer, more sustainable seas. Our team is at the forefront of data innovation, supporting critical and strategic decision-making across the organisation.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

**Job description**:
As Head of Data Insights and Analytics, you will lead the provision of strategic insights, drive self-serve analytics and manage diverse analytical projects. You will ensure data quality, consistency, and strategic value, overseeing the development and lifecycle of data products that inform decisions. As a trusted analytics authority, you will mentor teams, promote best practices, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to align insights with business goals and deliver measurable impact. Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

- ** Define and lead** the strategic direction for data insights and analytics across the MCA, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and the wider data strategy.
- ** Establish and embed** a culture of evidence-based decision-making by championing the use of high-quality, timely, and actionable insights.
- ** Direct and oversee** the development and delivery of analytical products and services that inform strategic, operational and policy decisions using Agile methodology.
- ** Shape and manage** the lifecycle of data products, ensuring they are robust, well-governed, and deliver measurable value.
- ** Lead and develop** a high-performing team of analysts, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment that supports professional growth and continuous improvement.
- ** Influence, advise and challenge** senior stakeholders on the strategic use of data, translating complex analytical findings into clear, impactful narratives.
- ** Champion** the visibility of data successes, promote the data portfolio, and support a stronger data culture through education and engagement.
- ** Collaborate** with the Heads of Data Engineering, Data Science, and Data Governance to ensure data pipelines, platforms, and models are optimised for analytical use and well-governed.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile_. _Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

**Person specification**:
Required experience:
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

- Proven experience in designing and creating high-value analytics products using Agile methodologies.
- Demonstrable experience in leading analytical teams and delivering insights that inform strategic decisions.
- Strong technical background in data analysis and visualisation, using technologies like SQL, Python, and Power BI.
- Experience working with stakeholders to define analytic