Head of Data

The department

The IT department has approximately 60 staff globally, located in London, Paris, Piraeus, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Sao Paulo, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, and Sydney.

HFW’s Information Technology team’s vision is to deliver a responsive and continuously evolving technology platform, underpinned by a secure, global infrastructure with data and process at its core.

The role

The Head of Data will collaborate with Partners and staff across the Firm to develop and deliver a data strategy that will manage data risks and exploit opportunities, enhance operational efficiency, and support strategic business growth.

The role will lead and manage tactical and strategic projects and initiatives concerning master data (single sources of truth), integrations, data classifications, hierarchies, glossaries and cleansing.

The role will also evangelise and educate Partners and staff on data, establishing a ‘data culture’.

A good understanding of the operation of a global law Firm or professional services organisation is required, which must be combined with a process and people change-oriented approach.

Key responsibilities

• Establish and chair a data governance group, implementing a robust governance framework to enforce data standards, and proactively mitigate against regulatory and reputational risk in a scalable way.
• Identify and deliver changes to ensure data quality and effective system integration, thereby enhancing the accuracy and consistency of data across all systems to support better reporting, better decision-making, and greater operational efficiency.
• Work closely with the Firm’s Information Governance Manager to standardise and maintain data related policies, e.g. data retention and usage.
• Collaborate with the Change Manager and Learning and Development team to ensure that Partners and staff are clear on the purpose and value of data.
• Identify and address data-related process improvements, delivering efficiencies, e.g. through automation, and addressing risk.
• Foster a data culture that supports compliance, standardised processes, data management, data-driven innovation, and technology adoption.
• Identify, recruit and manage data resources, as required.

Key skills and experience required

• At least 3 years’ experience in a similar senior role in a legal or comparable professional services organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of liaising with and influencing up to C-suite and Partners.
• Able to effectively translate and accurately communicate technology matters to senior technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Able to manage stakeholders’ expectations when delivering complex change to deadlines.
• Commercially aware, with a results oriented, pragmatic approach.
• Professional manner, with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively.
• Inquisitive and tenacious, with an ability to challenge constructively where and when appropriate.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Flexible with regard to working hours – normal office hours are between 9.30am and 5.30pm.

Additional Information

Kindly note that this job description is not contractual. It will be reviewed periodically and may be amended or altered to meet the needs of the firm.

HFW aims to ensure equality of opportunity, and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. All applications will be considered only on merit and the applicant’s suitability to meet the requirements of the role.

HFW collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants to manage its recruitment process. The firm is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations. For information on how the firm will process your data, please see our Privacy Notice on our website, in the section “What we collect and how we use it”.