Director of Data

Director of Data

We’re On the Beach, one of the UK’s biggest travel technology businesses sending over 1.5 million people on their perfect beach holiday every year.

We believe there should be an alternative to the legacy tour operators and travel agents. We are focused on solving problems with innovation and cutting edge scalable technology.​

At On the Beach we are committed to leveraging data insights to drive business growth and innovation. As a result we are seeking an experienced Director of Data Science and Analytics to lead our data function / capability.

Our data teams are currently embedded in functions and consist of talented data scientists, analysts and engineers.





The primary purpose of this role is to centralise and lead our data capabilities alongside developing an organisational data strategy.

This role will involve collaborating with cross-functional teams, leveraging advanced data analytics, and implementing best practices to drive data-driven decision-making and optimise business performance. Our current data stack includes Databricks on AWS, Looker, and Power BI.

As well as leading the Data team(s), this person will be a key member of our wider leadership team and will be responsible for the clear articulation of our data strategy to our employees.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

- Develop and implement a data strategy that aligns with our goals and objectives.
- Lead the centralisation of functional data capabilities to ensure consistency, accuracy, and accessibility of data.
- Advocate for a data-driven culture within the organisation, promoting the value of data and analytics in decision making.

Data Management and Governance:

- Establish and maintain data governance frameworks, policies,





and standards to ensure quality, security, and compliance.
- Oversee the integration and management of data from multiple sources, ensuring a single source of truth.
- Implement data management best practices and tools to enhance data accessibility and usability.

Team Leadership and Development:

- Consolidate, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of data scientists, analysts, and data engineers.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative environment, encouraging continuous learning and professional development.
- Set clear goals and performance expectations, providing regular feedback and coaching to team members.
- Manage teams across different geographic locations, ensuring effective communication and collaboration in a hybrid working environment.







Advanced Analytics and Insights:

- Leverage advanced analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to generate actionable insights and predictive models.
- Collaborate with business leaders to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop dashboards and reports using Looker and Power BI to monitor business performance.
- Provide strategic recommendations based on data analysis to drive business growth and operational efficiency.

Technology and Tools:

- Evaluate and implement data tools and technologies, including Databricks on AWS.
- Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Ensure the scalability and reliability of data infrastructure.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

- Partner with Product & Engineering​,





Marketing, Finance, Operations, and other departments to align data initiatives with business priorities.
- Communicate complex data concepts and insights to non-technical stakeholders.
- Drive cross-functional projects and initiatives that leverage data to achieve business objectives.

Leadership Team Participation:

- Serve as a key member of the wider leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy and decision-making.
- Clearly articulate the data strategy to employees, ensuring understanding and alignment across the organisation.

Qualifications:

- 10+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or a related field, with a proven track record of leading data-driven initiatives and teams.
- Strong knowledge of data management,





governance, and analytics tools and technologies, including Databricks on AWS, Looker, and Power BI.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business goals into data strategies.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a results-oriented mindset.
- Experience managing teams across different geographic locations in a hybrid working environment.

Ways of Working:

- Our full-time hours are 37.5 per week, but we don't have rigid working hours so you can find the working pattern that's right for you. We have core working hours between 10 am - 4 pm, so we can collaborate and enjoy the social side of work.






- We also have hybrid working, allowing you to work both from home and from our Aeroworks office in Manchester City Centre.

What to Expect from Our Interview Process:

- This will be a multi stage interview process on Microsoft Teams and in person where you will get the opportunity to sit down with our leadership function to discuss elements of Data, Tech and of course commercial acumen and goals.
- We want to make sure everybody has the opportunity to perform at their best. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the interview process, please let the People team know, and they will be happy to assist.

Our benefits

We might be biased but we think our colleagues are pretty great.





They're the people that have made On the Beach what it is today and continue to make it vibrant and successful tomorrow. That's why we offer a competitive benefits package, known as our Beach Perks, to all On the Beach colleagues. These include:

· 25 days holiday plus your birthday off

· Generous discount on holidays plus you will receive 2 extra days annual leave on top of your holiday allowance to use whilst you're away on your On the Beach package holiday

· ​Flexible working hours and hybrid working

· Access to Learnerbly learning platform, plus workshops, courses and professional qualifications

· Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption pay, plus other family friendly support

· Employee Assistance Programme and free access to counselling

· Eye care vouchers







· Simplyhealth Optimise Health Plan

· Company Sick Pay scheme

· Regular wellbeing events

· Gym discount

· Share Incentive Plan (SIP)

· Death in Service cover

· Onsite subsidised coffee shop

· The Sandbox (our very own bar)

· Food and drink discounts across a number of venues in Manchester City Centre

· Regular social events

· Cycle to Work scheme

▶️ Director of Data
🖊️ On The Beach
📍 Manchester