Head of Data Strategy - c.£900 p/day - Manufacturing - Hybrid

Interim Head of Data Management / Data Strategy - c.£900 (Outside IR35) - 9 months - Hybrid Investigo are supporting a leading manufacturing & Distribution organisation with the appointment of an experienced Interim Data Management & Strategy Consultant to play a pivotal role in shaping the organisation's future data capability.

Outside IR359 Months1 day per week on-site (East Midland)£850 - £900 p/day DOESeptember 7th start date This is not a traditional project delivery role. You'll work directly with senior leadership to build the data foundations required to enable enterprise-wide transformation, maximise a major ERP investment and create the platform for future automation and AI initiatives.

The Opportunity

The business has ambitious plans to modernise operations, automate manual processes, improve decision making and leverage AI technologies. Before those ambitions can be realised, the organisation needs to establish the core foundations of effective data management.

We're looking for someone who has done exactly this before. You'll assess the current state, define the future operating model and then work alongside the business to implement it.

This is a highly visible role working directly with senior stakeholders, helping shape how data is owned, governed and managed across the organisation.

What you'll be responsible for

• Conduct an enterprise-wide assessment of the organisations current data management capability
• Assess existing governance, ownership, policies, standards and processes
• Design an appropriate Data Governance Framework suited to a manufacturing organisation
• Define enterprise-wide Data Ownership and Data Stewardship models
• Develop a pragmatic Data Operating Model that enables future transformation
• Establish governance forums, decision-making structures and accountability
• Define data policies, standards, validation rules and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Recommend approaches to improving data quality and implementing ongoing monitoring
• Build a sustainable governance capability using existing business resources where possible
• Work alongside ERP and transformation teams to ensure governance is embedded into future initiatives
• Support implementation of the governance framework rather than simply producing strategic recommendations
• Engage senior business stakeholders across manufacturing, operations, supply chain, warehousing, logistics and corporate functions
• Drive organisational change and embed new ways of working across the business

What we're looking for

• Enterprise Data Governance
• Data Management Operating Models
• Data Strategy
• Data Ownership & Stewardship
• Data Quality Frameworks
• Master Data Management
• Business Change
• Stakeholder Management at Executive level
• Building governance capabilities from the ground up
• Implementing governance, not just designing it

Essential experience

• Manufacturing
• Engineering
• Industrial organisations
• Supply Chain
• Warehousing & Distribution

A strong understanding of manufacturing data domains including Bills of Materials (BOMs), production, inventory, procurement and supply chain processes will be essential.

About you

You'll be someone who is comfortable operating at board and executive level while also working closely with operational teams.

You'll bring credibility, challenge existing ways of working and have the confidence to influence senior stakeholders across the business.

We're looking for someone who has successfully built governance capabilities within organisations before and can balance strategic thinking with hands-on implementation.

This is not a role for someone who simply delivers reports or PowerPoint presentations.

We're looking for someone who will help embed lasting change across the organisation.