Data, MI and Automation Lead

We’re now looking for a highly driven Data, MI and Automation Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping how we use data, insight, and technology to drive operational excellence across our Retail Services & Customer Operations functions.

This is a critical leadership role at the heart of our Business Services team, enabling data-driven decision-making at scale. You’ll act as a trusted partner to senior leaders, using strong stakeholder management skills to translate complex operational data into clear, actionable insight that drives performance improvement, strategic delivery, and better business outcomes.

You’ll bring clarity, pace, and constructive challenge, leading the evolution of our operational data capability, ensuring robust data foundations, governance, and embedding modern, efficient ways of working. You will be responsible for developing and enhancing reporting frameworks, identifying opportunities to optimise performance, and driving a culture where data and insight is at the centre of decision-making.

A key aspect of the role is leading the delivery of data transformation initiatives, ensuring robust and accurate data infrastructure, and leveraging tooling, automation, and AI to modernise processes, improve efficiency, and enhance organisational capability.

As an experienced people leader, you will build, coach, and develop a high-performing team of data, reporting and insight professionals, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation. You will inspire your team to deliver high-quality data & reporting strengthening the capability across the function, and ensuring the business is equipped to make informed decisions that support both operational and strategic objectives.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll be located at our nearest regional office or hub. There will be a need to regularly connect with colleagues for collaboration and in some locations you’ll be expected to spend at least two days a week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, in the office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works.

Nationwide is committed to the redeployment of our employees impacted by change, as such applications for redeployment candidates will be prioritised in this recruitment process.

If you’re a colleague on long-term absence (for example, on parental leave) or a temporary worker, please use your personal email address to submit an application.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 30 days holiday, pro rata

• Access to private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

The hiring manager for this role is Steve Owen and the main recruitment contact is Angela Darbar.

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role, the job title on our internal systems will be Senior Manager - Insight.

What you’ll be doing

This role is responsible for leading operational data, tooling and MI across the function, ensuring leaders have access to accurate, timely, and meaningful data to support decision-making. The successful candidate will own operational reporting requirements, translating complex data into clear and actionable MI while driving the use of automation, AI, and other tools to improve the speed, quality, and accessibility of information across the organisation.

A key focus of the role will be the ongoing optimisation and continuous improvement of our operational data frameworks. You will proactively identify opportunities to improve visibility of data across customer journeys, processes, workflow and workforce performance. Working closely to influence and negotiate with stakeholders across the business, you will ensure reporting and insight capabilities continue to evolve in line with organisational needs.

The role will also lead data transformation initiatives, driving improvements in data quality, governance, and integrity. You will champion the adoption of technology, automation, and AI solutions that enhance reporting capabilities and enable more effective decision-making across the business. You will play a critical role in influencing strategic direction through the effective use of data and insight, ensuring that change initiatives deliver measurable value.

Strong stakeholder management is essential, as you will build and maintain effective relationships with senior leaders and key business functions, acting as a trusted advisor and influencing decision-making at all levels. You will work collaboratively across teams to understand business priorities, support transformation programmes, track benefits realisation, and ensure data-driven insights lead to tangible business outcomes.

In addition, you will lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, creating an environment that encourages collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

You will build organisational capability in data, reporting, and insight while fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance, ensuring your team is equipped to meet both current and future business needs.

About you

You will have:

• Proven experience leading the use of data and insight to drive performance and decision-making within complex operational environments

• Strong track record of delivering data-driven transformation and continuous improvement initiatives

• Demonstrable experience leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams

• Deep understanding of performance metrics, reporting frameworks, and business insight methodologies

• Experience designing and managing data infrastructure, reporting tools, automation solutions, and governance processes

• Proven ability to embed AI and technology solutions that enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and accelerate delivery

• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and challenge senior leaders across the organisation

• Ability to build strong cross-functional relationships and act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.