Head of Data Platform Engineering

This is an exciting opportunity for overall responsibility for the design, build, and maintenance of the Snowflake and Azure enterprise data platform. You will manage platform engineering, quality and governance delivery teams, delivering both projects and BAU activities, aligning to CIO ways of working and co‑ordinating delivery plans with end‑to‑end outcomes across CIO. Next to delivery you will need to focus on a clear understanding of the Hastings strategy and an ability to interpret that into the daily work to push our achievements and support the continued growth of the company.

As a strategic leader the role holder will be expected to work beyond technology to influence decisions and outcomes for the greater good.

• Design, build, and maintain the Snowflake and Azure enterprise data platform.
• Lead platform engineering, quality and governance delivery teams, delivering projects and BAU activities aligned to CIO ways of working.
• Coordinate delivery plans with end‑to‑end outcomes across the CIO organisation.
• Ensure a clear understanding of the Hastings strategy and translate it into daily work to drive achievements and support company growth.
• Data Platform Operations:
  Manage production ETL/ELT pipelines and data orchestration frameworks.
• Ensure data platform security, compliance, and access controls.
• Implement and govern data quality, lineage, observability, and metadata management.
• Ensure the sustainability and scalability of data infrastructure to enable business objectives.
• Data Platform Optimization:
  Ensure the team works efficiently, adopting an agile mindset while respecting budget, resource and quality constraints.
• Collaborate with CIO Fin Ops and all data teams to keep the data platform operating cost within the agreed budget.
• Centre of Excellence:
  Implement a data platform engineering CoE within the PDA community to support all data teams at Hastings in using the Snowflake platform efficiently.
• Coding Standards:
  Create, implement, maintain and enforce coding standards aligned with industry best practices to achieve high‑quality outcomes.

• Proficiency with traditional database and cloud data platform ETL technologies.
• Proficiency with Big Data integration technologies.
• Significant experience of CI/CD, data platform engineering, testing and release principles/best practice.
• Significant experience in a business within a fast‑paced, constantly evolving market.
• Previous experience leading and maintaining a high standard in a business's data engineering department.
• Knowledge/experience working with numerous methodologies and tools.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and proficiency in listening to all audiences and stakeholders.
• Deep passion for research and analysis, outstanding troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills, and the ability to manipulate, interpret, and understand large amounts of data.

• Competitive salary and £6k car allowance.
• Flexible working – championed hybrid working approach.
• Competitive bonus scheme – all colleagues eligible for the annual 4
  
  Cs performance bonus.
• Physical wellbeing – private medical insurance (PMI) for Band5 colleagues.
• Financial wellbeing – life assurance cover, income protection at no extra cost, matched pension contributions up to 10%, discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice and free access to financial wellbeing support.
• Mental wellbeing programme – thrive mental health app, colleague assistance programme available 24/7, in‑house mental health first aiders, support groups and dedicated team.
• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, option to buy or sell a week.
• Access to health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, cycle‑to‑work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and more.

At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us. Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.