Director, Product Data at BBC

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• The Director, Product Data has responsibility for the definition and delivery of the BBC’s data strategy within Product Group and leadership of the BBC’s digital product-specific AI, Machine Learning, Metadata, Data Governance, Data Analytics and Data Management capabilities, leading a large, multifunctional, technically-biased team.

WHY JOIN THE TEAM

The Product Data function is pivotal to the BBC’s strategic future, united behind embedding data expertise across product teams and building insightful data products and insights. With a newly defined Product Strategy that translates into tangible problem statements and initiatives an ambition for expanded engagement of younger audiences, keeping pace with shifting media behaviours, this is an especially exciting function and time to join a truly purpose-driven organisation. You will lead the maturity development of the BBC’s approach to the governance, security, quality and completeness of its data. It is a heavily collaborative role not only within Product Group but with peers and stakeholders in the Chief Customer Officer Group and Technology Group. They will lead and engage a large, high-performing team to achieve this.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT:

• With the support of your own leadership team and leadership peers, be accountable to and work in support of the Director, Engineering & Data in the leadership of a strategically focused, high-performing data organisation.
• Accountable for the definition and application of the BBC’s Data Strategy within Product Group in collaboration with a high-performing and technically-biased leadership team. This ensures all colleagues across Product Group can derive rapid value from data. This role will work collaboratively with other disciplines to create an enterprise data platform.
• Ensures the teams led by this role are technically innovative and responsive to the needs of Product Group and the BBC to present engaging digital products to audiences.
• In collaboration with peers, contribute to the broader BBC Data Strategy from technology, process and people perspectives. Influence the maturity development of data capabilities across the BBC. 
• Strategically lead on cross-BBC programmes to mature its approach to the management of data. 
• Confidently communicate with senior stakeholders up to and including the Executive Committee and with technical assurance.
• Along with all leaders, is accountable for their area's performance against corporate diversity, inclusion, and location targets. Responsible for creating a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for staff across Product Group, where everybody feels supported to be their authentic self. 
• Leads an inclusive, high-performing data organisation personally and through a mature senior leadership team. Communicates regularly and effectively to ensure the full team is engaged and focused in their roles.
• Provide inspirational leadership, supporting career development and effective talent management. Responsible for the recruitment, retention, training, coaching, and career development of the data professionals within Product Group.
• Plays an active enterprise leadership role as a member of the Product Leadership team alongside peers.
• Represents the data organisation cross-functionally with peer functions and partners such as Finance, BMA (Business Management Administration), or HR.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

• Extensive, demonstrable experience as a leader of a large-scale data organisation in demanding high event-driven traffic environments. Experience working in a media publishing and content production environment would be beneficial.
• Experience in a senior leadership position responsible for the delivery of a Data Strategy and owning AI, ML and data analytics capability.
• A convincing and persuasive communicator, adept at influencing beliefs and opinions of teams, as well as senior stakeholders, able to establish effective and collaborative relations across BBC departments, and external agencies/stakeholders where required
• Personal technical credibility/thought leadership in AI and Data Analytics.
• Passionate about data, with the ability to communicate that passion to large-scale distributed teams.
• Provides professional leadership and acts as role model to their teams and colleagues alike, representing BBC values and high standards of leadership behaviour.
• Adept at managing and effectively communicating technical concepts to numerous, diverse senior and executive level stakeholders
• Act as the conduit to effective communication and influence across the management team.
• Keeps abreast of industry trends, competitor activity and performance, and best practice, incorporating new ideas and establishing a high performance culture.
• Strong awareness of the way in which technical initiatives are defined, delivered, financed and completed successfully.
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen, including experience of leading high-value regulated procurements.
• Experience in managing significant budgets and understanding key financial drivers.