Head of Data

Opus Recruitment Solutions
Bristol, Bristol (county), United Kingdom
Today
£650 – £750 pd

Salary

£650 – £750 pd

Job Type
Contract
Work Pattern
Full-time
Work Location
Hybrid
Seniority
Director
Education
Degree
Posted
28 Apr 2026 (Today)

Head of Data | Bristol (Hybrid) | Outside IR35 | £650–£750/day | 6 months

We’re partnering with a scaling, data‑driven organisation as they invest heavily in their data capability during a period of transformation. The business is evolving from a primarily manual, compliance‑led setup into a more product‑oriented, technology‑enabled operation. Data is a key enabler of that shift, and this contract role will play a central part in laying the foundations.

The role This is a hands-on Head of Data contract focused on building a joined‑up, dependable data platform from a fragmented starting point. You’ll take ownership of data architecture and delivery, working closely with engineering and product leaders to ensure data is reliable, well‑modelled, and embedded into core applications.

You’ll be expected to operate at both strategic and delivery levels — shaping direction while staying close to the technical detail to ensure progress is made.

Key responsibilities

Design and own end‑to‑end data architecture from ingestion through to consumption

Build and improve pipelines across APIs, files, and third‑party systems

Establish robust data models to support analytics, workflows, and product features

Introduce data quality, validation, and monitoring practices

Ensure data is accessible and genuinely useful across the business

Work closely with engineering teams to integrate data into applications

Make pragmatic decisions around tooling, orchestration, and platform design

Define standards for testing, deployment, and version control

Collaborate with external partners while shaping longer‑term internal capabilityWhat we’re looking forYou’ll be comfortable stepping into an environment that’s still forming and bringing clarity and structure at pace. Ideal experience includes:

Building and scaling data platforms in SaaS or data‑centric organisations

Strong background in data engineering, modelling, and cloud platforms

Hands‑on experience with tools such as Snowflake, dbt, Azure Data Factory (or equivalents)

Advanced SQL skills and experience working with complex datasets

Experience where data underpins customer‑facing productsIf this is a role that suits your skillset and you are interested in the role then please apply directly or email me your most recent and up to date CV to (url removed)

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Data Lead (Fabric)

Hays Technology London, United Kingdom
£450 – £500 pd

Contract Snowflake Data Engineer

Cathcart Technology Edinburgh, Alba / Scotland, United Kingdom
£500 – £550 pd

Senor / Lead Data Engineer

Michael Page Runcorn, WA7 1ND, United Kingdom

Senior Data Strategy Consultant, Marketing Solutions

TransUnion London, United Kingdom

Data Engineer

Integral Recruitment Ltd Epsom, KT19 8DX, United Kingdom

Head of Enterprise Data Delivery

Amplius Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
£80,000 pa Hybrid

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Where to Advertise Data Engineering Jobs in the UK (2026 Guide)

Advertising data engineering jobs in the UK requires a different approach to most technical hiring. Data engineers occupy a distinct discipline that sits between software engineering, data science and cloud infrastructure — and the strongest candidates identify firmly with the data engineering community rather than with adjacent roles. General job boards consistently conflate data engineering with data analysis, data science and BI development, producing high application volumes but low candidate quality for specialist pipeline and platform roles. This guide, published by DataEngineeringJobs.co.uk, covers where to advertise data engineering roles in the UK in 2026, how the main platforms compare, what employers should expect to pay, and what the data says about hiring across different role types.

New Data Engineering Employers to Watch in 2026: UK and Global Companies Driving the Data Revolution

Data engineering is at the heart of the digital economy, transforming raw data into actionable insights, powering analytics, AI systems, and cloud infrastructure. As the UK and global markets continue to invest heavily in data platforms, pipelines, and real-time analytics, demand for skilled data engineers is growing rapidly. For professionals exploring opportunities on www.DataEngineeringJobs.co.uk , the critical question is: which companies are expanding, hiring, and shaping the future of data-driven business? This article highlights new data engineering employers to watch in 2026, including UK startups, scale-ups, and international firms expanding in the UK.

How Many Data Engineering Tools Do You Need to Know to Get a Data Engineering Job?

If you’re aiming for a career in data engineering, it can feel like you’re staring at a never-ending list of tools and technologies — SQL, Python, Spark, Kafka, Airflow, dbt, Snowflake, Redshift, Terraform, Kubernetes, and the list goes on. Scroll job boards and LinkedIn, and it’s easy to conclude that unless you have experience with every modern tool in the data stack, you won’t even get a callback. Here’s the honest truth most data engineering hiring managers will quietly agree with: 👉 They don’t hire you because you know every tool — they hire you because you can solve real data problems with the tools you know. Tools matter. But only in service of outcomes. Jobs are won by candidates who know why a technology is used, when to use it, and how to explain their decisions. So how many data engineering tools do you actually need to know to get a job? For most job seekers, the answer is far fewer than you think — but you do need them in the right combination and order. This article breaks down what employers really expect, which tools are core, which are role-specific, and how to focus your learning so you look capable and employable rather than overwhelmed.