Data & Performance Lead

Role Purpose

Role Purpose

The Data & Performance Lead will be responsible for leading and coordinating data management, performance measurement and management reporting within a client organisation, supporting the effective delivery of its projects, programmes and wider portfolio.

Working closely with the client's senior leadership, project and programme management teams, PMO, commercial, planning and delivery functions, the postholder will establish and maintain effective reporting processes, ensuring that accurate, consistent and meaningful management information is available to support decision-making.

The role will provide oversight of project and programme performance, consolidating information from multiple delivery teams, identifying trends, highlighting emerging risks and providing clear insight into progress against agreed objectives.

A key responsibility will be to develop and continuously improve the client's performance reporting framework, ensuring that information is not simply collected and presented, but properly analysed and used to drive improved delivery performance, accountability and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

A. Data & Performance Management

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of data and performance reporting processes across the client organisation.
• Establish consistent data standards, reporting methodologies and performance measurement frameworks.
• Develop and maintain centralised performance dashboards and management information systems.
• Ensure accurate, timely and consistent collection of project and programme information.
• Establish effective processes for validating, consolidating and analysing information from multiple sources.
• Monitor performance against agreed objectives, targets, milestones and key performance indicators.
• Identify trends, variances, emerging issues and areas of underperformance.
• Provide meaningful analysis and recommendations to support management intervention and informed decision-making.
• Promote a culture of data-led decision-making and accountability across the organisation.

B. Project & Programme Performance Reporting

• Lead the production and coordination of regular project, programme and portfolio performance reports.
• Consolidate information from project teams, programme managers, contractors and other delivery partners.
• Provide clear visibility of overall delivery performance across the client's portfolio.
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators, including:
• Programme and project progress.
• Milestone achievement and schedule performance.
• Cost performance, budgets and forecasts.
• Commercial and contractual performance.
• Resource deployment and utilisation.
• Risk, opportunity and issue management.
• Health, Safety and Environmental performance.
• Quality and delivery performance.
• Benefits realisation and delivery against strategic objectives.
• Develop reporting dashboards that provide appropriate levels of detail for operational teams, programme leadership and senior executives.
• Ensure reporting is consistent, accurate and delivered within agreed reporting cycles.
• Prepare performance packs and management presentations for programme boards, steering groups and executive reviews.
• Identify areas requiring escalation and ensure relevant information is communicated to the appropriate stakeholders.

C. Senior Management & Executive Reporting

• Provide consolidated performance information to senior client stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Translate complex project and programme data into clear, concise and actionable management information.
• Develop executive dashboards and reporting packs that highlight overall portfolio health and delivery confidence.
• Identify significant performance trends, risks and potential impacts on strategic objectives.
• Provide analysis and recommendations to support strategic and operational decisions.
• Support the preparation and facilitation of performance reviews and governance meetings.
• Ensure management reporting provides an accurate representation of delivery performance and areas requiring intervention.

D. Commercial & Financial Performance

• Work closely with commercial and finance teams to consolidate financial and commercial performance information.
• Monitor project and programme budgets, actual expenditure, forecasts and cost performance.
• Provide visibility of financial variances, forecast movements and potential cost pressures.
• Monitor contractual and commercial performance against agreed objectives.
• Support the integration of financial, commercial and programme performance information.
• Develop reporting that enables senior management to understand the relationship between programme progress, cost, risk and delivery outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial and commercial performance reporting.

E. Data Governance & Information Management

• Establish and maintain appropriate data governance arrangements across the organisation.
• Ensure information is accurate, reliable, consistent and appropriately maintained.
• Develop processes for data ownership, accountability, validation and quality assurance.
• Identify gaps, duplication and inconsistencies within existing reporting systems.
• Work with stakeholders to improve data quality and reporting discipline.
• Ensure appropriate information management, confidentiality and GDPR compliance.
• Support the development and implementation of improved data management systems and processes.

F. Systems, Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Review existing client reporting systems, tools and processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop and maintain reporting solutions using Microsoft Excel, Power BI and other relevant business intelligence tools.
• Support the integration of data from multiple project, programme and corporate systems.
• Identify opportunities to automate data collection, consolidation and reporting.
• Reduce manual reporting processes and improve the efficiency and reliability of management information.
• Develop standardised reporting templates, dashboards and performance measurement tools.
• Work with IT, digital and business systems teams to improve reporting capabilities.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve the accessibility and usability of performance information.

G. Stakeholder Engagement & Performance Improvement

• Build effective working relationships across project, programme, commercial, planning and operational teams.
• Work with stakeholders to understand reporting requirements and ensure information meets organisational needs.
• Provide guidance and support to project teams on reporting standards, data requirements and performance measurement.
• Challenge incomplete or inconsistent information constructively.
• Encourage ownership and accountability for the quality of performance data.
• Promote the effective use of performance information to drive improvements in delivery.
• Share best practice and support continuous improvement across the organisation.

Key Working Relationships

The postholder will work closely with:

• Client Programme and Project Directors.
• Senior Responsible Owners and Executive Leadership.
• Programme Managers and Project Managers.
• PMO and Project Controls teams.
• Commercial Managers and Quantity Surveyors.
• Planning and Scheduling Managers.
• Finance and Business Management teams.
• Risk and Assurance Managers.
• Health, Safety and Environmental teams.
• Contractors and delivery partners.
• IT, Digital and Business Systems teams.

Overall Objective

To provide the client organisation with a robust, integrated and forward-looking approach to data management and performance reporting.

The Data & Performance Lead will ensure that project, programme and portfolio information is accurate, meaningful and accessible, enabling senior management to understand delivery performance, identify emerging challenges and make informed decisions.

The role will play a key part in strengthening the client's project and programme management capability, improving reporting standards and embedding a culture of transparency, accountability and data-led decision-making.

Requirements

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Proven experience in a Data & Performance, PMO, Project Controls, Programme Reporting or Business Intelligence role.
• Experience working within a complex project, programme or portfolio delivery environment.
• Strong understanding of project and programme performance management.
• Experience developing and managing performance dashboards and management reporting frameworks.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, pivot tables and dashboard development.
• Experience interpreting complex information and translating it into meaningful management insight.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to engage with senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of data quality, governance and reporting processes.
• Ability to manage multiple reporting requirements and competing priorities.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of project delivery performance.

Desirable

• Experience within infrastructure, energy, utilities, water, rail or other regulated sectors.
• Experience working within a major programme or portfolio environment.
• Experience with Power BI and other business intelligence platforms.
• Knowledge of project controls, planning, commercial management and risk management.
• Experience integrating information from multiple enterprise and project management systems.
• Understanding of NEC3/NEC4 contract environments.
• Relevant qualification in Project Management, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence or a related discipline.
• APM, AACE or other relevant professional membership or qualification.

Personal Attributes

• Analytical, commercially aware and strategically minded.
• Confident engaging with senior client stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Able to communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
• Proactive in identifying performance issues and opportunities for improvement.
• Comfortable challenging information and constructively influencing stakeholders.
• Organised and methodical, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Takes ownership and accountability for reporting quality and delivery.
• Able to operate effectively within complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Focused on using data and performance insight to improve project and programme outcomes.

Benefits

• £70,000-£90,000 salary
• £5,000 car allowance
• Profit share scheme
• Private medical insurance
• 5% matched pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays