Data Strategy, Science & Engineering Lead

At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.

Role Purpose

MVNx is a strategic platform capability enabling Vodafone to serve global MVNO, wholesale and partner customers at scale. Delivering this requires an end‑to‑end, data‑led approach across customer journeys, IT systems and network domains.

The MVNx Data Science & Engineering Lead is a critical senior leadership role, responsible for establishing data as a strategic product and trusted asset, supporting MVNx’s growth ambitions while ensuring regulatory assurance and global customer confidence.

The MVNx Data Science & Engineering Lead is accountable for defining, governing and delivering the end‑to‑end data, analytics, architecture and AI capability across MVNx.

Operating at enterprise scale, the role spans Commercial data, Digital channels, BSS/IT platforms and Network domains, ensuring data supports product strategy, customer experience, operational performance and regulatory compliance.

Working in close partnership with the Head of Product, the role will define the MVNx data strategy, data governance and embed data‑driven decision‑making across products and platforms for global customers.

What You’ll Do

• Define and own the MVNx data strategy with the Head of Product, ensuring alignment with product, technology (IT and Networks) and commercial objectives, Establish data, analytics and AI as core enablers of MVNx product differentiation, scale and growth
• Define and maintain a clear, prioritised roadmap covering data platforms, analytics and AI capabilities, Own the end‑to‑end MVNx data architecture across digital channels, BSS / IT systems and network domains, in close collaboration with IT and Networks architecture teams
• Ensure seamless data integration across customer journeys, BSS / IT and network telemetry to enable insight, automation and predictive capability at scale. Set and govern enterprise standards for data platforms, pipelines and analytics engineering
• Lead the delivery of advanced analytics and AI capabilities from ideation through to production. Ensure all models and insights are production‑grade, governed, monitored and measured for business impact
• Drive high‑value data and AI use cases across global customer experience, product performance and monetisation, network optimisation and operational efficiency
• Ensure MVNx data capabilities meet the expectations of global customers operating across multiple jurisdictions
• Apply data sovereignty principles, including data residency, access and processing constraints, by design, Ensure compliance with GDPR and relevant regional data regulations across products and platforms
• Act as a senior data representative with customers, partners and auditors where required, Hold end‑to‑end accountability for the MVNx data governance framework, including policies, standards and decision forums

• Senior leadership (5+ years) across Data Architecture, Data Science, and Data Engineering, operating within complex, enterprise-scale organisations
• Deep domain experience (15+ years) spanning Analytics, Digital & IT and Network / infrastructure data, with a strong understanding of how these domains interconnect
• Proven delivery of end-to-end data capability, covering customer, IT, and network-adjacent domains, from strategy through to execution
• Experience designing and scaling modern, cloud-based data platforms, including hands-on familiarity with leading technologies (e.g. GCP, BigQuery, Dataflow, Dataproc or equivalent), and adopting best-practice data architectures (e.g. data lakes, lakehouse, streaming pipelines)
• Strong understanding of real-time and event-driven data architectures, including streaming, API-led integration, and data product thinking to enable scalable, reusable capabilities
• Strategic partnership with Product leadership, shaping data as a core enabler of product differentiation, commercial growth, and customer experience
• Strong track record in defining and embedding data governance, successfully operating across multiple functions and organisational boundaries
• Expert knowledge of data sovereignty, GDPR, and regulatory frameworks, with the ability to translate requirements into practical operating models
• Experience leading high-performing analytics and data engineering teams, delivering insights and capabilities that directly support commercial outcomes
• Credibility and presence with senior stakeholders and global customers, able to influence at executive level and operate in complex, multi-stakeholder environments

Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.

What's In It For You

• Discretionary yearly bonus: 20%
• Company car: company funded car of £580 per month + private fuel or cash alternative of £630
• per month
• Annual leave: 28 days + bank holidays + the opportunity to buy/sell/carry over 5 days/year
• Charity days: 5 days/year
• Maternity/adoption leave: 52 weeks out of which the first 13 weeks are fully paid followed by 26 weeks of half pay and 6 months - working 4 days, getting paid 5
• Paternity leave: 16 weeks fully paid
• Private medical family plan: fully paid
• Private pension: You can contribute up to 5% of your basic pay with 2:1 matching from Vodafone up to 10%
• Access to: private dental, free health assessments, share save scheme
• Additional discounts: Vodafone retail, gym, cinema, cycle to work, season ticket loan

We are a leading international Telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live and we protect the planet, whilst helping our customers do the same.

Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds and cultures. ;We're committed to increase diversity, ensure equal representation, and make Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued and included.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please refer to https://careers.vodafone.com/application-adjustments/ for guidance.

Together we can.