Director Of Funding, Data & Information - #2120053

Director of Funding, Data & Information

West Yorkshire | Hybrid Working (1-2 days from home) |
£71,843 - £77,720 per annum + Outstanding Benefits

Are you an experienced FE funding and Data Leader looking for an opportunity to influence organisational strategy at the highest level?

We're partnering with a leading Further Education provider to recruit an exceptional Director of Funding, Data & Information. This is a pivotal senior leadership role, providing the opportunity to shape the future direction of funding, MIS, reporting, business intelligence, and digital transformation across a large and ambitious organisation.

Reporting directly to the Vice Principal you'll lead a high-performing function responsible for funding optimisation, data quality, management information, compliance, reporting, and strategic insight.

This is a role for someone who thrives on turning data into action, driving organisational performance, and ensuring senior leaders have the intelligence needed to make informed decisions.

Why Join?

You'll be joining an organisation with a strong social purpose, a commitment to transforming lives through education, and a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Benefits Include:

Generous annual leave entitlement

Excellent pension scheme with significant employer contributions

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

Comprehensive health and wellbeing support

Professional development and leadership programmes

Free access to gym and sports facilities

Employee discounts and lifestyle benefits

Opportunity to shape strategic decision-making at executive level

The Role

As the Director of Funding, Data & Information, you'll provide strategic leadership across funding, MIS, reporting, analytics, and information services.

Working closely with executive leaders, curriculum teams, and support services, you'll ensure the organisation remains funding compliant, data-driven, and positioned for sustainable growth.

You'll play a key role in developing systems, processes, and reporting frameworks that support performance, accountability, and excellence across the college.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Funding, Data & Information function and contribute to organisational strategy.
  
  
• Drive a culture of evidence-based decision-making.
  
  
• Support the delivery of digital transformation initiatives.
  
  
• Develop and implement innovative data and reporting solutions.
  
  

Funding & Compliance

• Maximise funding opportunities across FE, HE, Apprenticeships, and other income streams.
  
  
• Lead ILR quality and funding compliance activity.
  
  
• Manage funding audits and regulatory scrutiny.
  
  
• Identify funding risks and opportunities, providing strategic advice to executive leaders.
  
  

Data & Business Intelligence

• Develop impactful dashboards and management reporting tools.
  
  
• Ensure the delivery of accurate, timely, and meaningful performance data.
  
  
• Support curriculum planning, forecasting, and organisational performance management.
  
  
• Enhance business intelligence capabilities across the organisation.
  
  

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a specialist team.
  
  
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  
  
• Build strong relationships and influence stakeholders across all levels of the business.
  
  

About You

We're looking for a strategic, influential leader with a strong background in Further Education funding, MIS, and data management.

You'll be able to combine technical expertise with excellent leadership skills and possess the credibility to operate effectively at executive level.

Essential Experience

• Significant senior-level experience within FE funding, MIS, data, or information services.
  
  
• Expert knowledge of FE, HE, and Apprenticeship funding methodologies.
  
  
• Experience managing ILR returns, funding audits, and compliance activity.
  
  
• Strong understanding of Ofsted requirements and sector accountability measures.
  
  
• Proven experience developing reporting frameworks, business intelligence solutions, and management information systems.
  
  
• Strong financial planning and business analysis capability.
  
  
• Track record of leading strategic projects and organisational improvement initiatives.
  
  

Key Skills

• Outstanding analytical and problem-solving ability.
  
  
• Ability to translate complex funding and performance data into clear strategic insight.
  
  
• Strong leadership, coaching, and people management skills.
  
  
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement capability.
  
  
• Commercial acumen with a focus on identifying funding and growth opportunities.
  
  
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
  
  

Desirable

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional expertise.
  
  
• Leadership & Management qualification.
  
  
• Experience of Tribal EBS, ProMonitor, ProObserve, or similar systems.
  
  
• Experience supporting a full Ofsted inspection.
  
  
• Experience working with ESFA, auditors, and sector regulators.
  
  

Ready for Your Next Leadership Challenge?

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high-performing organisation and take ownership of a function that sits at the heart of strategic decision-making.

If you're a senior FE funding, MIS, or data professional looking to make a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Simon Atkins for a confidential discussion