Lead Business Intelligence Manager

Help us lead the future of Defence through Data.

Are you passionate about harnessing data to drive strategic decisions? Do you want to help shape the future of UK Defence? If so, join us as a Lead Business Intelligence Manager.

We are seeking visionary leaders to head our Data Management, Management Information (MI), and Analytics capabilities across multiple areas.

You’ll have opportunities to influence how Defence uses data to procure and support the right equipment for the UK Armed Forces—ensuring operational advantage in an increasingly data-driven world.

We offer outstanding training and development opportunities, with clearly defined progression pathways.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 3 days or 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

For Security reasons this position is open to applications from sole UK nationals only. 

 What you’ll be doing

• Leading the Data Management, MI Reporting, the Analytics community, and the portfolio of projects to meet customer demands.
• Contributing as a Senior Leader across the Delivery Teams, Function and to wider organisational initiatives
• Translating the Strategy, such as the Strategic Defence Review 2025, and provide guidance to senior stakeholders in the management and exploitation of data to mature the use of data
• Leading the development of the organisation’s data governance, including data strategy data policies, processes, culture, and procedures to enable more effective decision making
• Leading analytical innovation including methods and techniques to improve Data Quality, Data Exploitation, and Data Integrity
• Engaging with external stakeholders in wider MOD and industry to gain knowledge and develop forward-looking Data, MI, and Analytics strategy
• Leading a compliance culture covering Data, MI, and Analytics activities and risks, ensure alignment with relevant regulatory acts and legislation
• Budgeting, estimating, planning and objective setting for Data, MI, and Analytics
• Monitoring and drive the performance and initiate corrective action where necessary to make improvements

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Evidence of substantial experience of leading and delivering Data, MI and analytics projects and services to deliver strategic outcomes
• Demonstrable knowledge, experience and an in-depth understanding of Data, MI and insights, trends, and governance
• Experience of relationship management of senior stakeholders in a highly complex data driven organisation

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Seeing the Big Picture CSBC 4
• Core Behaviour 2: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC 4
• Technical Competence 1: MI and Analytics – Expert
• Technical Competence 2: Data Literacy – Expert

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £77,700, Ministry of Defence contributes £22,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences, and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here. 

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

Conflicts of Interest:

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. 

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission