Delivery Manager – Data
Job Description
Babble is seeking an experienced Agile Delivery Manager to lead the delivery of our Data Strategy, line manage the Kosovo-based delivery squad, and partner with the PMO to ensure the programme is executed on time, on scope, and to the standards of governance demanded by a post-acquisition, transformation-stage business.
The role combines delivery leadership, line management of engineers and analysts in Kosovo, and a deep working knowledge of modern data delivery practices. You will be the operational engine that converts strategic intent into shipped outcomes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Delivery of the Data Strategy
Own end-to-end delivery of the Data Strategy roadmap, ensuring data and analytics initiatives are shipped on time, on scope, and aligned to commercial outcomes.
Translate the strategy into a sequenced, executable plan with clear milestones, dependencies, and value checkpoints.
Drive delivery of data pipelines, ETL/ELT workflows, Snowflake-based platforms, analytical models, MDM and data quality capabilities.
Support the operational transition from Excel-based reporting to self-serve analytics platforms; driving automation, scalability, and consistent use of Power BI and modern visualisation tools across departments.
Maintain a healthy, refined backlog linked to OKRs and the Data roadmap; ensure data architecture, governance, and data quality are embedded into delivery planning, not retrofitted.
Line management — Kosovo delivery squad
Line manage the Kosovo-based data delivery team: setting objectives, maintaining timesheets running CAP-Q performance reviews in HiBob, managing capacity, and developing capability.
Build a high-performing, self-organising squad — recruit, onboard, coach, and retain engineers, analysts and governance roles; create clear career pathways aligned to UK-based capability leads.
Run the day-to-day operating rhythm — standups, planning, retrospectives, 1:1s, team health — and bridge UK/Kosovo working patterns so the squad operates as one team with the UK Data function.
PMO coordination & governance
Act as the primary delivery interface between Data and the PMO — represent Data initiatives accurately in portfolio reporting, RAID logs, and steering forums.
Follow PMO standards, gates, and controls; submit consistent status, risk, and dependency updates to allow cross-functional sequencing.
Track and report cycle time, flow efficiency, capacity, and value delivery.
Data governance & quality delivery
Support the operationalisation of the data governance framework - drive squad-level execution of agreed standards for data integrity, security, and accessibility.
Support the evolution of data quality management into Snowflake — working with the Data Governance Team to operationalise agent-driven DQ monitoring, alerting, and remediation workflows within the platform, aligned to Babble's data quality framework and DAMA principles.
Partner with FP&A and Analytics on the automation of financial and operational reporting — forecasts, budgets, and board reports — and coordinate across departments to ensure data products and information flows are cohesive and fit-for-purpose.
Agile delivery leadership
Shape Agile ways of working across the squad - Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid models chosen pragmatically against the work, not dogmatically.
Mature the team's Agile practice from a basic framework into a robust delivery methodology; coach team members in Scrum and Agile fundamentals.
Protect the team from scope creep, remove impediments, and create the conditions for engineers and analysts to do their best work.
Drive a culture of transparency, continuous improvement, and accountability — measured through velocity, cycle time, and outcome delivery.
Stakeholder management
Communicate progress, risk, and value in terms commercial and operational leaders care about — bookings impact, GP visibility, operational efficiency.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE — ESSENTIAL
Proven track record as an Agile Delivery Manager, Delivery Lead, or equivalent role in data-heavy and systems-heavy environments.
Demonstrable experience delivering a data strategy and governance framework into an organisation — ideally in a multi-system, post-M&A, or transformation-stage business.
Direct line management experience of engineers, analysts, or delivery teams — including performance management, recruitment, and capability development.
Working knowledge of modern data architecture: Snowflake, Informatica (MDM and DQ) or equivalent ELT toolsets, and BI platforms (Power BI, Tableau, Omni).
Strong understanding of data engineering, data platforms, and analytics delivery lifecycles: ETL/ELT, data modelling, warehousing, governance, MDM, data quality.
Knowledge of data governance, master data management, and data quality frameworks — including DAMA principles.
Strong understanding of SDLC, integration patterns, and modern application architectures (APIs, microservices, event-driven).
Solid working knowledge of Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) — pragmatic application over dogma.
Strong familiarity with Agile delivery tooling (Jira, Azure DevOps, Monday).
Experience of working in other delivery / project frameworks such as waterfall, iterative and hybrid.
Experience operating within a PMO-governed delivery environment — comfortable with portfolio reporting, RAID, and gated delivery.
Excellent facilitation, leadership, and conflict-resolution skills; confident communicator to executive level.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE — DESIRABLE
A background of hands-on technical data experience either as a data manager, data engineer, data scientist or data solution developer.
Experience delivering on modern cloud data platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP data platforms.
Knowledge of the DAMA DMBOK operating principles
Track record of automating business processes and optimising operational efficiencies through data and systems delivery.
Familiarity with DevOps practices: CI/CD, automated testing, pipelines, observability.
Background in regulated environments or those with complex data governance requirements.
Agile certifications (CSM, PSM I/II, SAFe, AgilePM) and/or project management certification (PRINCE2, PMP).
Experience managing distributed or near-shore delivery teams; working knowledge of cross-border employment and engagement models.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Servant-leader mindset with a bias to enable, not control — focused on creating the conditions for the team to succeed.
Direct, confident communicator able to influence stakeholders at all levels without losing the team.
Highly organised, proactive, and pragmatic — comfortable managing ambiguity and choosing the right method for the work, not the textbook method.
Passionate about data, continuous improvement, and modern delivery practices.
Comfortable challenging upwards — calls out unrealistic scope, weak requirements, or unmanaged dependencies early.
WORKING CONTEXT
The team
Reports to the SVP of Data & Technology (UK-based), with a dotted line to the Head of PMO.
Works closely with UK-based capability leads who own the technical direction of data and technology in their respective domains.
Line manages the Kosovo-based delivery squad — a mix of data engineering, data quality, governance, and systems development capability.
The business
Babble is a UK cloud technology and communications provider serving SME and mid-market customers. Post-acquisition, transformation-stage — 34 acquisitions across 2018–2023.
Data & Technology covers the full stack: data engineering, MDM, governance, analytics, TechOps, and systems administration (Salesforce, Acumatica, Snowflake, Informatica, HiBob, Halo PSA, Workday Adaptive). The FY26 Data Strategy is anchored around the D&T roadmap, FY26 OKRs, and the BabbleQuest operational excellence programme.
Why work for Babble?
- Annual Leave: 20 days’ paid holiday
- Public Holidays: 12 paid bank holidays
- Pension: Statutory pension provision
- Sick Leave: 20 days’ statutory sick pay
- Work Environment: Full‑time, office‑based role
- Parental Leave: Statutory maternity and paternity leave
The recruitment journey
We want to fill this role quickly, but we want to get the right person. The recruitment process will consist of a screening call. If you proceed past this then you will have an interview over Teams and possibly a follow up interview and competency testing depending on the role requirements.
Direct Candidates Only