DATA STRATEGIST JOB DESCRIPTION

A Data Strategist sits in the Senior Data Leadership team and could encompass Chief Data Officer Job titles for example. They are pivotal in driving data-driven decision-making and shaping the overall data strategy of an organisation. In this position you’d work closely with cross-functional teams, including data analysts, data engineers and business stakeholders to define, develop and execute data strategies that align with business objectives.

Their expertise in data analysis, market trends and industry best practices play a key role in optimising a company’s data infrastructure and driving actionable insights. This is a strategic role that requires a combination of technical expertise, business acumen and excellent communication skills.

Many people who reach this level have had varied backgrounds and as you can imagine, the more rounded your previous experience the better strategist you will be. Typical routes might be starting off in Data Analytics or as a Data Scientist, where people tend to develop strong techical skills in analytics, data manipulation and programming or statistics. You might then move in to Data Management or Governance which involves looking at data quality, establishing protocols and frameworks as well as working with cross functional teams to ensure policies are put in place and adhered to. From there people can move into more strategic roles or leadership roles where skills are further developed to align data strategies with business objectives. 

If you are looking to progress or make sideways moves into a more strategic role, the best thing to do is to contact a niche agency that can help advise you on which clients have roles available. Ensure that you have continued to keep your technical skills updates ans well as focusing on softer skills associated with leadership.