Manager – Planning & Analytics (Contract) Full Time NEW

Role Summary:

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Manager of Analytics to lead a team of specialists in delivering high-impact data solutions for our global operations. This role is uniquely balanced, requiring both strong leadership and people management skills and deep technical expertise. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in a manufacturing or industrial setting, with the ability to guide the team in dissecting complex product data, driving analytics strategy, and empowering data-driven decision-making across the business. You will not only manage but also actively contribute to key analytical projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership & People Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of analytics specialists. Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture and manage team workload and project allocation.
• Analytics Strategy & Stakeholder Management: Partner with senior business leaders to understand strategic objectives and define the analytics roadmap. Translate high-level business challenges into a portfolio of analytical projects that deliver measurable value.
• Hands-On Technical Leadership: Remain deeply hands-on with data. Personally undertake complex analysis, model development, and dashboard creation, particularly for high-priority initiatives, setting the technical standard for the team.
• Project & Resource Management: Oversee the end-to-end delivery of the analytics portfolio. Scope projects, estimate effort, manage timelines, and ensure the team delivers high-quality solutions on time.
• Data Governance & Best Practices: Establish and enforce best practices for data analysis, model validation, and data governance within the team. Champion data quality and reliability initiatives across the organization.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies. Drive innovation within the analytics function by identifying and implementing new tools, methodologies, and process improvements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the key liaison between the analytics team, data engineering, IT, and global business units, ensuring alignment and effective prioritization.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Engineering, Business, or a related quantitative field. An MBA is a plus.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data analytics, with at least 2+ years in a team lead or management capacity.
• Essential background in manufacturing, aerospace, defence, or a complex engineering environment, with a deep understanding of product data structures and production workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to be both a strategic leader and a hands-on contributor, with proven expertise in:
• Advanced analytics languages (SQL, Python, R).
• Data visualization and BI platforms (Power BI, Tableau).
• Statistical modeling and predictive analytics.
• Strong project and people management skills, with a track record of successfully delivering analytics projects through a team.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of engaging with both technical teams and executive leadership.
• Proven experience working in and managing within a global, diverse environment.