Role Details
Salary: Competitive (Plus Bonus and incentives)
Location: Head Office – One City Place, Chester (Hybrid)
Reporting to: Group CTO
About Us
Forge Holiday Group is a leading UK holiday lettings business, connecting millions of customers with great holiday experiences. With award-winning brands like Sykes Holiday Cottages and Forest Holidays, we’re 1,700+ people strong and powered by four values: One Business One Team, Keep it Simple, Grow & Learn, Sustainable Impact.
Data is already central to how we operate – and we’re now investing to take it further.
We’re building a modern, AI-ready data platform to create a single, trusted view of our business – powering insight, decision-making, and over 300 AI agents already in use.
The Role
This is a builder’s role – not maintenance.
As Director of Data, you will define and deliver our end-to-end data strategy, platform, and capability.
Responsibilities
- Architect and scale a modern data platform (data vault, knowledge graph, insight layer)
- Enable AI, analytics, and product innovation through trusted data
- Build and lead high-performing data teams
- Build the Future of Data at Scale – Define the strategy, infrastructure, and operating model that will power data across multiple brands and markets
- Drive a true data-first culture across the organisation
- Drive Real Commercial Impact – Every initiative will connect directly to revenue growth, customer experience, and owner success
- Join a Strong Technology Leadership Team – Work alongside senior leaders driving product, platform, and AI transformation across the group
Why Now
We’re moving from fragmented data to a single version of the truth – trusted, accessible, and compounding in value over time.
Strong foundations are already in place – now we need the right leader to accelerate and deliver.
Our Approach: Grow and Learn
One of our core values is Grow and Learn.
We’ve applied that directly to this search – listening, refining, and evolving the role based on what we’ve learned.
We welcome both new applicants and those who have previously applied.
What You’ll Bring
Essential
- Experience delivering large-scale data platform transformations
- Deep expertise in modern data architecture (data vault, lakehouse, semantic layers)
- Cloud data platform experience (Microsoft Fabric highly advantageous)
- Experience supporting AI/ML or agent-based systems
- Proven leadership and stakeholder management capability
Desirable
- Experience in travel, e-commerce, or marketplace businesses
- Knowledge of knowledge graphs and data democratisation
- Strong commercial acumen
Why Join Us
- A transformational, CEO-sponsored programme
- A business already leveraging AI at scale
- The opportunity to build a platform and team from strong foundations
- A culture that lives its values – including Grow and Learn
Benefits
- Annual STIP Company-wide Bonus Scheme offering up to an additional 30% of your salary through our performance-based bonus programme
- 33 days’ holiday (including bank holidays), plus up to 5 extra with long service
- Option to purchase extra holiday days if you wish
- A day off for your birthday
- 2 volunteering days per year
- Enhanced parental leave (24 weeks maternity, 3 weeks paternity at full pay)
- Pension scheme with employer contributions
- Discounted and last-minute stays at Forest Holidays and Sykes Cottages for you, your friends & family
- Special offers and discounts designed to enhance your overall wellbeing
- Health cash plan & life assurance
- Training & development opportunities
- 24/7 mental health support
- On-site gym and parking at Chester HQ (near train station)
- Employee savings scheme
- Long service awards and company events
Diversity and Inclusion
We’re all about diversity, inclusion, and bringing your authentic self to work. Need adjustments for the recruitment process? Just ask.
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