Head of Data Analytics

Location: United Arab Emirates

Industry: Insurance / Financial Services

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Experience Level: 10+ years in Data Analytics Leadership

Job Purpose

The Head of Data Analytics is responsible for defining, building, and leading the organization’s data analytics strategy, processes, and operations. Reporting directly to the COO, this role ensures seamless, compliant, and data-driven visibility of business performance across all insurance lines — including Health, Life, Marine, Aviation, and General.

The position oversees the entire data lifecycle: Data Engineering & Infrastructure, Business Analytics & Reporting, Data Governance & Compliance, and Advanced Analytics, driving operational efficiency and strategic decision-making across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

1. Data Analytics Strategy & Operations

• Develop and implement the enterprise-wide data strategy and analytics roadmap.
• Foster a strong data-driven culture and promote evidence-based decision-making.
• Translate complex datasets into actionable insights that support growth and performance.

2. Data Engineering & Infrastructure

• Design and manage scalable data architectures, including data warehouses and real-time pipelines.
• Deploy cloud-based data platforms and integration solutions for unified reporting.
• Oversee ingestion, transformation, and storage processes ensuring data accuracy and reliability.

3. Business Analytics & Reporting

• Lead the creation of dashboards and KPIs for executive and operational teams.
• Collaborate with business units to enable self-service analytics and performance tracking.
• Deliver timely regulatory and operational reports in line with UAE authority requirements.

4. Data Governance & Compliance

• Define and implement governance policies and data quality standards.
• Ensure full compliance with UAE data protection regulations and international frameworks (e.g., GDPR).
• Establish clear ownership, stewardship, and secure access controls for all data assets.

5. Advanced Analytics & Data Science

• Build predictive and prescriptive analytics capabilities, including fraud detection and segmentation.
• Integrate machine learning and AI-based insights into underwriting, claims, and customer experience functions.
• Leverage external data sources to strengthen internal data intelligence.

6. Leadership & Operations

• Recruit, train, and mentor data professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Define SOPs, performance frameworks, and knowledge-sharing systems.
• Champion continuous improvement and innovation across all analytics functions.

Qualifications & Skills

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years leading data analytics in insurance or other regulated financial sectors within the UAE.
• Proven experience in data governance, analytics transformation, and regulatory reporting.

Technical & Leadership Competencies

• Expertise in SQL, Power BI/Tableau, and ETL tools.
• Strong understanding of insurance data models and compliance standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management abilities.
• Exposure to AI/ML-driven analytics solutions preferred.
• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution capability.