Data and Analytics Lead

Basic Role Summary:

We are a pharmaceutical organisation undertaking a major digital transformation, migrating our core business processes onto SAP (S/4HANA). The Data & Analytics Lead is a pivotal role at the heart of this change, responsible for building our analytics capability, shaping how data is governed and consumed across the enterprise, and ensuring that the move to SAP delivers trusted, decision-ready insights for the business.

Working closely with the SAP programme team, business functions, and IT, this role will define the data and reporting foundation for the new platform and embed a culture of data-driven, compliant decision-making across commercial, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and finance functions.

Location: Onsite at our facility in Loughrea.

As our Data & Analytics Lead, your key responsibilities will be as follows:

• Partner with the SAP programme to define data and analytics requirements for S/4HANA, including reporting, KPIs, and self-service analytics across business functions.

• Lead the analytics workstream of the SAP migration, including data mapping, cleansing, validation, and reconciliation activities.

• Establish enterprise reporting and analytics capabilities, integrating SAP and existing BI platforms.

• Work closely with the Master Data Governance Team to ensure a single source of truth across SAP and downstream reporting systems.

• Lead the analysis of complex cross-functional datasets to generate actionable insights that support strategic and operational decision-making.

• Develop analytical solutions to improve commercial performance, supply reliability, and operational efficiency.

• Translate business requirements from Sales, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance into reporting and analytics solutions.

• Develop and execute a data strategy that improves data quality, accessibility, and usage across the organisation.

• Establish governance, ownership, and stewardship practices for reporting and analytics data.

• Identify and implement reporting, analytics, and data management tools to support the evolving SAP landscape.

• Ensure reporting and analytics activities comply with data integrity principles, regulatory expectations, and company policies.

• Support validation and audit readiness of reporting solutions used within regulated environments.

• Ensure appropriate management and protection of sensitive commercial, employee, and customer data.

• Design and deliver clear, insightful visualisations and management reports for leadership and operational stakeholders.

• Ensure accuracy, consistency, and traceability of all reporting outputs.

• Build, manage, and develop a high-performing analytics team.

• Collaborate with business functions, IT, Quality, and the SAP programme team to align analytics capabilities with business objectives.

• Act as a trusted advisor, promoting a data-driven culture throughout the organisation.

• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating emerging analytics technologies, data sources, and reporting methodologies.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, or another quantitative discipline.

• Proven experience in data analysis, reporting, and business intelligence, including experience in a leadership or team lead role.

• Hands-on experience working with SAP data and reporting solutions, ideally including involvement in an SAP S/4HANA implementation or migration programme.

• Proficiency with analytics and visualisation tools such as SAP Analytics Cloud, Power BI, or Tableau.

• Experience using SQL and analytical tools such as Python or R.

• Strong understanding of data governance, data quality, and master data management principles.

• Excellent communication skills with experience presenting insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex data into actionable business recommendations.

• Experience within a pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other regulated environment desirable.

• Familiarity with GxP, GDP, ALCOA+, GDPR, and regulated data environments desirable.

• Knowledge of SAP BW/4HANA, Datasphere, or similar enterprise data platforms desirable.

• Experience delivering analytics solutions as part of a large-scale ERP or digital transformation programme desirable.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capability.

• Technical expertise in SAP analytics, business intelligence, reporting, and data visualisation tools.

• Strong focus on data governance, stewardship, and data quality.

• Quality and compliance mindset with an understanding of regulated environments.

• Leadership and people management skills with the ability to develop high-performing teams.

• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.

• Commercial and operational awareness across manufacturing, supply chain, commercial, quality, and finance functions.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

• Adaptability, innovation, and continuous improvement mindset.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those returning after a career break or with transferable skills from non-traditional career paths, are encouraged to apply. We value varied experiences and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports individuals with disabilities.