Xero
Technology
GM/VPDataEngineering
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Executive candidates.
“GM/VP Data Engineering at Xero. Skills: Data Engineering, Platform Engineering, AI transformation, Data Strategy. Lead data engineering function. Turn data strategy into operating model”
What You'll Achieve.
Enable trusted analytics; Enable self-service; Enable agentic capability; Scale agentic insights; Scale self-service capabilities; Simplify data landscape; Decommission legacy systems; Improve platform reliability; Improve platform observability; Improve platform security; Improve platform sustainability; Reduce fragile dependencies; Improve operational discipline; Enable domain outcomes; Embed governance into platform; Reduce manual effort; Reduce ambiguity; Reduce risk; Scale through leaders; Reduce single-threading; Improve succession depth; Improve execution ownership
Industry & Context.
Simplify problems; Make trade-offs
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Proven experience leading organisations, Strategic and operating-model judgement, Deep experience in data engineering, Lead through ambiguity, Communication and influence skills, Track record of building teams, Business acumen, Sound judgement
What You'll Do.
Lead data engineering function
Turn data strategy into operating model
Develop coherent platform strategy
Execute sequence of bets
Provide agentic-first data platforms
Deliver core data products
Establish engineering patterns
Implement governance controls
Provide specialist delivery capability
Act as enterprise leader
Remove collaboration barriers
Lift capability through leaders
Shape data platform environment
Enable trusted analytics
Enable AI experiences
Lead execution of data engineering strategy
Enable trusted analytics
Translate strategy into operating rhythms
Define ownership boundaries
Set measurable priorities
Partner with functional teams
Provide platform capability
Provide ingestion patterns
Provide modelling patterns
Provide shared products
Guide function through ambiguity
Make principled trade-offs
Align platform decisions
Align commercial decisions
Align delivery decisions
Align with business priorities
Maintain operational health
Ensure critical platforms have runbooks
Ensure critical platforms have dashboards
Ensure critical platforms have escalation paths
Ensure critical platforms have ownership
Ensure critical platforms have health reviews
Ensure critical platforms have measurable expectations
Lead and grow leadership bench
Build capabilities for ambitions
Foster cross-functional collaboration
Create clarity for leaders
Set clear expectations
Improve prioritisation
Reduce single-threaded dependence
Champion high-performance culture
Champion high-trust culture
Value engineering quality
Value operational discipline
Value continuous improvement
Value development pathways
Build working relationships with leaders
Lead data discussions in senior forums
Lead operating-model conversations
Lead cross-functional planning
Bring balanced judgement
Bring data to decisions
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Collaboration across Xero; Cross-functional planning; Functional data teams; Analytics teams
Communication Scope
Executive communication; Narrative writing; Senior forum leadership
Process & Methodology
Roadmaps, Prioritisation, Sequencing
Full Job Description
OUR PURPOSE At Xero, we’re here to make life better for people in small business, their advisors and communities around the world. By making small businesses more efficient every day, connecting them with big business technology and empowering a community behind them, their potential is limitless. When that happens, we’re not only helping small businesses, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world. HOW YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT As GM of Data Engineering, you will lead Xero’s shared data engineering function to turn Xero-wide data strategy into an executable operating model, a coherent platform strategy, and a disciplined sequence of bets across self-service, governance, agentic capability and platform reliability . You and your team will be at the forefront of Xero’s internal AI transformation, providing agentic-first data platforms, core data products, engineering patterns, governance-by-design controls, and specialist delivery capability that let Xero use data safely, reliably and at scale. You will act as a visible enterprise leader, removing barriers to collaboration across Xero, lifting capability through other leaders, and shaping a trusted, reliable and economically sound data platform environment that supports trusted analytics, self-service, and AI experiences. WHAT YOU’LL DO Strategy & Business Impact - Lead the execution of Data Engineering strategy so Xero’s shared platforms enable trusted analytics, self-service and agentic capability across the organisation. Translate strategy into clear operating rhythms, ownership boundaries, roadmaps and measurable priorities across platform reliability, governance, enablement and simplification. - Partner with functional data and analytics teams so they increasingly own domain outcomes, while Data Engineering provides platform capability, ingestion, modelling patterns, shared products and guardrails where needed. - Guide the function through significant organisational, strategic and technical ambig
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