15th July 2026
Data Governance Manager
Big Data
South West - Bristol
Up to £110k
Data Governance Manager
Location: Bristol/Hybrid
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced Data Governance Manager to lead and evolve our enterprise Data Governance capability.
Reporting to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), you will be responsible for defining and delivering the organisation’s Data Governance strategy, framework and operating model. You will ensure data is managed as a trusted, secure and valuable business asset, supporting regulatory compliance, informed decision-making and business innovation.
Working across Information Security, Data & Analytics, Risk, Legal, Architecture and business functions, you will drive governance adoption, establish clear accountability for data ownership and quality, and embed governance practices across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and lead the enterprise Data Governance strategy, framework and operating model.
- Establish governance policies and standards covering data ownership, quality, classification, retention and life cycle management.
- Drive organisation-wide adoption of Data Governance practices and accountability.
- Chair governance forums and provide oversight of governance risks, compliance and improvement activities.
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and influence strategic decision-making.
- Define governance maturity measures and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
- Sponsor governance technologies and work with technical teams to deliver supporting capabilities, including metadata, lineage and data quality solutions.
- Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, information security standards and risk management objectives.
About You
You are a strategic leader with a proven track record of establishing and maturing Data Governance capabilities within complex organisations.
You have strong stakeholder management skills and can influence effectively at executive level, while also working closely with technical teams to deliver practical governance outcomes. You understand the importance of balancing regulatory requirements, business objectives and operational realities to create governance that enables rather than hinders progress.
Essential Experience
- Significant experience leading enterprise Data Governance programmes in a regulated environment.
- Proven experience developing Data Governance strategies, operating models, frameworks and policies.
- Strong knowledge of Data Governance best practice, including DAMA-DMBOK or equivalent frameworks.
- Understanding of GDPR, Data Protection legislation, FCA expectations and information security standards such as ISO 27001.
- Experience establishing Data Owner, Data Steward and governance forum structures.
- Strong stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills.
- Experience driving organisational change and embedding governance practices across multiple business areas.
- Knowledge of modern data platforms, cloud technologies and governance tooling.
Desirable
- Experience leading large-scale governance transformation initiatives.
- Knowledge of Snowflake, AWS and modern cloud data platforms.
- Experience with governance tools such as Collibra, Alation or Informatica.
- Understanding of AI Governance and emerging data regulations.
- Professional certifications such as DAMA CDMP, TOGAF, CISSP or CISM.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to shape and lead a strategic enterprise capability, working with senior leaders across the organisation to improve data quality, strengthen compliance, enable innovation and maximise the value of data as a key business asset.
Consultant - Abigail Moss
Telephone: 0207 392 7516
Email: abigail.moss@spencer-rose.com
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