Data Governance Manager

Data Governance Manager

Department: SBSS Data Protection

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Bristol

Compensation: £64,000 - £75,000 / year

Description We are recruiting for a Data Governance Manager to establish and enforce robust data governance practices across the Somerset Bridge Group, ensuring data assets are accurate, secure, and used ethically and efficiently. This role plays a critical part in shaping the organisation's data culture by embedding policies, standards, and controls that align with regulatory requirements (e.g. FCA, PRA, Data Protection Act 2018) and support the group's strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will lead the development of a formal data governance framework, including data ownership models, stewardship engagement, and quality management processes. They will work closely with data architects, engineers, analysts, compliance, and business functions to ensure data is governed, understood, and fit for purpose across its lifecycle.

Additionally, the role supports compliance and audit readiness by maintaining clear metadata, lineage, and retention policies using tools such as Azure Purview and Unity Catalog. This position is vital to enabling trusted analytics, AI development, and operational efficiency.
What you'll be responsible for:

• Develop and implement a data governance framework, including policies, roles, responsibilities, and processes to ensure high data quality and regulatory compliance.
• Establish and manage a Data Stewardship model, providing training, guidance, and accountability across business units.
• Define and monitor data quality KPIs, initiating remediation plans with relevant owners where data integrity risks are identified.
• Manage and maintain metadata standards and business glossaries, enabling consistent definitions and enterprise-wide understanding of data assets.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy and protection laws (e.g. UK GDPR, Data Protection Act, FCA/PRA regulations), including oversight of data retention, classification, and access policies.
• Drive the adoption and use of Azure Purview and Unity Catalog for data cataloguing, lineage, and governance workflows.
• Support regulatory audits and internal reviews by ensuring evidence of policy adherence, data control frameworks, and data access traceability.
• Act as the primary contact for data governance queries and escalations across the organisation.
• Collaborate with IT, legal, compliance, and business functions to embed governance into technology and change programmes (e.g. EDW, AI/ML).
• Support the data strategy by promoting a culture of data accountability, literacy, and stewardship.

What you'll need:

• Degree in Data Management, Information Governance, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Professional certifications preferred (e.g. DAMA CDMP, DCAM, ISO 8000).
• Proven experience in defining and implementing enterprise-wide data governance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of data protection legislation and regulatory standards (e.g. DPA 2018, GDPR, FCA SYSC, PRA SS1/21).
• Experience with Azure Purview, Unity Catalog, or similar data governance and metadata tools.
• Excellent understanding of data management principles including data quality, metadata, lineage, classification, and stewardship.
• Experience leading data governance initiatives in regulated environments such as financial services or insurance.
• Strong influencing skills to drive governance adoption across non-technical business units.
• Proficient in building business glossaries, data dictionaries, and classification frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills across all levels of an organisation.
• Awareness of data risk management and audit processes.
• Familiarity with data mesh, data fabric, or decentralised governance approaches (desirable).
• Knowledge of FCA/PRA frameworks relating to data governance and risk (desirable).

Our Benefits:

• Hybrid working - 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days over 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service. Plus bank holidays!
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Pension scheme - 5% employee, 6% employer
• Flexible working - we will always consider applications for those who require less than the advertised hours
• Flexi-time
• Healthcare Cash Plan - claim cashback on a variety of everyday healthcare costs
• Electric vehicle - salary sacrifice scheme
• 100's of exclusive retailer discounts
• Professional wellbeing, health & fitness app - Wrkit
• Enhanced parental leave, including time off for IVF appointments
• Religious bank holidays - if you don't celebrate Christmas and Easter, you can use these annual leave days on other occasions throughout the year.
• Life Assurance - 4 times your salary
• 25% Car Insurance Discount
• 20% Travel Insurance Discount
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Community support day