Data Governance Manager

Overview

Hello! Thanks for stopping by. Let us tell you about all the great reasons to join us here at Yorkshire Water:

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience (up to £84,000)
• A company car lease/allowance scheme (£4,980 cash allowance)
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 15% of annual salary)
• Private health care (Self and partner, if applicable)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays - plus an extra wellness day!
• A great benefits package - choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Buttershaw / Hybrid Working (1 - 2 days in the office a week - Bradford)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Data Governance Manager to join the Tech function at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water to provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

What we do

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it's so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire's water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region's health, wellbeing, and prosperity. New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The IT function is a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

Ready to lead a game changing transformation in how we govern data and processes? At Yorkshire Water, we're looking for a visionary leader to drive our enterprise-wide governance strategy, shaping the frameworks that underpin quality, compliance, and performance across the business. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders to embed a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. If you're passionate about driving excellence, influencing at the highest levels, and delivering meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you.

Where you fit in

As our Data Governance Manager, you will:

• Define strategic direction for Data Governance and Data Quality standards
• Develop and maintain Yorkshire Water's Data Governance & Quality Framework in collaboration with senior leaders
• Chair both the Data Owner & Data Steward forums, bringing together senior stakeholders to drive collaboration and make strategic data decisions.
• Lead the enterprise Data Quality (DQ) programme, defining DQ rules, metrics, and thresholds for Critical Data Elements (CDEs)
• Provide training, support, and guidance to the Data Stewards community to empower them to manage data quality and compliance within their domains.
• Champion the value of Data Governance and Data Management across the entire organisation.
• Oversee Metadata management and maintenance of a central Business Glossary and Data Catalogue, ensuring key data terms, definitions, business rules and data lineage are accurately documented and accessible.
• Develop and deliver data literacy and Data Governance training programmes to raise awareness and capability.
• Possess strong leadership skills with experience in managing change and driving cultural transformation.
• Ensure the Data Governance Framework directly supports and provides assurance for regulatory reporting to Ofwat, the Environment Agency (EA), and the DWI etc.
• Measure and report on maturity levels, setting clear targets with data/process owners
• Lead communication and engagement to embed Data Governance culture across all levels
• Monitor external trends and build partnerships to anticipate change
• Engage with external bodies to stay ahead of governance best practices
• Influence stakeholders at all levels to support transformation aligned with corporate values
• Establish and maintain sector-leading standards for data governance and quality
• Align frameworks with architectural design and other organisational structures (e.g. IMS, Audit, Risk & Controls, KPI tree)

What skills & qualifications you will need

• Proven experience in a senior Data Governance role, with a demonstrable track record of successfully implementing a Data Governance framework.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills, with the ability to engage with both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels.
• Degree-level qualification in a numerate, data-focused, or equivalent professional experience
• Practical knowledge or experience with at least one ISO standard related to data, process, or quality (e.g. ISO 38505, ISO 9000, ISO 27000, ISO 8000, ISO 37170, ISO 16175, ISO 15944)
• Certification or equivalent experience with deep understanding of Data Governance principles, methodologies, and best practices (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK).
• Proven track record of leading transformational change in large organisations using methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or Kepner-Tregoe.
• Hands-on experience implementing Data Governance Frameworks in complex organisational and environments
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, particularly with managers, senior leadership and directors
• Experience in drafting and implementing effective policies within large organisations, ideally aligned with ISO standards
• Demonstrates high standards of integrity and ethical conduct

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it's important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn't always easy!

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you've got experience in Data Governance and want to help us deliver great service for our customers whilst looking after the environment, then be sure to apply today to find out what a career with Yorkshire Water can offer you. If successful for the role, you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks that will include a Basic Disclosure Check, carried out through a Third-Party Company, prior to commencing employment. Depending on the role, you may also be required to go through the security vetting process for either a Counter Terrorist Check or Security Check clearance. All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.
We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.

Kelda Group reserve the right to close this position before the published closing date, should the need occur. We therefore advise that you complete and submit your application as soon as possible.