Data Governance Operating Model Business Lead

The Data Governance Operating Model Business Lead will establish a data governance operating model that will understand the current state of data governance, clarify requirements and objectives, prove value through validation and build buy in.

The role has three key objectives:
 

• To oversee the project, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives, managing risk and ensuring delivery.

 

• To act as an intelligent customer for the consultancy work, validating approaches and ensuring quality of delivery.

 

• Embed capability developed into the organisation. Define and agree an appropriate skills transfer and knowledge handover related to data governance frameworks, processes, and tools to ensure continuity and compliance post-contract.

 

• To advocate and promote the project, building consensus and developing internal skills.

Essential Experience 
 
1. Data Governance & Strategy Expertise 

• Strong understanding of data governance principles, frameworks, and best practices (e.g. DAMA, DCAM, CDMC). 
• Experience leading data governance initiatives within a public sector or geospatial organisation. 
• Knowledge of data management, data quality, metadata, and regulatory compliance. 

 2. Strategic Leadership & Business Change 

• Ability to align data governance with UKHO’s strategic objectives and articulate the business case for investment. 
• Working with Business Change (and capabilities) to manage cultural change, ensuring that data governance is embedded as a business priority. 

1. Programme & Supplier Management 

• Accustomed to working in programme/project management structures (MSP, Agile, or equivalent methodologies).  
• Ability to manage external suppliers, ensuring they deliver agreed milestones and outputs as specified in the DGOM business case.  
• Experience of budget management, risk assessment, and issue resolution to keep the project on track (to support project team). 

 4. Stakeholder Engagement & Communication 

• Experience of stakeholder engagement at executive and senior leadership levels across the organisation. 
• Experience of working with technology, data, and business teams to ensure alignment of governance with operational needs. 
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, capable of translating technical data governance concepts into clear business value. 

  
Desirable Experience 

• Experience in cloud data governance, managing data in hybrid cloud environments (in support of tech strategy). 
• Knowledge of AI/ML governance requirements and associated data readiness. 
• Experience of managing data operating model transformations at an enterprise level.