Data Governance Manager

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Unity is delivering a shared Finance, HR and Procurement service across HMRC and partner departments through a large-scale transformation programme. Unity Technical Services (UTS) sits within HMRC CDIO and is responsible for delivering and operating the technology underpinning this multi-department shared service.

UTS is seeking a Lead Data Governance Manager to provide strategic leadership for data governance across the Unity Programme. The role is critical to ensuring data is trusted, well-governed, ethically managed and fit for purpose, supporting both programme delivery and long-term live service operation.

You will lead implementation of data governance frameworks, work closely with data owners across HMRC and partner organisations, and embed robust data management practices throughout the data lifecycle. You will also play a key role in managing data risk, improving data maturity, and supporting senior leaders to make informed, risk-based decisions.

Job Description At this role level you will be expected to:

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of data governance frameworks, policies and standards for the Unity Programme and UTS working within the existing frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with data owners, business leads and technical teams across HMRC and partner departments to embed effective data governance and ownership.
• Embed and apply data quality standards and mature wider data management capabilities, including data quality, metadata management, master data management, data modelling, data standards and data strategy.
• Apply governance controls across the end-to-end data lifecycle, ensuring best practice from data creation through to archival or disposal.
• Identify, assess and manage organisational data risks, coordinating with data owners to resolve, mitigate or formally accept risk in line with HMRC governance and assurance processes.
• Define and implement data standards, ensure compliance, and make recommendations where standards are breached.
• Lead activity to improve data maturity across Unity, monitoring progress and clearly communicating opportunities for improvement to senior stakeholders.
• Champion data ethics, privacy and compliance, ensuring ethical considerations are embedded within Unity data practices and decision-making.
• Act as a bridge between technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating complex data issues into clear, actionable insight.
• Support the development of a strong data-literate culture within Unity by promoting good practice and identifying learning and capability-building opportunities.
• Provide strategic advice, insight and assurance to UTS and Unity leadership to support safe, effective and value-driven use of data.

Person specification You'll have a demonstrable passion for delivery with the following skills or strong experience in:

Communicating Analysis and Insight

• Ability to turn complex data governance issues into clear, compelling and actionable insight.
• Experience communicating both positive and adverse messages to senior stakeholders and providing strategic recommendations.

Communicating Between the Technical and Non-Technical

• Proven ability to interpret and reconcile the needs of business, delivery and technical stakeholders.
• Confidence in facilitating challenging discussions and managing expectations at senior level.

Data Governance

• Hands-on experience implementing and monitoring data governance frameworks within large, complex organisations.
• Ownership of defined elements of a data governance framework, aligned to recognised standards and accreditation expectations.

Data Lifecycle and Data Management

• Strong understanding of data governance principles across the full data lifecycle.
• Experience designing and implementing continuous improvements to data governance and data management practices.

Data Ethics and Privacy

• Experience identifying and addressing ethical and privacy risks associated with data use.
• Ability to assess, challenge and improve data ethics approaches in line with organisational and regulatory requirements.

Data Standards and Data Maturity

• Experience in embedding data standards across the programme, aligning with existing practises ensuring that they are adopted/operationalised within the programme.
• Ability to lead initiatives to improve data maturity and assure compliance.

Risk-Based Decision Making

• Experience advising on complex data risks, applying proportionate risk methodologies and supporting informed decision-making.

Stakeholder and Strategic Leadership

• Strong stakeholder management skills, including building trusted, long-term relationships.
• Ability to operate strategically, shaping policies and approaches aligned to Unity and HMRC priorities.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience is data security and offshoring requirements
• An excellent knowledge of SAP ERP data migration tools and techniques and knowledge of methods associated with the Syniti data migration tool of choice
• Knowledge of and ability to manage the complex cross department data owners and key SME's

Desirable criteria:

• Familiarity with HMRC data governance frameworks
• Experience in working in a large IT programme environment

Further Location Information Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application.

Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits Alongside your salary of £58,541, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £16,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service

Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How To Apply As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following:

• A name-blind CV including your job history for the 3 most recent roles, up to 250 words on key responsibilities for each role.
• A 1000-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should be used to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, making reference to the essential criteria and person specification outlined in the advert.

Please complete a separate statement (Max 250 words) for the Desirable Criteria where applicable. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy-holder where candidates have the same scores at interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your CV.

At full sift your CV, and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.

We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

Interview During the panel interview, you will be asked questions based on the behaviours listed below to explore in detail what you are capable of.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form . Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we m