Data Governance Manager

Job Summary

The Data Governance Officer will define and lead the organisation’s global data governance strategy.

Responsible for establishing and embedding a Framework of policies, standards and practices that enable the trusted, accessible and strategic use of all enterprise data.

This role will be instrumental in supporting major initiatives such as the development of AI capabilities, data warehouses and advanced data visualisation platforms. As the team is newly established, the Data Governance Officer will play a key role in shaping its structure and building its capabilities.

By championing best practices and continuous improvement, the role ensures that data is managed as a strategic asset, enabling informed decision-making and safeguarding sensitive information in line with the organisation’s commitment to compliance and operational excellence.

This role is remote first. The role comes with some expectation of travel of 3 - 4 times per year across our European locations.

What You'll Be Doing

Define, develop and implement a Global Data Governance Framework, that:

• Sets the requirements around Data Definition, Classification, Ownership and Quality.
• Establishes Policies, Standards, Templates and Best Practice.
• Is in line with relevant Aerospace and Defence and other regulatory requirements.
• Is relevant for all business functions and domains.

Embed the Data Governance Framework into the company by:

• Collaborating with Business Functions globally.
• Developing and delivering training programmes. 
• Acting as a subject matter expert on data governance for strategic projects and transformation initiatives.
• Identifying and coordinating data owners and stewards across the business.
• Leading Communities of Practice globally to spread knowledge and best practice.
• Working with IT teams to ensure the company’s data systems and infrastructure are in line with governance principles
• Leading or supporting audits and assessments related to data governance and regulatory compliance.

Support the design and implementation of AI, cloud-based data lakes, data warehouses, and data visualisation platforms.

Manage and resolve data governance issues, ensuring timely escalation and remediation.

Evaluate, select, and support the implementation of data governance tools and platforms.

What You'll Bring

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in data governance, data management, or information security within a regulated industry.
• Strong understanding of global data protection and aerospace/defence regulations.
• Experience with data governance tools, enterprise data architecture, and cloud-based data platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to establish data governance capabilities from the ground up in a complex organisation.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinking, analytical ability, and attention to detail.
• Project management skills and ability to drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to compliance and ethical data management.

Desirable

• Professional certifications (e.g. DAMA CDMP, CIPP/E, CISSP, TOGAF).
• Experience working specifically within aerospace and defence environments.
• Experience implementing or managing data governance operating models.
• Knowledge of metadata management, master data management (MDM), and data quality frameworks.

What We'll Offer