Data Governance and Protection Lead

Fusion Energy Base; Abingdon; On-site; GBP 105,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 7%

Pension 21.5%

25 days + 2.5 privilege days

Site closure over Christmas

Flexible working

Job summary

UKAEA is seeking a Data Governance and Information Protection Lead on a 2-year Fixed-Term Appointment to strengthen data governance and information protection across the organisation. You will operate the enterprise data governance framework, ensure data is compliant, classified, protected and securely accessed and shared, and align with UKAEA’s Knowledge & Information Management direction.

Collaborating with the Knowledge & Information Manager and Head of Data Solutions, you will drive

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent experience in information management, data governance or STEM field.
• Experience building and operating data governance frameworks and protection controls.
• Experience with data quality checks and metadata handling.

Responsibilities

• Operate and improve the enterprise data governance framework
• Ensure data is compliant, classified, protected and access is secure

Skills

Data governance

Information protection

Data management

Stakeholder management

Data quality checks

Education

Degree (or relevant experience) in Library, Information Management or STEM subject

Tools

Microsoft Purview

Job description

Data Governance and Protection Lead

Overview of ResponsibilitiesAbout us Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.

About the job Contract: 2-year Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA) The Data Governance and Information Protection Lead will work closely with the Knowledge & Information Manager and Head of Data Solutions to develop and continuously improve data governance and information protection practices across UKAEA. As an internal specialist, you will operate the enterprise data governance framework and information protection controls, ensuring data is compliant, well managed, appropriately classified, protected, and securely accessed and shared. You will also help align data governance and information protection with UKAEA’s information architecture and Knowledge & Information Management (KIM) direction, supporting greater organisational maturity, accountability, risk visibility and secure knowledge sharing. In this role, you will analyse governance and information protection issues, recommend process and system improvements, and provide specialist advice to influence consistent practice across the organisation.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Data Governance, KIM & Compliance: Operate and continuously improve the enterprise data governance framework, aligned with KIM strategy, information architecture and organisational priorities, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and internal policies.
• Metadata, Standards, Protection & Data Quality: Manage enterprise metadata and governance tools, including Microsoft Purview, ensuring consistent application of data standards, classification, labelling and secure handling, while monitoring data quality and access across priority datasets.
• Risk, Monitoring & Reporting: Maintain visibility of data and information risks, monitor protection controls and governance effectiveness, and develop KPIs, dashboards and reports to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Advice, Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Provide specialist advice on data governance, information protection and KIM practices, working with teams and data owners across UKAEA to embed consistent approaches and deliver practical improvements.
• Projects, Resources & Capability: Manage assigned governance and information protection activities, contributing to resource and tooling planning, capability development and the prioritisation of governance activities.

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Degree (or relevant experience) in a Library, Information Management or STEM subject
• Significant experience in data governance, information protection, data management, or information management within a complex organisation.
• Practical experience operating data governance frameworks, information protection controls and related tools (e.g. Microsoft Purview or equivalent).
• Experience performing and analysing data quality checks.
• Strong understanding of data standards, metadata, governance processes and secure information handling.

Desirable

• Familiarity with KIM frameworks, DAMA-DMBOK, information protection standards or relevant ISO standards.
• Experience supporting compliance, audit, or assurance activities.
• Experience producing KPIs, dashboards, and management reporting.
• Professional accreditation or working towards chartered status in a relevant discipline.
• Experience in research, engineering and / or industrial organisations.

UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.

Benefits

• A salary of £57,117 (inclusive of a £5,800 specialist allowance)
• Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
• Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus 2.5 privilege days; 8 Bank Holidays
• 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
• Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions

Our commitment to ED&I

UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility, and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.

Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require adjustments to help you participate fairly in our recruitment process, for example changes to the way we interview or share information. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment experience for all candidates.

We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All appointments are made on merit and further information can be found here.

Salary

£57,117 (inclusive of Specialist Allowance) + excellent benefits including outstanding pension

Programme Department Data Solutions Discipline Science Site Location UKAEA Culham, Oxfordshire Type of Employment Full-time Reference Number REF4558Y

Qualifications Additional Information