Data Governance Lead

TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC; Salford; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading telecommunications company as a Data Governance Lead, driving enterprise-wide data governance initiatives focused on cloud platforms like Databricks and Azure. You will establish governance frameworks, enforce compliance, and lead key data governance activities in a dynamic workplace that values inclusivity and innovation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or data architecture.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks and Azure services.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise-level data governance frameworks.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate governance within cloud environments.
• Lead the Data Governance Council and engage stakeholders.

Skills

Data governance frameworks

Data management

Data architecture

Data privacy

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Management

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Bachelor's degree in Business

Tools

Databricks

Microsoft Azure

Azure Purview

Azure Data Factory

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Data Governance Lead to drive enterprise-wide data governance initiatives with a focus on modern cloud data platforms, specifically Databricks and Microsoft Azure. This role will define and enforce data policies, standards, and best practices that ensure high data quality, security, and regulatory compliance across our data ecosystem. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to embed governance into our cloud-based data architecture and analytics processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and implement enterprise-level data governance frameworks, standards, and operating models, aligned with business objectives and compliance requirements.

Collaborate with data engineering and platform teams to integrate data governance within Databricks and Azure environments, including Data Lake, Synapse, and Purview.

Define and enforce data classification, access management, and lineage tracking using Azure-native and third-party tools.

Lead the Data Governance Council, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and ensure alignment across business, IT, compliance, and security teams.

Establish data quality metrics, rules, and monitoring mechanisms across cloud data pipelines and lakehouses.

Champion the use of metadata management, data catalogs (e.g., Azure Purview, Unity Catalog), and standardized business glossaries.

Provide governance oversight for data sharing and consumption in Databricks notebooks, Power BI reports, and machine learning workflows.

Drive awareness and adoption of governance policies through training, documentation, and data literacy programs.

Ensure data governance supports regulatory compliance, (e.g. GDPR) and internal risk frameworks.

Qualifications:

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Business, or a related field.

5+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or data architecture.

Hands-on experience with Databricks and/or Microsoft Azure data services (e.g., Data Lake Storage, Synapse, Purview, Azure Data Factory).

Strong understanding of data governance frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK.

Familiarity with data privacy, security, and compliance regulations.

Preferred:

Certifications in Azure (e.g., Azure Data Engineer, Azure Fundamentals) or Databricks (e.g., Lakehouse Fundamentals).

Experience with governance tools such as Azure Purview.

Knowledge of modern data platforms and data lakehouse architecture.

Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence across functions.

As a recognised Top 50 Inclusive Employer in the UK, we know that diversity means success and innovation. We want our workplace to reflect the communities and customer we serve. Being inclusive is part of our DNA; we are all 100% human, and we create a culture where you can truly be yourself.

We’re also not your usual 9-5. We are a dynamic workplace and we want to talk to you about how you like to work.