Data Governance Lead

Imperial Brands PLC; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial Brands PLC is seeking an Enterprise Data Governance Lead to shape how data is owned, governed and managed across the organisation. You will drive a pragmatic governance framework enabling high-quality Data Products, reusable Data Assets, and self-service capabilities.

You will work with business and technology stakeholders to ensure accountability, policy compliance and data quality, delivering real business value while supporting growth and informed decision-making across the

Qualifications

• Experience in IT/engineering/data/cyber security or related discipline.
• Experience across data and technology domains (data, analytics, AI, data platforms, governance).
• Track record of developing strategic frameworks including roadmaps, standards, lifecycle plans, design guardrails, governance models.
• Strong understanding of enterprise technology delivery including security, service management, resilience.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to deliver pragmatic solutions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, ownership, stewardship, accountability models, and governance artefacts.
• Establish and oversee enterprise-wide governance standards for data quality, lineage, metadata, master data, and policy compliance.
• Lead governance forums and issue management, tracking cross-domain remediation and governance reporting.
• Define and manage governance enforcement mechanisms, addressing risks and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to embed governance controls within products, data assets, platforms, and delivery processes.
• Own and enhance governance capabilities and tooling, including governance tech and control evidence models.

Skills

Data governance

Data architecture

Data platforms

Analytics

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

IT/Engineering/CS background

Tools

Governance tooling

Policy management

Job description

Join an inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees, where data is recognised as a strategic asset and trusted information powers better business outcomes.

As the Enterprise Data Governance Lead, you will play a critical role in shaping how data is owned, governed, and managed across the organisation, enabling the safe and effective use of data at scale.

This is an exciting opportunity to establish and lead a pragmatic, business-focused governance framework that supports high-quality Data Products, reusable Data Assets, and self-service capabilities.

Working closely with business and technology stakeholders, you will drive clear accountability, policy compliance, and data quality standards, ensuring governance delivers real business value while supporting innovation, growth, and informed decision-making across the enterprise.

Principle Accountabilities

• Define andmaintainthe enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, ownership, stewardship, accountability models, and governance artefacts, ensuring consistent governance across all data domains.
• Establish and oversee enterprise-wide governance standards for data quality, lineage, metadata, master data, critical data elements, control requirements, glossary definitions, and policy compliance.
• Lead enterprise data governance forums and issue management processes, tracking cross-domain and end-to-end issue resolution, governance adherence, data quality risks, remediation plans, and the review of governance reporting and outputs.
• Define and manage governance enforcement mechanisms, whileidentifyingand assessing business risks and regulatory requirements related to data handling.
• Collaborate withvariousstakeholders to ensure governance controls are embedded within products, data assets, platforms, and delivery processes.
• Own and continuously enhance data governance capabilities and tooling, including governance management technology, control evidence models, and processes that support governance, issue resolution, and the safe sharing of data.

Skills and Experience Required

• Professional experience and qualificationsin Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Data, Cyber Security, Architecture, ora relateddiscipline.
• Significant experienceacross data and technology domains, including data, analytics, AI, data products, data platforms, governance, or data architecture, with a proventrack recordoperating as a senior specialist, technical lead, product/platform lead, or process owner.
• Demonstrable experience developing and managing strategic frameworksincluding roadmaps, standards, lifecycle plans, design guardrails, governance models, and service improvement plans within complex enterprise environments.
• Strong practical understanding of enterprise technology delivery, including architecture principles, security, service management, operational resilience, and supplier or partner operating models.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teamsto develop pragmatic and sustainable solutions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills, with the ability to balance innovation, cost, risk, reliability, compliance, and delivery feasibility.

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants.

About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration is driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all. Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we're fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.