Data Governance Lead - Programme Advance

Smiths Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in data governance seeks a Data Governance Lead in Birmingham, England. This role involves developing and enforcing data governance frameworks, ensuring data accuracy and integrity, and leading data management initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a degree, a strong understanding of governance frameworks, and experience with data quality management. You will work closely with stakeholders while fostering a culture of data stewardship across the organization.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks and industry best practices.
• Proficiency in data management platforms and BI tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain data governance policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define data ownership and stewardship.
• Oversee compliance with data privacy and security requirements.

Skills

Data governance frameworks

Data quality management

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Data privacy regulations

Organizational skills

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

Azure Data Lake

PowerBI

Databricks

Job description

The Data Governance Lead will be pivotal to the success of Programme Advance, the HCM and Payroll transformation initiative—by ensuring that the foundation of all transformation activities is built on high-quality, trusted, and compliant data. As the organization transitions to new operating models and technologies, the Data Governance Lead will establish and enforce data governance frameworks that guarantee the accuracy, integrity, and security of employee and payroll data across all business units. This role will drive the development and implementation of policies, standards, and processes that support seamless data integration, master data management, and regulatory compliance. By collaborating with HR, Payroll, IT, and business stakeholders, the Data Governance Lead will enable the organization to unlock the full potential of its HCM and Payroll systems, facilitating efficient onboarding, payroll processing, workforce planning, and strategic decision-making. Through proactive stewardship and continuous improvement, the Data Governance Lead will help mitigate risks, address data-related pain points, and foster a culture of data-driven innovation. Ultimately, this leadership will ensure that Programme Advance delivers sustainable value, supports business objectives, and empowers employees with reliable information throughout the transformation journey. You will lead the establishment, management, and continuous improvement of the company’s data governance framework. Support senior management in developing and executing the organization’s strategic plan for data quality, compliance, and stewardship. Oversee the development and enforcement of data policies, standards, and processes to ensure the integrity, security, and effective use of data across Smiths Group and its divisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain data governance policies, standards, and procedures to ensure high-quality, trusted data across the organization.
• Establish and govern master/reference data, data quality management, data cataloguing, data lineage, and traceability as foundational pillars for all business units.
• Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to define data ownership, stewardship, and accountability models.
• Lead initiatives to improve data quality, resolve data issues, and drive adoption of data governance best practices.
• Oversee compliance with legal, regulatory (GDPR), and company requirements for data privacy, security, and usage.
• Facilitate the creation and maintenance of business glossaries, data dictionaries, and metadata management tools.
• Provide guidance and training to data stewards, business users, and technical teams on data governance principles and practices.
• Monitor and report on data governance metrics, including data quality KPIs, policy adherence, and remediation progress.
• Support the integration of data governance into project delivery, change management, and business-as-usual activities.
• Act as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex data governance queries and issues.
• Foster a culture of data stewardship and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Develop and design approval processes using workflows for master data.
• Define data quality metrics and drive continuous system and data improvement.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g. DAMA‑DMBOK), data management principles, and industry best practices.
• Strong experience with data quality management, data cataloguing, metadata management, and data lineage tools.
• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g. GDPR) and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in data management platforms (e.g. Azure Data Lake, Databricks) and BI tools (e.g. PowerBI).
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and organisational skills.
• Experience working with both onshore and offshore teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to interact at all levels of the organization.
• Experience in developing and delivering training and documentation for data governance initiatives.
• Passion for data, technology, and continuous improvement.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, or any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our careers website (Careers – Smiths Group plc).

Data Governance Lead • Birmingham, England, United Kingdom