Data Governance Manager

Motability Operations Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Motability Operations is seeking a Data Governance Manager to lead the enterprise governance capability, owning strategy, operating model and framework. You will collaborate across Information Security, Risk, Legal, and Analytics to establish accountability for data ownership, quality and lifecycle, driving adoption and measurable governance maturity.

You will chair governance forums, influence executive leadership, and sponsor governance technology initiatives, ensuring regulatory compliance

Qualifications

• Experience establishing, leading and maturing enterprise Data Governance capabilities within a complex organisation.
• Proven ability to define and implement enterprise Data Governance strategies, operating models, frameworks and policies.
• Strong knowledge of industry Data Governance frameworks and best practice (DAMA-DMBOK and similar).
• Understanding of data-related regulatory obligations (GDPR, Data Protection Act, FCA, ISO 27001).
• Ability to sponsor technology strategy and work with governance tech and data engineers.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve the Data Governance strategy, operating model and framework across the organisation.
• Lead policy development for data ownership, classification, quality, metadata and retention.
• Drive adoption of governance practices across business functions and senior leadership.
• Chair governance forums and oversee policy compliance, risk and issue resolution.
• Partner with technology teams to align governance platforms and automation with strategy.

Skills

Data governance

Stakeholder management

Governance strategy

Regulatory compliance

Executive communications

Change management

Tools

Governance platforms

Metadata management

Data lineage tools

Job description

About The Role

Reporting to the Chief Information Security Officer, the Data Governance Manager is accountable for establishing, leading and continually evolving Motability Operations’ enterprise Data Governance capability. The role owns the organisation’s Data Governance strategy, operating model and framework, ensuring that data is managed as a trusted, secure and valuable business asset that supports regulatory compliance, effective decision-making and business innovation.

Working across Information Security, Data & Analytics, Enterprise Architecture, Risk, Legal and business functions, you will develop and embed governance policies, standards and processes that enable clear accountability for data ownership, quality, classification, retention and lifecycle management. You will establish governance as a core organisational capability, ensuring it is understood, adopted and consistently applied across all business domains.

As the organisational lead for Data Governance, you will build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, chair governance forums, influence strategic decision-making and drive a culture of accountability for data. You will work closely with executive leadership to establish governance priorities, oversee governance maturity, and ensure regulatory and business requirements are translated into practical, sustainable governance outcomes.

You will provide leadership for the organisation’s governance capability, sponsoring the evolution of governance technologies and working in close partnership with the Principal Data Governance Engineer to ensure the technical implementation of governance platforms, metadata management, lineage, automation and data quality capabilities fully supports the organisation’s governance strategy and operating model.

Success in this role will be measured through demonstrable improvements in governance maturity, business adoption, regulatory compliance, data ownership, policy adherence and the overall effectiveness of Data Governance as an enterprise capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Enterprise Data Governance Capability by defining, implementing and continually evolving the organisation’s Data Governance strategy, operating model and framework, ensuring governance supports the organisation’s strategic objectives, regulatory obligations and risk appetite.
• Lead Governance Strategy and Policy, establishing enterprise-wide governance policies, standards and guidance covering data ownership, classification, quality, metadata, retention, lifecycle management and regulatory compliance, ensuring these remain aligned to business priorities and industry best practice.
• Drive Organisational Adoption by embedding Data Governance across all business functions, developing governance communities, promoting clear accountability for data ownership, and fostering a culture where data is managed as a strategic business asset.
• Provide Executive Leadership and Influence by acting as the organisation’s senior business lead for Data Governance, building trusted relationships with Executive Leadership, senior business stakeholders, Information Security, Risk, Legal, Enterprise Architecture and Data & Analytics to drive governance priorities and informed decision‑making.
• Chair Governance Forums by establishing and leading enterprise governance councils and working groups, providing effective oversight of governance risks, policy compliance, ownership decisions, issue resolution and strategic prioritisation.
• Own Governance Maturity by defining governance objectives, maturity measures and key performance indicators, regularly assessing organisational capability and driving continuous improvement initiatives that increase governance effectiveness and business value.
• Sponsor Governance Technology by defining the business outcomes required from governance technologies and working in partnership with the Principal Data Governance Engineer to ensure governance platforms, metadata management, lineage, data quality and automation capabilities support the organisation’s governance strategy.
• Lead Regulatory and Risk Alignment by ensuring Data Governance supports compliance with regulatory obligations, information security standards and organisational risk management objectives, working closely with Risk, Compliance and Information Security teams to manage governance‑related risks.
• Develop Organisational Capability by establishing governance roles and responsibilities, supporting Data Owners and Data Stewards, delivering governance communications, training and awareness activities, and embedding consistent governance practices across the organisation.
• Represent Data Governance internally and externally, maintaining awareness of emerging legislation, regulatory expectations, industry frameworks and best practice, ensuring the organisation’s governance capability continues to evolve in line with business needs and the wider data management landscape.

About You

You are a strategic leader with a passion for helping organisations maximise the value of their data through effective governance. You understand that successful Data Governance is as much about people, culture and accountability as it is about policies, processes and technology. You are equally comfortable influencing Executive stakeholders as you are working alongside technical specialists to deliver meaningful organisational change.

You have a proven track record of establishing and leading enterprise Data Governance capabilities within complex organisations, bringing together business, technology, risk and security functions to deliver sustainable governance outcomes. You are able to balance regulatory requirements, commercial priorities and operational realities, ensuring governance enables the business rather than becoming a barrier to delivery.

You are recognised for your ability to build trusted relationships, influence senior decision‑makers and create consensus across diverse stakeholder groups. You are an effective communicator who can translate complex governance concepts into clear business outcomes, building engagement and accountability at every level of the organisation.

You understand modern data management practices, governance technologies and emerging industry trends, enabling you to define strategic direction and make informed decisions about the evolution of the organisation’s governance capability. While you possess a strong appreciation of governance technologies, you recognise the importance of empowering technical experts to define and deliver the underlying technical solutions.

You Should Have

• Demonstrable experience establishing, leading and maturing enterprise Data Governance capabilities within a complex organisation.
• Proven experience defining and implementing enterprise Data Governance strategies, operating models, frameworks and policies.
• Strong knowledge of industry Data Governance frameworks and best practice, including DAMA-DMBOK and other recognised governance standards.
• A thorough understanding of data‑related regulatory and compliance obligations, including GDPR, the Data Protection Act, FCA regulatory expectations and information security standards such as ISO 27001.
• Experience building effective governance operating models that establish clear accountability for Data Owners, Data Stewards and business stakeholders.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently with Executive leadership, business leaders and technical teams.
• Experience chairing governance forums, driving organisational change and building a culture of accountability for data across the enterprise.
• A strong understanding of modern data platforms, cloud technologies and governance tooling, with the ability to sponsor technology strategy and work effectively with technical specialists.
• An appreciation of emerging technologies, including AI and automation, and their implications for Data Governance, information management and regulatory compliance.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with pragmatic delivery, maintaining a relentless focus on business value, regulatory compliance and continual improvement.

Minimum Criteria

• Significant experience leading and maturing enterprise Data Governance capabilities within a complex, regulated organisation.
• Proven experience defining and implementing enterprise Data Governance strategies, operating models, frameworks and governance policies.
• Demonstrable success influencing senior leaders and driving organisation‑wide adoption of governance practices, delivering measurable improvements in governance maturity and business outcomes.
• Experience establishing governance operating models, including Data Owner, Data Steward and governance forum structures that embed accountability across the organisation.
• Strong knowledge of recognised Data Governance frameworks and best practice, including DAMA-DMBOK or equivalent industry standards.
• Sound understanding of regulatory, legal and information security requirements relating to data, including GDPR, the Data Protection Act, FCA regulatory expectations and ISO 27001.
• Experience partnering with Data, Technology, Information Security, Risk and Architecture functions to deliver enterprise governance capabilities.
• Strong understanding of modern data platforms, cloud technologies and governance tooling, with the ability to sponsor technology direction and make informed strategic decisions.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently at Executive and senior leadership level.
• Experience leading organisational change, driving cultural adoption and embedding governance practices across multiple business functions.

About The Company

Motability Operations is a unique organisation, virtually one of a kind. We combine a strong sense of purpose with a real commercial edge to ensure we provide the best possible worry‑free mobility solutions to over 800,000 customers and their families across the UK. Customers exchange their higher rate mobility allowance to lease a range of affordable vehicles (cars, wheelchair accessible vehicles, scooters, and powered wheelchairs) with insurance, maintenance and breakdown assistance included. We are the largest car fleet operator in the UK (purchasing around 10% of all the new cars sold in the UK) and work with a network of around 5,000 car dealers and all the major manufacturers. We pride ourselves on delivering outstanding customer service, achieving an independently verified customer satisfaction rating of 9.8 out of 10.

Our Values Are At The Heart Of Everything We Do. They Represent Ambition, And We Look For Our People To Live And Breathe Them Every Day

• We find solutions
• We drive change
• We care

We operate hybrid working across the organisation where we split our time between working on‑site at our offices, and at home, remotely within the UK. We believe hybrid working achieves a good work/life balance for our colleagues, allowing us to connect with each other, collaborate on important work, and perform together to deliver for our customers. It allows us to have the flexibility to work remotely up to 2-days per week whilst also using the great office spaces we have available.

As a Motability Operations Team Member, You Can Expect

• An annual discretionary bonus
• 15% non‑contributory pension (9% non‑contributory pension during probation period)
• Life assurance at 4 times your basic salary to give you peace of mind that your loved ones will receive some financial help
• Employee Discount Scheme with a huge number of retailers and an app to save on the go
• Discounted Electric/Hybrid Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme (we have showers, changing rooms and secure bike sheds on site)

We also understand that not everyone is the same so offer several voluntary benefits that you can select outside the core package, these include;

• Dental Insurance
• Health and cancer screenings for you and your partner
• Discounted gym memberships
• Charitable giving

At Motability Operations, we believe in building a diverse workforce, where our people are empowered to attend work as their true selves, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We want to sustain a culture that nurtures, where employees are free to flourish and where they’re rewarded equally, regardless of race, nationality or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or gender.

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer and as such, all our offices provide first rate disability access. With our hybrid working environment, we do our best to accommodate part‑time and flexible working requests where possible, building on our culture of trust, empowerment, and flexibility.

Please note, Motability Operations reserves the right to bring forward the closing date of any of its job vacancies if we receive a suitable number of quality applications from which to make a shortlist. Therefore, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible rather than wait until the published closing date.