Data Governance Product Lead - Vice President

SMBC Bank International plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is looking for a Product Data Lead to establish a unified Product Taxonomy. This role requires strong banking product expertise, stakeholder engagement skills, and an ability to drive change. The ideal candidate will develop a product roadmap, ensure data quality across systems, and communicate effectively with various teams. The position offers competitive benefits, including hybrid working, health insurance, and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Hybrid and flexible working

Private medical insurance

Career progression opportunities

Competitive paid leave days

Qualifications

• Must have strong knowledge of Banking Products.
• Experience in setting up and managing Product Taxonomy required.
• Ability to deliver workable solutions and engage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a product roadmap for a single taxonomy.
• Drive aggregation of product data across multiple systems.
• Work with stakeholders to embed new cultures and ways of working.

Skills

Solid knowledge and expertise in Banking Products

Confident stakeholder engagement skills

Analytically minded with problem-solving experience

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Ability to think in an enterprise-wide manner

Education

Experience in a regulated framework

Exposure to MDM tools

Job description

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

The Product Data Lead is a critical role in the capturing and building of a single Product Taxonomy across SMBC within EMEA. This role will help SMBC to develop a deeper understanding of its product landscape and identify those systems where Products are managed and maintained. The ideal candidate must have a strong knowledge of the many facets of Banking Products.

The role will require working with stakeholders across all functions to dive into the Product lists held locally and ensure fit‑for‑purpose data, as we look to leverage best practice across the industry. The role also requires an ability to educate and convince stakeholders at all levels on the essential nature of this role and the long‑term benefits of the work being undertaken.

Business Area

The EMEA Data Office sits within the Operations, Planning and Data Department, covering all EMEA entities (including Securities and Banking subsidiaries) and all datasets. This team is responsible for defining and implementing the EMEA Data Strategy and building out its data management capabilities.

As part of this work, the EMEA Data Office has established a framework which encompasses cultural, behavioural, procedural, and system transformation to deliver the new strategy. This initially focuses on good governance by improved Data Architecture, Data Management and Data Quality, but as we evolve, will focus more on how we can use Data to drive new ways of working and improved business outcomes.

We have been formed to really drive data‑led transformation through the bank, and it is a great opportunity to join us at the very start of this exciting journey.

The EMEA Data Office has grown quickly to have over fifty members (permanent employees, contractors, and consultants) in less than 3 years, and is expected to grow further over the next 2–3 years.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Lead product vision and roadmap: Develop and implement a product roadmap designed to meet the needs of the organisation through a single taxonomy.
• Drive the aggregation of all product data through agreed and defined terms to link common data points across multiple systems.
• Define all SMBC Bank product features, pricing, terms, and conditions, ensuring and supporting the business to become compliant with risk and regulatory standards, as well as industry best practices.
• Contribute to building a strong product culture by establishing forums where appropriate and providing product leadership within the EMEA Data Office.
• Drive continuous improvement, identify opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains, ensuring they are sustained over time.
• Work alongside key stakeholders to embed new cultures and ways of working, both among the leadership and their teams.
• Establish consistent contact with all teams to provide updates, stay on track and report risks and issues timely with proven ability to quickly earn the trust of sponsors and key stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Essential:

• Solid knowledge and expertise in Banking Products.
• Previous experience of setting up and managing a successful Product Taxonomy, including both project and support aspects.
• Analytically minded with experience in problem solving and being able to communicate workable solutions.
• Understanding of Product governance practices.
• Ability to think in an enterprise‑wide manner, rather than a siloed or business unit focused fashion.
• Analytically minded with the enthusiasm to problem solve and be able to implement and deliver solutions.
• Confident stakeholder engagement skills to communicate and achieve buy‑in from stakeholders across EMEA.
• An understanding of Physical, Logical, and Business data Models.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint and MS Project.
• Proven ability to be a team player, while retaining the ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Confident manner and strong presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and see challenges through to resolution.
• Exposure to MDM tools, like Informatica and other Product Management tools.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of data related regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of emerging trends and issues within the Data Management landscape.
• Experience working in regulated frameworks, ideally financial services.
• Experience with SharePoint.

Challenges

• Centralised Product Management / Governance is a new concept within the organisation - therefore good project and communication skills are required.
• The candidate must be willing to challenge the status quo in an empathic manner, while helping the wider team to have an ethos of openness and transparency that will help us nurture real business innovation.
• Support the drive and collaboration of a Product Governance Framework for the organisation.

Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Driving Change
• Driving Results
• Embraces Diversity
• Enterprise Leadership
• Judgement and Decision Making
• Risk Management
• Strategic and Visionary
• Trust and Integrity

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it's only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well‑being and work‑life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. Below are some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!

We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under‑represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We'll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long‑term condition whenever requested.

About SMBC

A trusted partner for the long term

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, we deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers, including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products. We can also provide investment banking and advisory services and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.

Find out more about what we do and who we are at https://www.smbcgroup.com/emea/careers