Data Governance SME

develop; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 111,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

develop is seeking an experienced Data Governance SME to join a major consulting engagement with a global pharmaceutical organisation. You will help build a federated Data Governance model across its R&D organisation, aligning thousands of people and diverse teams.

The role requires strong technical Data Governance / Data Management expertise, ability to operate independently in a complex client environment, and hands-on experience defining policies, standards and playbooks for data ownership

Qualifications

• Strong experience in technical Data Governance / Data Management.
• Experience developing Data Governance frameworks, policies, standards and playbooks.
• Comfortable working within large, complex and federated organisations.
• Able to understand data governance at a technical/data level.

Responsibilities

• Help develop and implement a federated Data Governance framework across R&D.
• Define and refine data governance policies, frameworks, playbooks and standards.
• Work closely with local Data Governance teams to align approaches across the organisation.
• Help establish consistent data ownership and governance processes.
• Develop and refine governance artefacts and operating processes.
• Work directly alongside the client team, engagement lead and other Data Governance specialists.
• Bridge the gap between high-level governance strategy and practical data management.

Skills

Data governance

Data management

Stakeholder management

Independent worker

Pharma/Life Sciences

Job description

Data Governance SME | Pharma | Contract | Inside IR35

I’m currently supporting a major consulting engagement with a global pharmaceutical organisation that is looking for an experienced Data Governance SME to join a large-scale R&D transformation.

The client is building a new federated Data Governance model across its R&D organisation, bringing together thousands of people and multiple teams that currently operate with different governance approaches, ownership models and data standards.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a strong technical Data Governance / Data Management background who can operate independently within a complex client environment.

What will you be doing?

• Help develop and implement a federated Data Governance framework across R&D
• Define and refine data governance policies, frameworks, playbooks and standards
• Work closely with local Data Governance teams to align approaches across the organisation
• Help establish consistent data ownership and governance processes
• Develop and refine governance artefacts and operating processes
• Work directly alongside the client team, engagement lead and other Data Governance specialists
• Bridge the gap between high-level governance strategy and practical data management

What are they looking for?

• Strong experience in technical Data Governance / Data Management
• Experience developing Data Governance frameworks, policies, standards and playbooks
• Comfortable working within large, complex and federated organisations
• Able to understand data governance at a technical/data level rather than purely from an industry or compliance perspective
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experienced enough to operate independently within a client environment
• Pharma / Life Sciences experience would be highly relevant

Location: UK – client-facing / hybrid

Initial engagement through to the end of 2026, with likely extension into mid-2027

Interviews can be arranged quickly, with the client looking to identify the wider project team urgently.

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