Data Management Lead

Portman Finance Group; Northampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

10-15% Annual Bonus

Enhanced annual leave

Salary sacrifice pension

Quarterly all-staff events

Job summary

A UK financial services provider is looking for a Data Management Lead to oversee their data governance framework and improve data management controls. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in data management and security, leading a team to implement comprehensive data security measures. This role is based in Northampton and includes competitive pay, an annual bonus, and prospects for personal development within a vibrant office environment.

Qualifications

• Typically 5+ years of relevant experience in data management including data security.
• Strong practical experience in data management including security and cybersecurity.
• Demonstrable experience implementing security or data control changes.
• Strong understanding of the data lifecycle.
• Experience in regulated environments (financial/services).
• Knowledge of UK GDPR/PECR; ability to apply pragmatically.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and improve data governance framework and data management controls.
• Review and assess data security controls across systems.
• Lead the Data Management Group and take ownership of implementing changes.
• Provide risk reporting on data risks and remediation to senior stakeholders.
• Lead the Data Management Group and implement agreed changes.
• Ensure data management policies and frameworks are up to date.
• Support third‑party data sourcing with due diligence and security controls.
• Balance data opportunities with regulatory and security risk.

Skills

Data management

Data security

Cybersecurity

Stakeholder management

Risk reporting

Regulatory compliance

Risk reporting

Threat awareness

UK GDPR compliance

Education

Relevant certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM)

CISM

ISO 27001

Job description

Data Management Lead | Onsite | Northampton NN4

Competitive Salary + 10-15% Annual Bonus

The Data Management Lead is responsible for overseeing and improving Portman’s data governance framework, data management controls and data security posture. This role will lead the data management group, review and challenge existing security and data controls, and be accountable for implementing agreed improvements across systems, processes, and suppliers.

The ideal candidate will act as a subject matter expert on data management including security and data risk, and be able to provide pragmatic, risk-based advice rather than theoretical guidance.

The role requires strong practical experience in data management including security and cybersecurity, combined with the ability to operate across technology, compliance, and marketing/commercial teams. A secondary responsibility of the role is to support the safe acquisition and use of third‑party data, including prospecting and marketing datasets.

Responsibilities

• Review, assess, and continuously improve data security controls across systems, platforms, and suppliers
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place for:
• Data access and permissions
• Data storage, transmission, and retention
• Encryption, identity, and authentication
• Maintain awareness of current cybersecurity threats and ensure controls reflect real-world attack vectors
• Support incident response relating to data security events, breaches, or near misses
• Lead the Data Management Group and take ownership of implementing agreed changes.
• Own and maintain data management policies, standards, and control frameworks
• Ensure alignment with UK GDPR, PECR, FCA expectations (where applicable), and internal risk frameworks
• Provide clear reporting on data risks, control effectiveness, and remediation activity to senior stakeholders
• Track remediation actions and ensure timely completion
• Act as a point of escalation where data or security risks are not being adequately addressed
• Support the identification, assessment, and procurement of third‑party data sources
• Ensure appropriate due diligence, contractual protections, and security controls are in place
• Work with commercial teams to balance data opportunity with regulatory and security risk

Requirements

Skills and Experience Required

• Typically 5+ years’ relevant experience in data management including data security, information security, or related roles, with demonstrable ownership of security and data control implementation.
• Experience reviewing, designing, or improving data security controls across systems and platforms
• Demonstrable experience implementing security or data control changes, not just defining policy
• Strong understanding of the data lifecycle (collection, storage, use, sharing, retention, disposal)
• Practical knowledge of common cyber threats (e.g. phishing, credential compromise, data exfiltration, insider risk) and appropriate mitigating controls
• Experience assessing third‑party risk, including suppliers, data providers, or technology partners
• Strong working knowledge of UK GDPR, PECR and data protection principles, with experience applying them pragmatically
• Ability to challenge technical and non‑technical stakeholders on data and security risks
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience working across Technical, Compliance, and Commercial teams
• Experience producing clear risk reporting for senior management or governance groups
• Experience in a regulated environment (e.g. financial services, professional services, regulated technology)
• Hands‑on cybersecurity background or close working relationship with security teams
• Experience supporting or responding to security incidents involving data
• Experience procuring or assessing third‑party datasets, including prospecting or marketing data
• Relevant certifications (e.g. CISSP, CISM, ISO 27001, or equivalent) - beneficial but not essential

Personal Attributes

• Excellent written and oral communications skills;
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Strong organisational skills with a high attention to detail;
• Ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks at any given time in a fast‑paced environment;
• Pro‑active and enthusiastic with a can‑do attitude;
• Good commercial acumen; and
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as being a team player.
• Competitive basic salary and annual bonus;
• Vibrant, high‑spec office environment;
• Enhanced annual leave, increasing with length of service;
• Salary sacrifice pension;
• Quarterly all‑staff events and dynamic culture

Company Overview

Portman Finance Group was established in 2007 to provide UK SMEs with access to a range of finance options under one roof. We have now arranged over £1.5 billion in funding for over 15,000 companies.

Portman secure finance for businesses of all sizes via our own lending and panel of over 40 partners. We offer flexible payment terms, reducing large initial outlays and protecting cash‑flow, and are one of the largest privately owned Broker‑Lenders in the UK.

Please note that as part of the recruitment process a criminal records check/credit history check will be carried out by an authorised third party.