Group Data & AI Governance Lead

Connells Group; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Connells Group seeks an experienced Group Data & AI Governance Lead to join our Group Technology team in Milton Keynes. This strategic leadership role will define governance frameworks, drive business ownership, and embed trusted, compliant use of data and AI across the organisation.

You will lead the development of the Group Data & AI Governance Operating Model, partner with business and tech teams, and establish governance forums and KPIs.

Qualifications

• Extensive background in data governance and data management.
• Experience implementing enterprise data governance frameworks.
• Experience establishing data ownership, stewardship and domain-based governance models.
• Knowledge of UK GDPR and information governance practices.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across business and technology.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and change leadership.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Microsoft Purview.
• Experience with data catalogue, metadata and lineage management tooling.

Responsibilities

• Define and mature enterprise Data & AI Governance frameworks, policies and standards.
• Establish Data Domains, Sub-Domains, Critical Data Assets and Critical Data Elements.
• Activate Data Owners, Data Stewards and Data Custodians ownership.
• Build and lead governance forums, stewardship communities and decision-making structures.
• Embed governance controls within Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft Purview, including cataloguing, lineage, classification and metadata management.
• Drive enterprise data quality management, issue remediation and continuous improvement.
• Lead Responsible AI governance, including model oversight, transparency, explainability and monitoring.
• Define governance KPIs and measuring adoption, maturity and control effectiveness.
• Ensuring governance is embedded into data products, analytics, AI initiatives and delivery lifecycles.

Skills

Data Governance

Data Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Change Leadership

Communication

Policy Development

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure

Microsoft Purview

Data Catalogue Tools

Metadata & Lineage Tools

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Group Data & AI Governance Lead to join our Group Technology team in Milton Keynes.

This is a strategic leadership role responsible for establishing and scaling enterprise-wide data and AI governance as a core business capability across Connells Group. You will define governance frameworks, drive business ownership, and embed the trusted, compliant and ethical use of data and AI throughout the organisation.

Working at the heart of our data transformation agenda, you will help ensure that governance becomes part of how the business operates and embedded in our Fabric Group Data Platform - not a compliance exercise.

We offer a hybrid working arrangement with one day per week in our Milton Keynes office.

What You'll Do

You will lead the development and implementation of the Group Data & AI Governance Operating Model, partnering with business leaders, technology teams, Information Security, Data Protection and Risk functions to drive governance adoption and accountability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Defining and maturing enterprise Data & AI Governance frameworks, policies and standards.
• Establishing Data Domains, Sub-Domains, Critical Data Assets and Critical Data Elements aligned to business capabilities.
• Activating business ownership through Data Owners, Data Stewards and Data Custodians.
• Building and leading governance forums, stewardship communities and decision‑making structures.
• Embedding governance controls within Microsoft Fabric and Microsoft Purview, including cataloguing, lineage, classification and metadata management.
• Driving enterprise data quality management, issue remediation and continuous improvement.
• Leading Responsible AI governance, including model oversight, transparency, explainability and monitoring.
• Defining governance KPIs and measuring adoption, maturity and control effectiveness.
• Ensuring governance is embedded into data products, analytics, AI initiatives and delivery lifecycles.

What Success Looks Like

You will help create a governance culture where:

• Business capabilities are aligned to clear data domains and ownership models.
• Critical business data is trusted, well‑defined and fit for purpose.
• Metadata, lineage and classifications are visible and actively maintained.
• Data quality issues are identified, managed and resolved through accountable ownership.
• AI solutions are governed responsibly, transparently and ethically.
• Governance enables innovation rather than creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You will bring:

• Proven experience in Data Governance & broader Data Management.
• Proven experience implementing enterprise data governance frameworks and operating models.
• Experience establishing data ownership, stewardship and domain‑based governance models.
• Knowledge of UK GDPR, risk management and information governance practices.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across both business and technology teams.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and change leadership capabilities.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Fabric, Azure and Microsoft Purview.
• Responsible AI or AI Governance frameworks.
• DAMA, DCAM, TOGAF or related methodologies.
• Data catalogue, metadata and lineage management tooling.

Connells Group UK is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.