Head of Data Governance and Data Architecture

United Kingdom Government; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid working

Civil Service pension

Learning and development opportunities

Generous leave

Job summary

HMRC Valuation Office is seeking a senior leader to define and drive the organisation's data strategy, governance, and architecture. You will engage senior stakeholders across VO, HMRC and government to deliver data-led change in a fast-paced environment.

The role requires delivering strategic data initiatives, ensuring data trust, and building a high-performing, inclusive team. Hybrid working with a strong focus on collaboration is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience setting and delivering a strategic vision for data-led change.
• Ability to secure senior-level buy-in and engage stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of data governance and strategy alignment.
• Experience with data architecture and data maturity improvements.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision for the organisation's use of data.
• Lead VO’s data architecture, governance, ownership and stewardship.
• Set principles, standards and guardrails for data across the VO.
• Drive data quality and governance bodies; align with the Data Strategy.
• Build senior-level engagement across VO, HMRC and government.
• Set the strategic direction for data governance across VO.
• Lead design of VO's data architecture and enterprise data models.
• Provide senior architectural assurance across VO and major transformation programmes.
• Lead the VO data governance framework with clear ownership and metadata.
• Drive delivery of the Data Strategy implementation and data maturity programme.
• Lead and develop a high-performing specialist team (4 team leaders, ~12 staff).
• Be a senior member of the ID&A leadership team, deputising as required.
• Champion VO data architecture and governance externally with partners.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Data governance

Data architecture

Strategic thinking

Job description

Salary: £68,000 - 108,000 per year

Requirements

• We are looking for a passionate and collaborative leader who can engage senior stakeholders, build trust and drive data-led change across a complex organisation.
• We need an excellent communicator with strong relationship-building skills, able to inspire high-performing teams, foster an inclusive culture, and navigate competing priorities with confidence.
• You should demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience in setting and delivering a strategic vision for data-led change, securing senior-level buy-in and engaging internal and external stakeholders.
• You should have a strong understanding of data governance and be able to define a data governance strategy that connects with wider organisational strategy.
• You should have a strong understanding of data architecture, data trends and experience of enhancing data maturity within a fast-paced, dynamic delivery organisation.
• You should have excellent communication and influencing skills, including presenting expert subject matter, influencing stakeholders, briefing senior management and motivating staff.
• You should have a profound understanding of how information and data are used to support delivery of business outcomes.
• You should be resilient in managing conflicting priorities, often at pace.
• You should demonstrate a visible, enabling leadership style that champions inclusion, collaboration and a high-performance culture.
• Desirable: experience of developing and delivering a data strategy or enterprise data improvement programme.
• Desirable: understanding and experience of geospatial information sources, how they are acquired, managed, assessed and exploited.

Responsibilities

• We will set the vision for the organisations use of data.
• We will lead the VOs data architecture, data governance, ownership and stewardship model, ensuring our data is trusted, secure, high-quality, discoverable and transparently managed.
• We will set the principles, standards and guardrails for data across the Valuation Office.
• We will drive stewardship and data quality, lead governance bodies and ensure alignment with the Data Strategy, HMRC Enterprise Data Strategy and the National Data Strategy.
• We will build senior-level engagement and commitment to data-led change across VO, HMRC and wider government.
• We will set the strategic direction for data governance across VO.
• We will lead the design of VOs data architecture, establishing enterprise data models and architectural standards that support business priorities and transformation programmes.
• We will provide senior architectural assurance across VO and major transformation programmes.
• We will lead the VOs data governance framework, embedding clear accountability for data ownership, stewardship, quality, access controls and metadata.
• We will drive delivery of the Data Strategy implementation plan, including the data maturity programme.
• We will lead and develop a high-performing specialist team, including direct line management of four team leaders and oversight of a wider team of around 12 colleagues.
• We will act as a senior member of the ID&A leadership team, contributing to directorate-wide strategy, planning, prioritisation and delivery, and deputising for the Deputy Director where required.
• We will champion VOs data architecture and governance approach externally, collaborating with HMRC, cross-government partners and professional communities.

Technologies

• Support
• Architect
• Embedded
• LESS
• Security
• Web

More

We are HMRC Valuation Office, formerly known as the Valuation Office Agency, now integrated into HMRC. We are public sector property valuation experts and advisers, with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. Our work supports the collection of over 60 billion of revenue that goes back into communities across England and Wales. Data sits at the heart of everything we do, and this role offers the opportunity to shape data culture and maturity across the organisation. The role sits within our Information, Data and Analysis division, a friendly and knowledgeable directorate of around 130 colleagues across data, analytical and other professions, based in various locations across the country. We support learning and development, career growth, innovation and an inclusive team culture. This role is available in Bristol, Tower Hamlets, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne or Sheffield, and we offer flexible and hybrid working, with 60% of working time in the office and up to 2 days a week from home where the role allows. We also offer generous leave, family-friendly policies, personal support, coaching and development, and a Civil Service pension with substantial employer contributions.

last updated 36 week of 2026