Programme Lead Data Governance Consultant

DataCareers; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

DataCareers is seeking a Programme Lead to drive the organisation-wide Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) capability, collaborating with senior data protection leadership to deliver tooling, data quality, governance and adoption across Digital, Legal and business functions.

The role involves initial discovery and potential procurement decisions, with a focus on UK GDPR compliance and scalable, auditable processes within a large public sector setting.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering GDPR, data protection or governance initiatives.
• Proven track record implementing Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Experience leading organisation-wide programmes involving multiple business functions.
• Experience with DPIA processes and tooling.
• Experience with public sector procurement and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Act as the delivery lead for ROPA implementation activities.
• Develop and maintain the ROPA delivery strategy, plan, milestones, dependencies and risk management approach.
• Coordinate delivery across Digital, Data, Data Protection, Security, Legal and business areas.
• Provide clear progress reporting to senior stakeholders, programme boards and governance forums.
• Identify, manage and escalation delivery risks, issues and dependencies.
• Ensure ROPA activity remains aligned with organisational priorities, data governance requirements and data protection obligations.

Skills

GDPR / Data protection initiatives

ROPA frameworks

UK GDPR & Data Protection Act

Cross-functional programme leadership

Senior stakeholder management

Governance, assurance & operating 개발?

DPIA processes & tooling

Public sector procurement & supplier管理

Data governance platforms

Job description

3 days a week onsite and 2 days working from home - Office locations are based across the North West and North East of England and Birmingham

Role Overview

The ROPA Programme Lead will lead the delivery and implementation of an organisation-wide Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) capability. Working closely with senior data, digital and data protection leadership, the postholder will provide strategic and delivery leadership across ROPA tooling, implementation, data quality, governance, business engagement and organisational adoption.

The role will initially support an existing Data Protection Officer-led ROPA tooling project, currently in discovery. The postholder will assess whether the proposed solution meets organisational, operational and regulatory requirements and, where necessary, lead the assessment and procurement of an alternative solution or oversee enhancements to existing organisational technology.

The successful candidate will have significant experience delivering data protection, GDPR, governance or compliance initiatives within a Central Government or wider Public Sector organisation, together with demonstrable experience implementing and managing ROPA frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the delivery lead for ROPA implementation activities.
• Develop and maintain the ROPA delivery strategy, plan, milestones, dependencies and risk management approach.
• Coordinate delivery across Digital, Data, Data Protection, Security, Legal and business areas.
• Provide clear progress reporting to senior stakeholders, programme boards and governance forums.
• Identify, manage and escalation delivery risks, issues and dependencies.
• Ensure ROPA activity remains aligned with organisational priorities, data governance requirements and data protection obligations.

ROPA Tooling and Solution Assessment

• Work closely with the Data Protection team to support the existing ROPA tooling initiative.
• Review and assess business requirements, data models, workflows, reporting and functionality.
• Evaluate whether the current solution meets UK GDPR, Data Protection Act and organisational requirements.
• Identify gaps and make recommendations for improvements, enhancements or alternative implementation approaches.
• Ensure senior data management requirements are fully represented within the solution.
• Where required, lead the assessment and selection of alternative ROPA tooling.

Procurement and Solution Development

Where the existing approach does not meet requirements:

• Lead requirements gathering and detailed gap analysis.
• Define functional and non-functional requirements for a ROPA solution.
• Develop options appraisals and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Lead or support market engagement and supplier assessment.
• Develop procurement documentation, evaluation criteria and requirements specifications.
• Support supplier due diligence and procurement activity.

Where an existing organisational platform is selected:

• Define the enhancements required to meet ROPA obligations.
• Work with technical teams to oversee solution design and delivery.
• Ensure the solution is scalable, maintainable, secure and compliant.

Implementation and Organisational Rollout

• Develop and deliver the ROPA implementation strategy.
• Create deployment, onboarding and business readiness plans.
• Coordinate implementation activities across business areas.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and organisational adoption.
• Establish appropriate support arrangements, user guidance and operating processes.
• Ensure implementation delivers comprehensive and consistent ROPA coverage across the organisation.

Business Engagement and Data Collection

• Engage with business units and operational teams to identify relevant processing activities.
• Lead workshops and stakeholder sessions to support the identification and documentation of processing activities.
• Support business areas in completing and maintaining ROPA records.
• Develop guidance, templates and supporting materials for data capture.
• Challenge and validate submissions to ensure information is complete, accurate and appropriate.
• Drive organisational awareness and adoption of ROPA responsibilities.

Data Quality, Assurance and Governance

• Establish ROPA data standards and quality requirements.
• Define clear data ownership and accountability arrangements.
• Develop quality assurance and validation processes.
• Establish approval and review workflows.
• Define processes for ongoing maintenance and periodic review of ROPA information.
• Develop management information and reporting arrangements.
• Establish an assurance framework and appropriate data quality metrics.
• Develop compliance monitoring and escalation arrangements.
• Ensure ROPA information remains accurate, complete and up to date.

Training and Capability Development

• Deliver training sessions, workshops and awareness activities.
• Produce user guidance, FAQs and supporting documentation.
• Build understanding of ROPA obligations, roles and responsibilities across the organisation.
• Support transition from programme delivery into sustainable business-as-usual operations.

The postholder will be expected to contribute to or lead the development of:

• ROPA delivery strategy and implementation approach.
• ROPA requirements specification.
• Current-state assessment and tooling gap analysis.
• Tooling options appraisal and recommendations.
• Procurement documentation, where required.
• Implementation and rollout plan.
• Communications and adoption plan.
• Training materials and user guidance.
• ROPA data assurance framework.
• Governance and operating model.
• Management information and reporting approach.
• Final handover and transition documentation.

Essential Experience and Skills

The successful candidate must have:

• Significant experience working within Central Government or the wider Public Sector, preferably in a large, complex and highly regulated organisation.
• Significant experience delivering GDPR, Data Protection or related information governance initiatives.
• Extensive practical experience implementing, managing or improving Records of Processing Activities (ROPA) frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and organisational accountability requirements.
• Demonstrable experience assessing, selecting, procuring or implementing compliance, data governance or information governance tooling.
• Experience leading organisation-wide programmes involving multiple business functions and stakeholder groups.
• Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience developing governance, assurance and operating models.
• Experience establishing data quality, ownership and accountability frameworks.
• Experience leading business engagement, change and adoption activities.
• Strong programme and delivery management skills, including management of risks, issues, dependencies and governance.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex data protection and governance requirements into practical business processes.
• Experience working directly with a Data Protection Officer, Senior Responsible Owner, Chief Data Officer or equivalent senior governance leadership.
• Experience delivering ROPA capability within a large Central Government department or public body.
• Experience with DPIA processes and tooling.
• Experience of public sector procurement and supplier management.
• Experience implementing enterprise data governance or information governance platforms.
• Knowledge of Government Digital Service (GDS) standards and public sector delivery practices.
• Experience transitioning programmes into sustainable business-as-usual operating models.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be:

• A confident and credible programme leader who can operate effectively at senior level.
• Highly collaborative and able to work across Digital, Data Protection, Legal, Security and business teams.
• Comfortable operating in complex and changing environments.
• Pragmatic and outcome-focused, with strong attention to detail.
• Able to challenge constructively and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Skilled at translating regulatory and governance requirements into workable solutions.
• Proactive in identifying risks, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Committed to building sustainable capability rather than simply delivering a technology solution.

Desired Outcomes

At the conclusion of the programme, the organisation will have:

• A fit-for-purpose ROPA solution.
• Comprehensive, accurate and maintained records of processing activities.
• Clear ownership and accountability for ROPA information.
• Defined data quality, assurance and compliance controls.
• Trained and confident business users.
• Effective reporting and governance arrangements.
• Sustainable processes for ongoing ROPA maintenance and review.
• An embedded ROPA operating model capable of evolving with organisational and regulatory requirements.

Experience Level

This is a senior programme leadership role requiring a proven track record of delivering complex data protection, data governance or compliance programmes within Central Government or the Public Sector. Candidates should be able to demonstrate both strategic leadership and hands‑on delivery experience across ROPA, tooling, governance, stakeholder engagement and organisational change.