VodafoneThree - Data Risk & Governance Lead

Vodafone Group Plc; Newbury; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and bonuses

Generous leave including bank holidays

Learning tools and career development

Job summary

Vodafone Group Plc is seeking a Data Governance Manager to lead UK data governance initiatives across multiple platforms and teams. You will shape governance as an enabler of innovation, ensuring secure access to data and scalable controls in a newly merged environment.

You will engage with Privacy, Legal, Cyber Security, and Analytics stakeholders to build trusted working relationships, drive policy adoption, and deliver measurable governance outcomes that align with business value.

Qualifications

• Vast experience in data governance, data management, or data risk within a complex enterprise environment.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, translating governance concepts into compelling business narratives.
• Experience designing or evolving data governance frameworks and integrating them into large-scale data initiatives.
• Experience working within federated governance models and driving organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of the UK Data Governance framework with proper access controls and data visibility.
• Transform governance into a competitive advantage by enabling faster data access.
• Translate data risks into practical governance standards, policies, and guardrails.
• Drive implementation and adoption of governance controls across platforms (e.g., GCP, EDW, Satori, Collibra).
• Collaborate with Privacy, Legal, Cyber Security, Data Platform, and Analytics teams to build trusted relationships.

Skills

Stakeholder influence

Governance mindset

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Tools

Collibra

Satori

GCP IAM

Dataplex

EDW

BI platforms

Job description

Location: Newbury + Hybrid

Salary: Excellent basic salary plus bonus and Vodafone benefits

Working hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week - Monday to Friday

Hybrid

We believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don't require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, for at least 8 days per month. You should work with your line manager to understand what their expectations are for you, your specific role and your team.

Who We Are

We're here to build a network the UK can count on - one that connects people, places and potential. Because no matter where you live, what your background is, or how you get online - we think everyone deserves the same chance to stay connected, and with VodafoneThree, that future's being built - today.

We're creating more than the UK’s best network. We're helping close the digital divide, empower communities and drive meaningful progress.

We believe that everyone should feel they belong. Whoever you are and whatever your story, there's space for you here. We're building a workplace where different perspectives are welcomed, voices are heard, and everyone feels safe to show up as themselves.

You'll join a team that genuinely cares - about each other, about our customers, and about the future we're building. From day one, you'll be welcomed, valued and encouraged to bring your whole self to work.

Why VodafoneThree

Join us and you'll be at the heart of change. That means building responsibly, investing sustainably and creating opportunities that last.

We're not just expanding connectivity; we're reimagining what a connected nation looks like. With £11bn invested in 5G and digital infrastructure, your work will directly power businesses, services, and communities across the country.

You'll work on real challenges, with real impact, across every corner of the country. Wherever you join us, whatever your role, you'll be helping to build a future that works better for everyone.

We move at pace, because what we're building matters - and we're learning as we go. We're proud of the progress we've made, but we're just getting started.

Join us at the heart of our business in Corporate, one of the central support functions that underpin our business and keep us moving forward. We provide centralised support, expertise and guidance across our UK and Group operations, continuing to build on our success and trailblazing the way to our next stage of digital growth.

What you'll do

We're creating something extraordinary as Vodafone and Three come together to build the UK's largest mobile network. As a Data Governance Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in helping teams unlock the value of data faster, safer, and more effectively. You'll ensure governance becomes an enabler of innovation rather than a barrier, creating the frameworks, guardrails, and processes that allow data products to be launched and operated with confidence. Working across a broad range of stakeholders, platforms, and business domains, you'll help shape how data is governed in a newly merged organisation while influencing strategic decisions that support our future growth.

• Lead the execution of the UK Data Governance framework, ensuring the right people have access to the right data at the right time while maintaining appropriate controls.
• Transform governance into a competitive advantage by reducing friction, accelerating access to information, and helping business teams realise value from data more quickly.
• Translate data risks into practical governance standards, policies, and platform guardrails that support both compliance and innovation.
• Drive the implementation and adoption of governance controls across key platforms including GCP, EDW, Satori, Collibra, Dataplex, Tableau, and Strategy.
• Partner closely with the Governance & Risk Manager to align risk insights with governance priorities and enterprise objectives.
• Influence and support the development of a scalable data ownership model that connects governance activity directly to business value and commercial outcomes.
• Collaborate with Privacy, Legal, Cyber Security, Data Platform, Analytics, Commercial, Marketing, and external regulatory stakeholders to build trusted relationships and drive alignment.
• Champion governance forums and contribute to strategic investment decisions as Vodafone and Three integrate technology, platforms, and operating models.
• Deliver automation initiatives alongside Operations and Data Quality teams, creating efficient, technology-led governance processes that increase adoption and reduce manual effort.
• Monitor and improve governance performance through measurable outcomes, including policy adoption, workflow automation, platform control implementation, and risk mitigation.

Who you are

• Vast experience in data governance, data management, or data risk within a complex enterprise environment.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, translating governance concepts into compelling business narratives that encourage engagement and adoption.
• Previous experience designing, implementing, or evolving data governance frameworks and integrating them into large-scale data initiatives.
• Showcase confidence working within federated governance models and supporting organisational change across diverse teams and functions.
• Excellent understanding of governance guardrails and access management approaches across modern data platforms and analytics ecosystems.
• An understanding and experience using Collibra, Satori, GCP IAM, Dataplex, enterprise data warehouses, and BI platforms.
• You will balance strategic thinking with practical delivery, ensuring policies translate into measurable outcomes and tangible business benefits.
• Ability to comfortably analyze risk and converting complex requirements into clear controls, standards, and operating practices.
• Showcase a collaborative and inclusive approach, bringing people together to solve problems, share knowledge, and achieve common goals.
• Ability to drive progress independently while building strong partnerships across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• You will have a passion for creating simple, scalable solutions that enable teams to work confidently with data.
• You will be motivated by delivering outcomes, improving adoption, and helping an organisation maximise the value of its data assets.

Worried that you don't meet all the desired criteria exactly?

We know that everyone is unique, with multiple aspects to their identity and different experiences behind them. We are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in.

We believe that everyone has valuable contributions to make. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage individuals with disabilities to apply for positions within our team. Through the 'Offer an Interview' scheme, we aim to offer interviews to a fair and proportionate number of applicants with disabilities who best meet the essential criteria for our vacancies. If you would like to participate in the scheme, you will have the opportunity to indicate this on your application.

What we offer

We care about our people’s success by offering great pay, bonuses, up to 28 days off plus bank holidays, and paid time for charity work. You can personalise our benefits for you and your family, like discounts, vouchers, a pension plan and loads more. We help with your career through our amazing learning tools and top-notch parental leave policies.

Need to Know

We are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and all offers of employment for this role are subject to background checks, including criminal (DBS) and financial checks to meet the regulators standards.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, or assistive technology, please refer to the Accessibility section of our Careers website (https://careers.vodafone.com/uk/reasonable-adjustments/) for guidance.

We use AI in different parts of our business to boost innovation, improve efficiency, and create new opportunities. We know many candidates use AI to fine-tune their CVs or prepare for interviews, but what we really care about is your unique experiences and achievements.

During the interview, we want you to rely on your own knowledge and skills to show us who you really are - your personality, creativity, and abilities. Above all, we're looking for authenticity and can't wait to get to know the real you.