VP - Defence Data Governance

Rolls-Royce plc; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Retirement Savings

Group Life Assurance

Income Protection

Employee Shares Plan

Job summary

Rolls-Royce plc is seeking an accomplished executive to lead Defence Data Governance at enterprise level. The role translates complex regulatory obligations into a clear programme roadmap, balancing security, sovereignty and continuity.

As VP Defence Data Governance you will build a high-performing, cross-functional team across Defence, Group Digital, IT, Cyber, Legal and Finance, maintaining trusted relationships with UK Government, MOD, customers and suppliers. Travel as required.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading enterprise-wide programmes or transformations.
• Strong strategic and enterprise thinking with practical implementation ability.
• Ability to connect technical, regulatory and commercial themes into a clear direction.
• Exceptional communication skills with senior stakeholders (C-suite/Board).
• Experience engaging with UK Government and MOD in a Defence context.
• Understanding of risk, governance and accountability in regulated environments.
• Knowledge of data governance, cyber security and digital technology.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise leadership for Defence data governance across the organisation.
• Translate regulatory and contractual obligations into priorities and investments.
• Establish governance, decision rights and accountability for Defence data lifecycle.
• Balance security and sovereignty with operational continuity and efficiency.
• Build and lead a high-performing multi-disciplinary team.
• Sponsor responsible use of AI, automation and analytics for regulatory insight.
• Develop relationships with Rolls-Royce, UK Government, MOD, regulators and suppliers.

Skills

Enterprise leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Regulatory & compliance

Communication with C-suite

Data governance

Cyber resilience understanding

AI governance awareness

Job description

Job Title - Vice President – Defence Data Governance Full Time – Hybrid Location - Bristol, London, hybrid with travel as required

Why join Rolls-Royce?
At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.

This is a critical enterprise leadership role responsible for delivering Rolls-Royce Defence’s Data Governance Programme. The programme is establishing the operating model, governance, technology and behaviours required to manage Defence information securely and sustainably within an increasingly regulated environment. The programme brings together data governance, cyber resilience, sovereign operating environments, shared enterprise services, remediation, information lifecycle management and AI-enabled compliance. You will lead a complex, cross-functional transformation spanning Defence, Group Digital and IT, Cyber, Legal, Commercial, Procurement, Finance, Engineering and business operations. You will translate multiple customer, contractual and regulatory obligations into a coherent strategy and executable programme, balancing compliance and sovereignty with business continuity, enterprise efficiency and future innovation. The role requires an enterprise leader who can create clarity from ambiguity, connect multiple themes, build trusted senior relationships and move confidently between long-term vision, executive decision-making and practical delivery.

Key Accountabilities

• Providing enterprise leadership for Defence data governance, ensuring that data, information and digital capabilities are managed as strategic assets and in accordance with customer, contractual, regulatory and national-security obligations
• Setting and maintaining the long‑term vision, strategy and operating model for trusted, sovereign and Defence data, aligned with the wider Rolls‑Royce enterprise
• Translating a complex and evolving landscape of regulation, policy, technology and business requirements into a coherent set of priorities, investment choices and implementation outcomes
• Establishing effective governance, decision rights and accountabilities for the creation, ownership, access, movement, retention, exploitation and disposal of Defence information
• Ensuring that the Defence data operating model achieves an appropriate balance between security and sovereignty, operational continuity, enterprise efficiency and future innovation
• Providing executive oversight and assurance of the capabilities, environments and services required to manage Defence information securely throughout its lifecycle
• Developing a sustainable organisational capability for data ownership, stewardship, compliance, remediation and assurance, reducing dependency on individual expertise or short‑term interventions
• Sponsoring the responsible use of AI, automation and advanced analytics to strengthen regulatory intelligence, improve decision‑making and enable the trusted exploitation of Defence data
• Establishing a coherent approach to cyber resilience and data‑related contractual compliance across Defence programmes, shared enterprise systems and the associated supply chain
• Shaping commercial, procurement and financial strategies that ensure the costs of compliance, assurance and capability improvement are visible, appropriately governed and reflected in enterprise rates, bids and customer agreements
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Rolls‑Royce, UK Government, MOD, customers, regulators, industry partners and suppliers to secure practical and proportionate outcomes
• Providing clear, evidence‑based advice to the Defence and Group executive teams, articulating emerging risks, strategic choices, investment requirements and the long‑term direction of travel
• Building, leading and developing a high‑performing multidisciplinary team and wider community of practice, creating shared purpose and drawing together specialist expertise from across the enterprise
• Ensuring that the Defence business is able to operate confidently, efficiently and innovatively within an increasingly regulated and data‑dependent environment

Key Experiences and Qualifications

• A proven track record of leading complex, enterprise‑wide programmes or transformations in ambiguous and rapidly evolving environments
• Strong strategic and enterprise thinking, combined with the ability to translate long‑term ambition into practical implementation
• The ability to connect multiple technical, regulatory, commercial and organisational themes and create a coherent direction from competing priorities
• Exceptional communication skills, with experience advising and influencing C‑suite and Board‑level stakeholders
• Strong senior stakeholder‑management skills across complex internal organisations, customers, suppliers and external partners
• Experience engaging effectively with UK Government and MOD, with a good understanding of the Defence environment and its decision‑making processes
• A strong understanding of risk, governance and accountability within highly regulated or security‑sensitive environments
• Sufficient understanding of data governance, cyber resilience, digital technology and enterprise architecture to lead specialists and constructively challenge proposed solutions
• Commercial and financial awareness, including the ability to shape investment cases, contractual positions and cost‑recovery strategies
• A passion for learning, curiosity about emerging technologies and the ability to adapt quickly to new challenges
• A strong record of building, motivating and developing multidisciplinary teams
• Sound judgement, resilience and the confidence to challenge established thinking constructively
• The ability to obtain and retain the appropriate UK security clearance (minimum SC)
• Experience in data governance, cyber security, digital transformation or regulated enterprise operating models would be advantageous.
• The primary requirement, however, is the ability to lead across these disciplines and turn complexity into coordinated enterprise action

Regional Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave
• Retirement Savings through the Rolls‑Royce Retirement Savings Trust
• Group Life Assurance provides for a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls‑Royce Group
• Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury
• Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls‑Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!

Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi‑year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls‑Royce into a high‑performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too. Rolls‑Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non‑discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.

Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk. The professional level and salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. This job is advertised at the grades shown, and this is the desired operating level for this role. We encourage applications from candidates with relevant experience from any grade. It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role. Grade: Management Level B

For more information, please contact: Alison Connaughton [e-mail]

As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.