Data Governance Manager 

9-Month Fixed-Term Contract

UK Wide | Remote | 60% Hybrid Office Attendance Required

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Data Governance Manager to support the delivery of a major public sector data transformation programme. This role will play a critical part in embedding effective data governance, stewardship, and ethical data practices across a large and complex organisation.

Working within a senior data leadership function, you will help drive accountability for data management across the entire data lifecycle, enabling the delivery of core data governance capabilities and ensuring alignment between enterprise-wide governance and local implementation teams.

This is an opportunity for a highly experienced governance professional who can operate autonomously, influence senior stakeholders, and lead strategic initiatives that support organisational data strategy objectives.

About Olive Jar Digital

As we grow, we empower our teams to develop their roles and functions and offer support to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. Moving towards our 10th year, we are an established digital consultancy delivering innovative digital services, products, and specialist expertise across government and regulated sectors.

We are a collaborative, inclusive, and people-focused organisation with ambitious growth plans and an exciting portfolio of digital transformation programmes.

Key Responsibilities

Data Governance & Stewardship

• Drive accountability and ownership for data management across the full data lifecycle.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of the organisation's Data Governance Framework.
• Embed effective data ownership and stewardship practices across business and technical communities.
• Enable the delivery of core governance capabilities, ensuring alignment with strategic data objectives.
• Support the adoption of federated governance operating models across multiple teams and business areas.

Data Ethics & Risk Management

• Design and implement a comprehensive data ethics policy, framework, and supporting governance processes.
• Develop data ethics impact assessments to enable the identification, assessment, and management of data ethics risks.
• Embed data ethics controls and governance activities into existing organisational governance structures.
• Assess current governance arrangements and recommend improvements to ensure effective oversight of data ethics risks.
• Design or update Terms of Reference for governance boards and committees to ensure appropriate governance and accountability.

Training & Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and deliver training materials and awareness programmes to improve understanding of governance responsibilities.
• Engage with Data Owners, Data Stewards, and senior stakeholders to build governance capability across the organisation.
• Act as a trusted advisor on governance, stewardship, data ethics, and compliance matters.
• Communicate complex governance concepts in a clear and accessible way to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Governance Leadership

• Identify governance gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Support organisational change initiatives related to data governance and stewardship.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across digital, data, technology, risk, and compliance functions.
• Provide regular reporting, insights, and recommendations to senior leadership teams.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience designing, implementing, or enhancing Data Governance Frameworks within large organisations.
• Strong understanding of data governance principles, data lifecycle management, data quality, metadata management, and compliance requirements.
• Experience establishing or embedding data stewardship and data ownership models.
• Demonstrable expertise in data ethics, including the development of policies, impact assessments, governance processes, and training programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience influencing senior leaders and governance boards.
• Experience delivering governance initiatives across multiple workstreams and organisational functions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex governance concepts into practical guidance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a focus on continuous improvement.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of data governance principles and emerging regulatory requirements.
• Experience aligning data ethics activities with governance frameworks and controls.
• Experience working within large public sector or government organisations.
• Understanding of federated governance operating models.
• Familiarity with organisational change and transformation programmes.

What We're Looking For

This role requires a highly experienced professional who is comfortable operating at a strategic level while remaining hands-on in delivery. You will be a self-starter, capable of influencing senior leadership, driving governance outcomes, and making informed decisions in collaboration with executive stakeholders.

You will have the confidence to challenge constructively, build consensus across complex stakeholder groups, and champion best practice data governance across the organisation.

If you are passionate about improving data governance, strengthening data stewardship, and enabling organisations to make better, safer, and more ethical use of data, we'd love to hear from you.