Data Governance Manager

Bristol, Darlington, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time.
As a Data Governance Manager in the Chief Data Office, part of the Data and Information Division in the Digital Directorate at MHCLG, you will support delivery of the department’s Data Asset Management Policy requirements, data acquisition activity and wider data governance improvements. You will help teams catalogue, monitor and identify data assets that are essential to the organisation’s operations and services, so that data can be found, understood, trusted and used appropriately across the department.
You will work closely with the Data Catalogue Product Manager to support effective use of the Data Catalogue and the Data Governance Lead to embed data governance into routine processes. You will support data owners, data stewards, ALBs and delivery teams to assign clear data ownership, strengthen RACI arrangements, improve metadata and data quality, manage data-related risks and promote better data literacy across the organisation. You will help deliver the MHCLG Data Strategy by making sure data is well managed, appropriately governed and treated as a high-value asset.
Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.
Job Description
As a Data Governance Manager, you'll:
Support delivery of the Data Asset Management Policy by helping teams understand and meet policy requirements for data ownership, stewardship, metadata, quality, reporting and clear RACI arrangements
Work with data owners, stewards and ALBs to catalogue, monitor and identify critical data assets, gather accurate information about those assets and support timely returns to the Government Digital Service
Support teams to assess and improve data quality using agreed tools, standards and guidance, helping them apply practical data governance throughout the data life cycle
Help teams use standardised metadata so that data assets are easier to find, understand, reuse and govern through the MHCLG Data Catalogue
Work alongside the service owner and data stewards to support data acquisition activities, including commercial and external data, by helping teams apply proportionate governance, documentation, approval and risk processes
Work with the Product Manager to improve how data is identified, recorded and maintained in the Data Catalogue, including improvements to data quality information and metadata
Work alongside the Data Governance Lead, Change Management, capability, communications, project management and technical design colleagues to embed data governance into routine organisational processes
Provide clear advice, guidance and practical support to teams, advocating for better use and management of data and encouraging improved data literacy across the organisation
As a Data Governance Manager, You'll
Support delivery of the Data Asset Management Policy by helping teams understand and meet policy requirements for data ownership, stewardship, metadata, quality, reporting and clear RACI arrangements
Work with data owners, stewards and ALBs to catalogue, monitor and identify critical data assets, gather accurate information about those assets and support timely returns to the Government Digital Service
Support teams to assess and improve data quality using agreed tools, standards and guidance, helping them apply practical data governance throughout the data life cycle
Help teams use standardised metadata so that data assets are easier to find, understand, reuse and govern through the MHCLG Data Catalogue
Work alongside the service owner and data stewards to support data acquisition activities, including commercial and external data, by helping teams apply proportionate governance, documentation, approval and risk processes
Work with the Product Manager to improve how data is identified, recorded and maintained in the Data Catalogue, including improvements to data quality information and metadata
Work alongside the Data Governance Lead, Change Management, capability, communications, project management and technical design colleagues to embed data governance into routine organisational processes
Provide clear advice, guidance and practical support to teams, advocating for better use and management of data and encouraging improved data literacy across the organisation
Person specification
As a Data Governance Manager, You'll Have
Experience supporting data governance, data management or information management activities, with an understanding of how good governance improves the safety, quality, trustworthiness and value of data
Understanding of data ownership, stewardship, RACI arrangements, metadata, data quality and data standards, and how these support effective management of data assets
Ability to work with data owners, data stewards, ALBs and delivery teams to identify critical data assets, understand requirements, improve information about data and support adoption of agreed governance standards
Ability to translate policy, governance or technical requirements into clear, practical guidance that can be understood by both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Experience using evidence, data, user feedback or operational insight to support decisions, identify data risks, improve ways of working and strengthen data governance practice
Ability to communicate clearly, build effective working relationships and support teams to understand, adopt and meet their data governance responsibilities
Ability to organise work, manage competing priorities and make progress in a changing delivery environment, including escalating data risks and issues where needed
Confidence to take ownership of tasks, work collaboratively across teams and advocate for continuous improvement in the use, management and governance of data
Alongside your salary of £45,773, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £13,260 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
Behaviours , Experience , Strengths , Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.
Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)
Experience & Technical: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.
Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.
In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
Lead sift question (Experience): Please tell us about your experience of Data Governance and why it is important to an organisation?
Stage 2: Interview
Behaviours: Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Changing and Improving
Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.*
Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.
Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take pla

Work arrangement
Yes