Data Governance Lead

Data Governance Lead

Contract: 4-5 Month Initial Contract
Rate: £500-£600 per day (Outside IR35)
Location: London (Hybrid, 2 days per week onsite)

Overview

We're seeking an experienced Data Governance Lead to establish and drive enterprise-wide data governance capabilities within a leading information and insights organisation.

This is an opportunity for a governance professional who can combine strategic leadership with hands-on delivery to improve how data is managed, controlled, and leveraged across the business. You'll work closely with stakeholders across technology, data, product, and business functions to embed governance best practices, improve data quality, and support the organisation's ongoing cloud and AI transformation journey.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring data is treated as a trusted strategic asset that supports innovation, operational excellence, and informed decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

* Define and deliver the organisation's data governance strategy, framework, and operating model.
* Establish governance policies, standards, controls, and processes aligned to business objectives.
* Create clear data ownership, stewardship, and accountability structures across the organisation.
* Lead initiatives focused on improving data quality, consistency, accuracy, completeness, and reliability.
* Develop governance KPIs, reporting, and measurement frameworks to assess adoption and effectiveness.
* Engage senior stakeholders to promote governance as a business-enabling capability.
* Support governance requirements across analytics, reporting, AI, and machine learning initiatives.
* Drive improvements in metadata management, data lineage, business glossaries, and data cataloguing.
* Ensure compliance with data protection, privacy, security, and regulatory obligations.
* Identify and manage risks relating to data quality, governance, compliance, and operational processes.
* Work alongside architecture and engineering teams to embed governance within cloud-based data platforms.
* Provide governance input into Master Data Management (MDM) initiatives and strategic data programmes.
* Champion a strong data culture through awareness, engagement, and education activities.

Required Experience

* Proven experience leading enterprise Data Governance initiatives within complex organisations.
* Strong experience designing and implementing governance frameworks, standards, and operating models.
* Demonstrable success delivering data quality, metadata, lineage, and stewardship programmes.
* Excellent understanding of data risk, compliance, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
* Strong stakeholder management skills with experience engaging senior leadership teams.
* Experience operating across both business and technology functions.
* Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
* Experience supporting large-scale cloud or data transformation programmes.
* Knowledge of Microsoft Azure and modern data platform environments.
* Experience with tools such as Microsoft Purview, Databricks, Collibra, Alation, or similar governance platforms.

Desirable Experience

* Experience supporting Data Governance requirements for AI, Machine Learning, or Generative AI initiatives.
* Understanding of Responsible AI principles and governance frameworks.
* Previous exposure to Master Data Management (MDM) programmes.
* Experience within regulated industries, professional services, publishing, legal, or information services environments.
* Exposure to enterprise analytics, reporting, and data product initiatives.