Data Governance Manager

Department: Data

Location: London

Description

Join Defaqto as our Data Governance Manager and play a pivotal role in building the frameworks, partnerships and standards that underpin trusted data, commercial insight and AI innovation.

Role Overview

At Defaqto, data sits at the heart of everything we do. As Data Governance Manager, you'll work closely with the Head of Data to establish and embed robust governance practices across the organisation, ensuring our data is trusted, well‑managed and fit for the future. You'll also lead relationships with external data suppliers, helping shape our data acquisition strategy, drive value from third‑party partnerships, and support the responsible adoption of AI within a regulated financial services environment.

Data Governance & Quality

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of Defaqto's data governance framework, policies and standards.
• Drive data quality, stewardship, metadata management and data ownership practices across the business.
• Maintain data cataloguing, glossary and lineage processes to ensure data is trusted, accessible and well understood.

Data Acquisition & Partnerships

• Own Defaqto's approach to acquiring, assessing and managing third‑party data sources.
• Lead supplier relationships, contract negotiations, renewals and performance reviews.
• Identify new data opportunities and support build, buy or partner decisions to strengthen our data capabilities.

Risk, Compliance & Assurance

• Ensure data governance practices align with regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Oversee third‑party data assurance, supplier due diligence and ongoing risk management.
• Maintain the data risk framework and support governance, audit and risk reporting activities.

AI & Data Strategy

• Help shape Defaqto's approach to AI governance and AI‑related data risks.
• Provide guidance on the responsible use of data and AI across the organisation.
• Monitor emerging regulations, technologies and industry best practice to keep our data strategy future‑ready.

Collaboration & Influence

• Partner with stakeholders across Product, Research, Sales, Technology, Legal and Compliance to embed effective data governance practices.
• Build engagement, accountability and data ownership across the business through influence rather than direct management.
• Act as a trusted advisor on data governance, data acquisition and data‑related risk.

What you'll need to succeed

Essential requirements

• Experience designing, implementing or embedding a data governance framework within a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of data governance disciplines including data quality, stewardship, metadata, lineage and master data management.
• Good understanding of the UK regulatory landscape for data, including GDPR and data risk management.
• Experience managing third‑party suppliers, contracts, commercial relationships and vendor risk.
• Experience evaluating and sourcing data, including build, buy or partner decision‑making.
• Knowledge of data governance considerations relating to AI and emerging technologies.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
• Comfortable leading change, driving adoption and embedding best practice across a business.
• Able to balance governance, risk and commercial priorities in a practical w

Desirable requirements

• Professional accreditation such as CDMP, DCAM or DAMA‑DMBOK.
• Experience within financial services, fintech, insurance or another regulated industry.
• Knowledge of data licensing, web‑scraping, copyright and the use of publicly available data.
• Experience contributing to AI governance, model risk management or responsible AI initiatives.
• Familiarity with data governance tools such as Collibra, Alation, Atlan, Great Expectations or Soda.
• Experience working with modern cloud‑based data platforms and architectures.
• Experience establishing governance forums, steering groups or data councils.
• Experience supporting enterprise‑wide data transformation or modernisation programmes.

Your approach to work

• You take ownership and enjoy building frameworks, processes and ways of working that have a lasting impact.
• You combine strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach and are comfortable working at both the big‑picture and detailed level.
• You build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across technical, commercial and regulatory teams.
• You communicate clearly and can translate complex data topics into practical business outcomes.
• You are naturally curious and stay up to date with developments in data governance, AI and emerging technologies.
• You influence and guide others through expertise, credibility and collaboration rather than direct authority.
• You are pragmatic, solutions‑focused and able to make balanced decisions in a fast‑moving environment.
• You are motivated by the opportunity to shape how a business manages, governs and creates value from data.

Important to know

Location: This is a hybrid‑working role from our London office. You'll work with colleagues 3 times a week from the office and the remainder from home. We'd also consider Haddenham as your base but you'd need to be able to travel to London periodically.

Right to Work: Applicants must already hold a legal right to work in the UK without time restrictions and without the need for future sponsorship. We are unable to provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Fintel plc and all the businesses within it adopt a zero‑tolerance approach to discrimination on any of the protected grounds in the Equality Act 2010.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all current and prospective employees regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse workforce because, in our view, diversity enables better business outcomes. We also believe that a more inclusive workplace, where people of different backgrounds work together, ensures better outcomes for all staff. From application to interview, we place inclusion at the heart of all we do.

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