Data Quality Capabilities SME

The Data Quality Capabilities SME role is central to building the foundations for enterprise-wide federated Data Quality. Reporting directly to the Data Quality Capabilities Lead, you will work closely with the Global Head of Data Quality and other senior leaders within the Chief Data Office (CDO) to design and embed the frameworks, tools, and processes that make data quality actionable and scalable. You will act as a strategic delegate for the Group Data Quality vision, providing third-line support and expert guidance to the BAU team.

In the initial phase, you will support organisational change by shaping capabilities that enable federated ownership of data quality across business domains. This includes developing rulebooks, metadata models, profiling mechanisms, and other reusable components that align with strategic objectives and technical realities. The role requires strong collaboration with engineering and business teams to ensure frameworks are robust and practically adopted.

Once this transformation is complete, the role will evolve into a second-line assurance function, providing oversight and governance to ensure federated teams apply data quality standards consistently. You will maintain and enhance the core frameworks, act as an escalation point for complex issues, and safeguard the integrity of the organisation's data quality ecosystem.

This is a highly collaborative role, requiring engagement with engineering, governance, and business teams to ensure alignment and adoption. It is ideal for someone who thrives on bringing clarity to ambiguity, enjoys creating structured solutions, and wants to leave a lasting impact on how data quality is operationalised at scale.

The SME team is distinct from the BAU team, which owns day-to-day management and resolution of DQ issues. The SME team's focus is on strategic enablement, framework design, and third-line escalation, not on building a parallel BAU or engineering function.

Role Responsibilities

• Capability Building & Change Enablement

• Translate Strategy into Action: In conjunction with our change teams, convert high-level data quality concepts into structured delivery plans, frameworks, and reusable components.
• Design & Implement Capabilities: Develop rulebooks, metadata models, profiling mechanisms, and other tools that make data quality measurable and actionable. Leverage technical awareness to ensure frameworks and standards are compatible with modern data platforms and can be effectively implemented by engineering teams.
• Enable Federated Adoption: Shape foundational capabilities that allow decentralised ownership of data quality across business domains, providing subject matter expertise to bridge business requirements and technical implementation.
• Collaborate Across Functions: Work closely with the Data Quality Capabilities Lead, Global Head of Data Quality, and other CDO leaders, as well as engineering, governance, and business teams.
• Document & Communicate: Maintain clear records of designs, decisions, and progress; communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Third-Line Support & Assurance: Provide governance and assurance that federated teams apply data quality standards consistently, acting as a point of escalation and guidance for complex or cross-functional issues, and supporting the BAU team as third-line experts.
• Maintain & Evolve Frameworks: Keep rulebooks, metadata models, and tooling up to date with business and technology changes.
• Escalation Point: Act as a subject matter expert for complex data quality issues, drawing on both business context and technical understanding of data quality tools, rule engines, and platform integration.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance processes and capabilities based on feedback and performance metrics.

The ideal candidate will possess a blend of business acumen and technical awareness, enabling them to translate strategic objectives into frameworks that are robust and implementable within modern data environments.

Reporting

• Monitor and report on Business Units' issues.
• Provide relevant management information to senior management.
• Any other reasonable duties, as required.