Enterprise Data Governance Lead

We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Data Governance Lead to play a pivotal role in our global data transformation, with a clear mandate to drive data unification and collaboration across the Group. The successful candidate will lead the definition and execution of a future-ready data governance and management strategy, ensuring data is structured, controlled, and consistently managed across the business. This includes establishing clear standards, ownership, and governance frameworks that improve how data is stored, accessed, and used, enabling high-quality, trusted data that supports sustainable growth, cross-business collaboration, and evolving business and regulatory needs such as ISO27001.

A core part of the role is to establish structure, governance, and control across the data estate, while defining and driving a clear future-state approach for data storage, access, lifecycle management, and platform usage. The role will ensure that data foundations are fit for purpose to support advanced analytics, modern data platforms, and scalable, responsible AI adoption.

As a key contributor to our global IT strategy, the Enterprise Data Governance Lead will report to the Global Head of Information Security and work closely with Information Security, Infrastructure & Architecture, and business stakeholders to shape and evolve the Group data landscape. The role requires a balance of strategic thinking and pragmatic execution, with a focus on consolidating and standardising data storage platforms and ways of working across the business. This includes driving alignment towards a more unified approach, enabling consistent access, stronger controls, and a more manageable and scalable data estate.

Key Responsibilities

• Data Strategy & Future Architecture
  • Define and own the global data rationalisation and consolidation initiative, aligned to modern cloud-first principles.
  • Design a target-state data storage and governance model that is scalable, secure, and future-proof.
  • Provide extensive expertise in modern data platforms, storage technologies, and industry best practices.
• Data Analysis & Rationalisation
  • Lead enterprise-wide data discovery and analysis, identifying:
  • Redundant, obsolete, or trivial (ROT) data
  • Data duplication and uncontrolled growth
  • Misuse of storage platforms
  • Conduct structured data analysis reviews and present clear, evidence-based recommendations.
  • Quantify risk, cost, compliance exposure, and opportunity associated with current data platforms.
• Data Consolidation & Migration
  • Produce and maintain a clear, phased roadmap for:
  • Data migrations
  • Platform consolidation
  • Decommissioning of legacy or redundant storage solutions
  • Support end-to-end data migration initiatives, ensuring minimal business disruption.
  • Define success criteria and ensure migrations deliver tangible business outcomes.
• Cloud Storage & Data Platforms
  • Act as a subject‑matter expert across cloud storage platforms, including:
  • Microsoft Purview
  • Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive)
  • Egnyte
  • Google Workspace
  • S3-compatible storage (AWS and Wasabi)
  • Traditional on-premises storage (SAN and NAS platforms)
  • Define clear usage models for each platform, including suitability for structured data, collaboration, long-term retention, and AI consumption.
  • Work closely with Infrastructure & Architecture and Information Security teams to ensure designs are secure, compliant, and cost-effective.
• Data Governance, Retention & Lifecycle
  • Design and implement end-to-end data retention, archiving, and lifecycle management policies.
  • Ensure data governance frameworks support:
  • Objectives of the ISO 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS)
  • Compliance and risk reduction
  • Data classification and sensitivity controls
  • Clear ownership and accountability
  • Controlled exposure of data to AI tools and services
  • Embed governance into disparate platforms and processes.
  • Escalate suspected data breaches, unauthorised access, excessive retention, inappropriate data sharing, data governance failures, or unsafe AI data exposure through the appropriate Information Security, Privacy, and Incident Management processes.
• AI Enablement for Data Platforms
  • Deep understanding of how AI models consume, analyse, and depend on data.
  • Ensure data is structured, governed, and retained in ways that enable responsible AI usage.
  • Work with appropriate stakeholders to:
  • Define which data is appropriate for AI use
  • Prevent uncontrolled or unsafe AI access to data
  • Ensure that data platforms comply with our AI guidelines and principles.
• Reporting, Communication & Influence
  • Produce clear, high-quality reporting and presentations for senior stakeholders.
  • Translate complex technical solutions into straightforward business advice.
  • Influence decision making across IT and the business through facts, data, analysis, and clear reasoning.

Required Experience & Skills

• Core Experience
  • Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in data management or related roles.
  • Proven experience delivering data migration, consolidation, or large-scale data transformation initiatives.
  • Strong hands-on experience with cloud storage and data platforms.
  • Demonstrated experience implementing data retention, archiving, and lifecycle management strategies end-to-end.
  • Experience producing data analysis outputs and migration roadmaps that drive real change.
• Technical & Analytical Capability
  • Strong understanding of data storage architectures, cloud platforms, and governance models.
  • Proficient in data analysis tooling, reporting, and visualisation.
  • Comfortable working with large, complex datasets, and extracting meaningful insights.
• Strategic & Behavioural Skills
  • Forward-thinking mindset – designs for scale, longevity, and change.
  • Able to operate comfortably between strategy and execution.
  • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
  • Pragmatic, outcome-focused, and comfortable challenging the status quo when needed.

Desirable

• Experience working in global, multi-region organisations.
• Exposure to information security, compliance, or data classification frameworks.
• Experience working alongside Enterprise Architecture or Information Security functions.
• Certifications:
• CDMP Practitioner (Certified Data Management Professional)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
• Microsoft Certified: AI Business Professional.

For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package which includes 27 days annual holiday, private healthcare, employer contributory pension, life assurance and income protection. We also offer a host of benefits that support wellbeing including subsidised gym membership, whilst our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer learning opportunities around D&I, mentoring programmes and the opportunity for all to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.

We will review candidates on a rolling-basis and reserve the right to close the job early should we receive a high volume of applications - early application is therefore encouraged.

M+C Saatchi Group is a creative solutions company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data, technology, and culture, to help clients navigate, create, and lead meaningful change. The Group operates across five core divisions: Connected Creativity; Passion Marketing; Global & Social Issues; Brand, Experience & Innovation; and Performance Media. Headquartered in London, operations span 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East & Africa, Asia and Australia. M+C Saatchi Group’s two principles, Diversity of Thought and Brutal Simplicity of Thought, guide how they build teams and solve problems.

M+C Saatchi Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on talent and capability, without regard for any personal characteristics. All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).