Data & AI Governance Manager (Weymouth based)

The Data & AI Governance Manager will develop the Data & AI governance framework, defining and drafting the required policies and their implementation through communication and monitoring, including the approach to governing the use of AI tools across the organisation. They will be responsible for the approach to metadata and data cataloguing, defining the tools to be used both over the Enterprise Data Platform and across Enterprise applications, and the working practices to ensure maintenance and development of these catalogues. In addition, they will be responsible for identifying data owners, and establishing data quality management practices.

This is a strategic role that will operate across the Enterprise ensuring we treat data as an asset and leverage AI in a controlled manner to accelerate and enhance business performance.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

• Develop, implement, and continuously refine New Look’s Data & AI Governance Framework, ensuring alignment with business strategy, regulatory obligations, and ethical AI principles.
• Define and maintain data governance policies, standards, and procedures across the Enterprise Data Platform (Databricks, Amperity, Power BI, SAP Business Objects) and the wider application landscape.
• Establish and lead the Data Ownership model, identifying data owners and stewards across business domains and providing guidance on roles and responsibilities.
• Define and oversee the Metadata Management and Data Catalogue strategy, selecting and operationalising tooling to manage lineage, glossary, and classification across both the EDP and enterprise systems.
• Develop and implement Data Quality Management practices, including measurement frameworks, issue resolution workflows, and business adoption of data quality KPIs.
• Develop and implement AI Governance framework, defining principles, approval processes, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure ethical and transparent deployment of AI tools.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Information Security to ensure compliance with GDPR, Data Protection Act, and future AI regulation.
• Support Enterprise Architecture and Application Owners in embedding data governance controls in the design, development and change release processes.
• Promote Data and AI governance across the organisation through training, communication, and embedding governance into day-to-day business operations.
• Lead data governance forums, reporting on progress, risks, and adoption to the Data & AI Steering Committee.

Accountability: Act as the guardian of our data — ensuring it is securely managed, high quality, and protected as we scale our use of AI to drive business performance.

Leadership: Champion a culture where data governance, quality, transparency, and responsible AI are business imperatives understood across the Enterprise.

Collaboration: Partner across business, technology, and legal teams to embed governance as a shared responsibility that supports collective success.

Pragmatism: Balance rigour with agility — designing governance frameworks that enable value creation with Data & AI, proportionate to real-world risk.

Innovation: Continuously explore new tools and approaches for data cataloguing, quality management, and AI governance — evaluating new innovations and adapting policy accordingly.

Strategic: Shape the governance for a scaling Data & AI capability — aligning with New Look’s ambition to be a leading, data-driven fashion retailer.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Strong understanding of data governance principles, frameworks, and tools.
• Hands-on experience with metadata management, data cataloguing, and data lineage tools in a cloud-based environment (preferably Azure / Databricks).
• Knowledge of AI governance and ethics frameworks.
• Experience defining data ownership models, data quality controls, and data stewardship processes across complex organisations.
• Working knowledge of privacy and regulatory compliance frameworks.
• Understanding of enterprise data architectures, particularly modern lakehouse models and integration of CDPs (e.g., Amperity) and BI tools (Power BI, InfoRiver, SAP BO).
• Demonstrated experience establishing governance operating models and driving adoption through training, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
• Comfortable working with both technical and non-technical audiences, translating governance into tangible business outcomes.
• Desirable: familiarity with data quality tooling, AI model monitoring, and MLOps governance.
• Desirable: experience managing a team and prior experience of Retail.
• A degree in IT or related business topic (desirable).

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU:

• 40% staff discount plus friends & family discounts throughout the year.
• Access to our reward platform for external discount and offers.
• Private pension scheme.
• Profit related bonus scheme.
• Option to join our Healthcare Private Medical Scheme.
• Virtual GP access for you and your children – it allows you to speak to a doctor at a time and date that suits you.
• All employees are covered by our life assurance policy from day one.
• Unlock extra leave with our buy more holiday scheme.
• Celebrate YOU! Enjoy an extra paid day off on your birthday each year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental leave (eligible after 2 years service).
• Spread the cost of your commute with interest-free season ticket loans.
• Do your bit for the environment and save money with our Cycle2Work scheme.
• We're proud to partner with the Retail Trust and Fashion & Textile Children's Trust.