Hiring: Head of Information and Data Governance in Edinburgh

This role is accountable for defining information and data governance policies, standards, and control expectations, as well as providing independent oversight, challenge, and monitoring of adherence across the organisation. While first-line business areas retain accountability for executing data controls, the Head of Information and Data Governance will influence senior stakeholders to ensure these responsibilities are effectively discharged. The role will also lead a continuous improvement agenda to enhance the maturity of data governance practices across the business.

This is a senior leadership position requiring expertise in information and data governance and a proven track record of strengthening control environments within complex organisations. Experience working with material outsourcers and an understanding of emerging risks, including those associated with AI, are highly desirable. A strong background in financial services and familiarity with platform-based business models, alongside knowledge of key regulatory bodies such as the ICO, FCA, and PRA, is essential.

A key aspect of the role is the ability to translate complex information and data governance concepts into clear, business-relevant insights, enabling effective decision-making at Executive Committee and Board level. Strong stakeholder engagement skills are critical to building confidence across the organisation, from the C-suite to delivery partners, and ensuring governance remains aligned to the needs of a growing business.

The role holder will oversee the effective operation of the data governance function within a regulated environment, including managing team performance, capacity, budgets, and associated risks and controls. This role focuses on governance and oversight rather than operational data management and does not act as the Data Protection Officer. However, it works closely with operational teams, Information Security, and related functions to strengthen the overall control environment.

Responsibilities include business partnering, review and approval of impact assessments, and supporting change and transition initiatives. As an experienced people leader, the role holder will build and develop a high-performing, engaged team to support the organisation’s strategic objectives.

Nucleus is one of the UK’s leading independent financial planning and retirement-focused platforms operating from offices in London, Bristol, Ipswich, Salisbury, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The business administers over £100bn of customer assets across Self-Invested Personal Pensions, Individual Savings Accounts, general investment accounts and other products for over 5,000 financial advisers and more than 250,000 underlying clients.

Nucleus has ~1,200 employees and uses FNZ and Bravura as material outsourcers; consequently, the business has a range of both in-house and outsourced services and operations that this role will have oversight responsibility for. Nucleus’s vision is to become the ‘best loved platform for advisors’ and the Architecture, Governance and Oversight function sits within Group Technology and plays a crucial role in helping us navigate a major transformation programme and a series of transitional states to achieve this; whilst in parallel ensuring that we continue to support the near-term business strategy within the constraints of our existing solutions and capabilities.

The Architecture, Governance and Oversight function are responsible for architecting scalable and innovative solutions, that support both the growth and efficiency of our business, setting standards and policy to protect our business and ensure regulatory compliance, and ensuring Information inclusion and diversity are embedded in our culture and everything we do.