At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead data governance strategy and build trusted, secure data capabilities for AI.
- Company: Global B2B software provider backed by private equity, focused on AI innovation.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive contract terms, and potential for permanent position.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to influence data strategy and governance.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data governance in a cutting-edge AI environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in data governance with hands-on technical skills and cloud platform experience.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Technical Data Governance Lead reporting to the Chief Data & AI Officer. Key partners include CIO, CISO, BI, Legal & Privacy. UK REMOTE | O/IR35 | 3-6M & Transfer to perm available.
About the company: A global, private equity backed B2B software provider with an AI-powered platform used by enterprise customers in dozens of countries. The business is now applying AI to itself, building an autonomous enterprise where AI runs the processes and people focus on judgement, customers and growth.
The role involves helping the Chief Data & AI Officer shape the company's data strategy and building the governance capability that makes data trusted, secure and ready for AI. This is a technical, hands-on role, not a policy-writing or compliance-only position. Responsibilities include:
- Defining the data strategy with the CDAIO, turning it into a prioritised roadmap, and reporting progress to leadership against clear measures.
- Setting up the governance operating model: data domains, owners and stewards, decision rights and a lightweight governance council.
- Defining technical data standards with the data, BI and integration teams, including modelling conventions, data contracts, classification, retention and access patterns.
- Building controls into the platform and pipelines (automated tagging, policy-based access, quality gates, lineage capture) rather than relying on manual review.
- Selecting, configuring and running the governance toolchain: catalogue, glossary, lineage, data quality and access policy.
- Owning the data catalogue, end-to-end lineage for critical data, and the data quality framework.
- Setting the data requirements for AI use, covering approved sources, sensitive data handling and quality thresholds for models, retrieval and agents.
- Working with Security, Legal and Privacy to turn GDPR, data residency, customer data terms and the EU AI Act into classification rules, controls and assurance evidence.
- Maintaining an inventory and classification of data across systems, including personal data, and acting as the escalation point for data quality and protection incidents.
- Coaching data owners and stewards, running governance forums, resolving disputes over definitions and ownership, and keeping governance proportionate to risk.
Success in the first 6 months includes:
- Data strategy and roadmap agreed and driving investment decisions.
- Priority domains have named owners and a working governance council.
- Critical data in priority domains is catalogued with sources, owners and lineage.
- Data quality is measured against baselines and targets, with issues routed to owners.
- Classification and access controls are enforced in the platform.
- AI data requirements are defined and applied.
- The CDAIO has one trusted view of governance coverage, quality and risk.
What we're looking for:
- 8+ years in data governance, data management, data quality, metadata or data architecture, including leading an enterprise governance programme from design to operation.
- Hands-on technical depth: reading data models, writing SQL, reviewing pipeline designs, and discussing lineage and access controls credibly with engineers.
- Experience configuring and integrating governance tooling such as Collibra, Microsoft Purview, Unity Catalog, Ataccama or Informatica.
- Experience embedding governance in modern cloud data platforms through data contracts, automated classification and quality gates.
- Experience as architect of record for BI and data integration platforms (warehouse or lakehouse, ELT, APIs and event-based integration).
- Working knowledge of GDPR and equivalent regulations, and of AI data governance, including requirements for LLM, retrieval and agent workloads.
- Proven ability to build ownership models and run governance forums in a complex organisation.
- Pragmatic, low ego and comfortable pushing back when data standards are at risk; able to 'fly high and dive deep'.
- Software or fast-moving technology experience preferred; regulated industry or PE-backed experience is a plus.
- Certifications such as CDMP or DGSP are useful but not required; demonstrated delivery matters more.
Senior Data Governance Architect | Remote UK | 6M Contract employer: Xcede
As a Mobility Engineer/Consultant with us, you'll thrive in a dynamic remote work environment that champions innovation and collaboration. We offer competitive benefits, a strong focus on employee development, and the opportunity to work on cutting-edge enterprise solutions that make a real impact. Join our team and be part of a culture that values your expertise and encourages professional growth while ensuring you have the tools and support needed to excel in your role.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Data Governance Architect | Remote UK | 6M Contract
✨Tap into Online Data Science Communities
Join online communities focused on data science like Kaggle, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit threads. These are goldmines for temporary gigs, as you can network with professionals and potentially hear about opportunities at companies like Xcede before they're even advertised!
✨Show Off Your Skills With Projects
Got some cool data science projects? Showcase them on platforms like GitHub or create a personal portfolio website. This visibility is crucial for landing temporary roles—let recruiters see your actual skills in action, which can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Check Out Specialist Job Boards
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Data Governance Architect | Remote UK | 6M Contract
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Data Projects:When applying for a temporary data science role at Xcede, make sure to showcase any relevant projects you've worked on. Whether it's a personal project, an academic undertaking, or contributions to an open-source initiative, detailing these experiences can really set you apart and demonstrate your practical skills.
Emphasise Your Analytical Skills:In your CV and cover letter, focus on the specific analytical skills that are key to data science. Mention any experience with statistical tools, programming languages like Python or R, and data visualisation software. Don't forget to include any certifications that may bolster your expertise!
Show Your Flexibility:Since this is a temporary role, it's important to convey your adaptability and willingness to learn. In your cover letter to Xcede, emphasise how quickly you can get up to speed with new tools or projects. Highlight any previous experiences where you've had to adjust to new environments or challenges.
Craft a Unique Data-Driven Cover Letter:Instead of the usual generic cover letter, spice it up with some data! Maybe you’ve improved a process by 20% in a past role or cleaned a dataset with over a million entries. Use these stats to your advantage to grab Xcede’s attention and show the tangible impact of your work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Xcede
✨Showcase Your Analytical Skills
For a data science gig, it's crucial to demonstrate your analytical abilities. Be ready to discuss previous projects and the methodologies you used. Think about how you can quantify your impact—did your analysis improve efficiency or save costs? These are the stories that will stick with interviewers at Xcede.
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
You might face technical questions on tools relevant to data science, like Python, R, or SQL. Prepare to solve a problem live—perhaps they'll ask you to write a simple query or code snippet. It’s cool to talk about them, but we need to show we can do it in practice, especially in a temporary role where quick results matter.
✨Highlight Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, emphasise your ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools or workflows. Share examples of how you've thrived in fast-paced environments before, and how you can hit the ground running at Xcede.
✨Prepare a Portfolio of Your Work
Bring your portfolio to the table—showcase projects where you've leveraged data science techniques to solve problems. Whether it’s a GitHub repository or a set of case studies, having tangible examples of your work will help you stand out and show what you bring to the team at Xcede.
