Data Governance Manager - Government Legal Department - SEO
Government Digital & Data -
Location
Bristol, Croydon, Leeds, London, Manchester
About the job
Job summary
From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.
At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfil our potential.
Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.
Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.
GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.
GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.
This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.
Job description
The Digital, Data and Cyber Division is transforming the way GLD works through modern and secure digital services.
We are building an ever expanding and modern digital workplace that empowers our people, strengthens collaboration and enables the organisation to operate efficiently, securely and sustainably.
Through agile delivery and user-centred approaches, we design and deliver products and services in partnership with the people who use them, ensuring solutions meet real needs and deliver lasting value.
As part of the wider Government Digital and Data profession, we play a key role in transforming how government operates, enabling better outcomes for colleagues, stakeholders and the public we serve.
The Role
As a Data Governance Manager, you will play a key role in delivering GLD's Data Strategy by helping to establish and embed the governance frameworks, standards and controls that ensure our data is accurate, consistent, secure and trusted.
Working closely with the Lead Data Governance Manager, Data Architect, Data Engineers and stakeholders across the business, you will help strengthen data governance practices throughout the data lifecycle. This includes supporting data ownership and stewardship, improving data quality, enhancing metadata management, and promoting effective information management across the organisation, as well as helping to maintain governance controls covering ownership, access, sharing, retention and classification requirements.
You will help develop the governance capabilities needed to support reporting, analytics, interoperability and emerging AI-enabled services. You will also work with business teams to build their understanding of data governance and support them to manage data effectively, responsibly and in line with organisational policies and standards.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a modern, data-driven organisation, ensuring that data remains a valuable strategic asset that supports better decision-making and service delivery.
What you’ll be doing
- Help shape and embed the governance frameworks, standards and controls that ensure GLD's data is trusted, secure and fit for purpose.
- Work with colleagues across business and technical teams to strengthen data governance and promote good data management practices across the organisation.
- Support data owners and stewards to develop clear accountability for data and ensure governance responsibilities are understood and applied effectively.
- Help build and maintain data catalogues, metadata and governance documentation, making it easier for teams to find, understand and use data.
- Drive improvements in data quality by working with stakeholders to identify issues, implement controls and increase confidence in organisational data.
- Support the management of data-related risks and compliance activities, helping to ensure data is managed appropriately throughout its lifecycle.
- Enable trusted reporting, analytics and AI innovation by ensuring data is well-governed, well-documented and understood.
- Champion data literacy across GLD, developing guidance and engaging with colleagues to build confidence in using and managing data effectively.
How you’ll do it:
- Build strong relationships with business and technical stakeholders to promote good data management practices and support the adoption of governance standards.
- Work collaboratively with data owners, stewards, architects and engineers to improve data quality, governance and accountability.
- Maintain governance documentation, policies, standards, metadata and ownership records to ensure information remains accurate and up to date.
- Support governance forums, working groups and assurance activities, providing clear advice and guidance on governance requirements and best practice.
- Monitor governance processes and controls, identifying opportunities for improvement and helping to resolve governance issues and risks.
- Communicate complex governance concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, helping teams understand how to manage data responsibly and effectively.
- Support the governance of new data products, reporting solutions and shared datasets, ensuring governance considerations are embedded from the outset.
This is an opportunity to help shape how data is governed across GLD, ensuring it remains a trusted strategic asset that supports innovation, insight and better outcomes for the organisation.
Candidate Information Session
We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 10:30am-11:30am on Friday 30th October 2026.
This session is an opportunity to learn more about the role, working in government and what to expect, as well as an opportunity to to ask any questions you may have.
If you are interested in further information on this role please join the link below:
10:30am-11:30am on Friday 30th October 2026.
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3708737239982652?p=88SUSYuouH7HA3ozKt
Meeting ID: 370 873 723 998 265 2
Passcode: N5KS99Xj
Please note that candidate information sessions are not filmed and any presentations cannot not be shared afterwards.
Person specification
Behaviours
As part of the selection process, we’ll assess you against the Success Profile behaviours listed below. You’ll need to demonstrate each behaviour at the application stage, interview stage, or both. You can find guidance on Success Profiles to help you understand what we’ll be looking for.
- Seeing the big picture
Key Skills and Experience
Essential – Candidates must demonstrate the following key skills at interview and application:
- Experience improving how organisations manage, govern and use data.
- An understanding of data ownership, stewardship and accountability, and how these contribute to trusted data.
- Experience working with data quality, metadata, information management, data catalogues or data lifecycle management practices.
- The ability to identify risks, solve problems and implement practical improvements.
- Experience building effective relationships with business and technical stakeholders to drive positive change.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly and influence a range of audiences.
- Knowledge of data governance best practice, including information management and UK GDPR principles.
Desirable
- Experience with data lineage, taxonomy or advanced metadata management capabilities.
- Experience supporting reporting, analytics, business intelligence or AI-enabled services through effective data governance.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Purview or similar data governance platforms.
- Experience working in government, the public sector, or another large and complex organisation.
If candidates are closely matched after assessment against the essential criteria, we may use the desirable criteria to help make a final decision at sift and interview.
