Data Governance Manager - #1795438

Department: [SBSS] Data Protection

Location: Bristol

Compensation: £64,000 - £75,000 / year

Description

We are recruiting for a Data Governance Manager to establish and enforce robust data governance practices across the Somerset Bridge Group, ensuring data assets are accurate, secure, and used ethically and efficiently. This role plays a critical part in shaping the organisation’s data culture by embedding policies, standards, and controls that align with regulatory requirements (e.g. FCA, PRA, Data Protection Act 2018) and support the group’s strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will lead the development of a formal data governance framework, including data ownership models, stewardship engagement, and quality management processes. They will work closely with data architects, engineers, analysts, compliance, and business functions to ensure data is governed, understood, and fit for purpose across its lifecycle.

Additionally, the role supports compliance and audit readiness by maintaining clear metadata, lineage, and retention policies using tools such as Azure Purview and Unity Catalog. This position is vital to enabling trusted analytics, AI development, and operational efficiency.

What you'll be responsible for:

• Develop and implement a data governance framework, including policies, roles, responsibilities, and processes to ensure high data quality and regulatory compliance.
• Establish and manage a Data Stewardship model, providing training, guidance, and accountability across business units.
• Define and monitor data quality KPIs, initiating remediation plans with relevant owners where data integrity risks are identified.
• Manage and maintain metadata standards and business glossaries, enabling consistent definitions and enterprise-wide understanding of data assets.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy and protection laws (e.g. UK GDPR, Data Protection Act, FCA/PRA regulations), including oversight of data retention, classification, and access policies.
• Drive the adoption and use of Azure Purview and Unity Catalog for data cataloguing, lineage, and governance workflows.
• Support regulatory audits and internal reviews by ensuring evidence of policy adherence, data control frameworks, and data access traceability.
• Act as the primary contact for data governance queries and escalations across the organisation.
• Collaborate with IT, legal, compliance, and business functions to embed governance into technology and change programmes (e.g. EDW, AI/ML).
• Support the data strategy by promoting a culture of data accountability, literacy, and stewardship.

What you'll need:

• Degree in Data Management, Information Governance, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Professional certifications preferred (e.g. DAMA CDMP, DCAM, ISO 8000).
• Proven experience in defining and implementing enterprise-wide data governance frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of data protection legislation and regulatory standards (e.g. DPA 2018, GDPR, FCA SYSC, PRA SS1/21).
• Experience with Azure Purview, Unity Catalog, or similar data governance and metadata tools.
• Excellent understanding of data management principles including data quality, metadata, lineage, classification, and stewardship.
• Experience leading data governance initiatives in regulated environments such as financial services or insurance.
• Strong influencing skills to drive governance adoption across non-technical business units.
• Proficient in building business glossaries, data dictionaries, and classification frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills across all levels of an organisation.
• Awareness of data risk management and audit processes.
• Familiarity with data mesh, data fabric, or decentralised governance approaches (desirable).
• Knowledge of FCA/PRA frameworks relating to data governance and risk (desirable).

Our Benefits:

• Hybrid working – 2 days in the office and 3 days working from home
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days over 2 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service. Plus bank holidays!
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Pension scheme – 5% employee, 6% employer
• Flexible working – we will always consider applications for those who require less than the advertised hours
• Flexi-time
• Healthcare Cash Plan – claim cashback on a variety of everyday healthcare costs
• Electric vehicle – salary sacrifice scheme
• 100’s of exclusive retailer discounts
• Professional wellbeing, health & fitness app - Wrkit
• Enhanced parental leave, including time off for IVF appointments
• Religious bank holidays – if you don’t celebrate Christmas and Easter, you can use these annual leave days on other occasions throughout the year.
• Life Assurance - 4 times your salary
• 25% Car Insurance Discount
• 20% Travel Insurance Discount
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Community support day

About Somerset Bridge Group

Somerset Bridge Group is dedicated to delivering fair products and innovative services in the insurance industry. Our group focuses on underwriting, broking, and claims handling to provide sustainable and innovative insurance solutions. Somerset Bridge Insurance Services Limited, operating under GoSkippy and Vavista, offers insurance coverage to over 700,000 customers. Somerset Bridge Limited handles underwriting and claims, processing almost 50,000 claims annually. Somerset Bridge Shared Services Limited provides essential support functions to ensure operational efficiency and compliance. With a strong commitment to values, culture, and customer service excellence, Somerset Bridge Group is recognised for its industry awards and growth. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that fosters creative thinking and personal development.

We are very proud to have been awarded a Silver Accreditation from Investors in People! We recognise that all of our people contribute to our success. That's why we are always looking for talented people to join our team - people who share our vision, who are passionate about what they do, and who want to be part of something special.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Somerset Bridge Group is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic factors or other characteristics protected by law. SBG makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, skills and business requirements.