Data Governance Lead

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Migration and Borders Group is responsible for policy, legislation and reform of the immigration systems and acts as a centre for excellence to deliver international interventions and engagement. This work touches many of the most high-profile policy areas for the Home Office, including asylum, migration, nationality, extradition, citizens’ rights, borders and international criminality.

The Data Excellence Capability (DEC) is a cross Migration and Borders function to provide data leadership, direction and drive collaboration across the key system enablers. DEC leads on co-ordinating and directing system wide efforts and data improvements and provides enduring expertise to support the systems immediate needs along with building long term sustainable solutions.

As Data Governance Lead, you will provide strategic leadership and guidance to ensure data is trusted, secure and high value across the Migration & Borders (M&B) System. You will work closely with HO Data and Identity Directorate to embed the data governance frameworks, policies and practices that enable lawful, ethical and effective use of data – supporting critical functions across M&B including the role out of a Data Ownership Model and support these new Data Owners in the breadth of their responsibilities.

Job description

We are recruiting a Data Governance Lead for Migration and Borders (M&B) in the Data Excellence Capability (DEC), as part of the M&B System Leadership Directorate. This role will set the data ownership for M&B one of the most complex and highest profile parts of the UK Government.

This is a high-profile, strategic and stretching role. The successful candidate will proactively enable effective data governance and data management policies and guidelines within the team and across the organisation, monitoring and improving data management practices across M&B, defining and developing the use of data management tools, procedures and methods in compliance with data governance policies.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of data governance frameworks, policies, and practices to ensure lawful, ethical, and effective use of data.
• Drive improvements in data management practices, developing appropriate tools, and methods in line with governance policies.
• Deliver core data management capabilities, including data quality, metadata, master data, modelling, and standards.
• Maintain oversight of organisational data risks, coordinating with data owners and governance forums to resolve issues.
• Build strong relationships and communicate effectively with stakeholders, promoting data literacy and accountability.
• Represent DEC in cross-M&B and Home Office governance forums, ensuring alignment and advancing organisational priorities.

Travel

Occasional travel to other work locations within the UK according to business needs may be required and may include overnight stays. All related costs will be reimbursed in line with Home Office policy.

Line Management

At present, there is no line management responsibility, but this may change over time.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, job-share and compressed hours are available.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Experience in Data Governance within a large, operational organisation, including the ability to apply frameworks, policies, and standards in a way that supports fairness, transparency, and accessibility for all stakeholders. Link to Framework: https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-governance-manager
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate effectively with diverse operational leaders and teams. Demonstrates the capability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and compelling narratives, using inclusive language and accessible visualisations tailored to varied audiences, including senior leadership.
• Comprehensive understanding of data governance principles across the data lifecycle, ensuring best practice at every stage. Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders to build organisational capability and capacity in data governance, fostering an inclusive culture of continuous improvement.
• Awareness and application of data ethics and privacy considerations within the wider organisational context. Demonstrates strong analytical skills to research and implement ethical practices that promote compliance and uphold equal opportunities for all data subjects.
• Experience in developing and embedding data standards across multiple subject areas, ensuring clarity and accessibility for senior leaders and colleagues. Ability to work inclusively with subject matter experts to introduce best practice, monitor compliance, and make recommendations that support organisational integrity and fairness.
• Effective project management skills, with the ability to manage a diverse data portfolio across a large and complex organisation. Demonstrates capability to balance competing priorities, build positive relationships across teams, and deliver change in a way that respects and values diversity of thought and experience.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Communicating and Analysis and Insight
• Data Governance
• Data Life Cycle
• Stakeholder Relationship Management

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
• See more of our benefits on our careers website.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

Application – by 19th January 2026

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history, and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

Sift – commencing 21st January 2026

The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.

Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of the CV.

Interview – week commencing 16th February 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Technical Skills based questions and Experience related questions.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against 'Experience' on the 'Success Profiles' and will be assessed against the 'Essential Criteria' as listed in the job advertisement.

For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the Lead Data Governance Manager within the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

The interview will take place on MS Teams.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Location Preferences

You can select up to threelocations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred locations and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Additional Security Checks

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. The level of Criminal Record Check required for this role is Basic. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/ Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission

Attachments

Home Office Candidate_information_v15_DECEMBER_2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-01 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)