Data Governance Manager

Job summary

Data Governance Manager

c.£62,000 per annum

Bedford

Permanent

Hybrid Working

Are you passionate about turning data into a trusted, strategic asset? Join us as a Data Governance Manager and play a key role in shaping how our organisation manages, protects, and maximises the value of its data. In this role, you’ll help design and implement robust governance frameworks, improve data quality, and empower colleagues through better data fluency. You’ll collaborate across the business, solve meaningful data challenges, and ensure our governance practices support our biggest strategic priorities.

If you’re proactive, technically strong, great with stakeholders, and motivated by delivering real, tangible value, this is your opportunity to drive data excellence and influence data culture at scale.

Job description

Role Overview

The Data Governance Manager will report directly to Lead Data Governance Manager. In this role, you will be responsible for:

Key Responsibilities:

• Framework Implementation: Support the development and implementation of data governance frameworks, policies, and standards.
• Data Quality and Trustworthiness: Identify opportunities to improve the quality and trustworthiness of data.
• Data Quality Reporting: Establish and maintain mechanisms to monitor and report on data quality metrics.
• Data Asset Management: Maintain and optimise the data catalogue, ensuring essential data sets are identified and metadata is accurate.
• Data Management Processes:: Implement wider data management competencies into processes such as data quality, metadata management, and master data management.
• Learning and Development: Support data fluency initiatives and development for colleagues working with data.
• Solving Data Challenges: Support key stakeholders in addressing data management challenges.
• Strategic Focus: Ensure data governance activities align with key strategic initiatives.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with various teams to ensure cohesive data governance practices.
• Legal Governance and Privacy: Embed legal governance and privacy considerations in all data governance activities.

Person specification

You will need to demonstrate the following skills and experience.

To excel in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Data Governance Knowledge: Up-to-date knowledge of data governance theory, methodologies, and practical considerations.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of data management, including data quality, metadata management, and data modelling.
• Proactivity and Problem-solving: Proactive, self-motivated, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication skills and experience in managing stakeholders and presenting to senior management.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to contribute to data governance strategies that align with business goals.
• Learning and Development: Experience in developing learning materials related to data governance.
• Pragmatism and Delivering Value: Ability to take a pragmatic approach to data governance, focusing on delivering tangible value.

Benefits

• About Us
  The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is based in Bedford, in a recently renovated modern office. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to become an integral part of a dynamic organisation, working to help people across the UK.

  At the heart of the Money and Pensions Service are our values – caring, connecting, and transforming, which are the foundation of our success. They permeate every area of our work and define all our business relationships and the way we work with each other. We’re not only looking for the best people to come and work for us, but we need people who align themselves with our values:

  • Caring
    We care about our colleagues and the people whose lives we are here to transform.
  • Connecting
    We will transform lives through our ability to make positive connections.
  • Transforming
    We are committed to transforming lives and making a positive societal impact.

  Our Inclusive Working Environment
  By fostering our values, we are immensely proud of the inclusive working environment that we have created. The diversity of our people is a strength that we embrace and wish to build upon, so we are committed to attracting people of all backgrounds. We work hard to ensure that we have a progressive approach to inclusion, equity, and belonging. We really do want our colleagues to “bring their whole selves to work.”

  Our colleague and ally networks encompass LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, women’s health, men’s health, ethnicity, and diversity.

  What We Offer

  • Generous Annual Leave – 30 days plus Bank Holidays
  • Pension scheme – contributions matched 2 to 1 (up to 10% of your salary)
  • Interest-free loan for season tickets for buses and trains
  • Cycle to work Scheme
  • Subsidised eye tests & flu jabs
  • Life assurance scheme
  • Give as you earn scheme
  • Employee assistance programme (EAP)
  • PAM Assist and PAM Life scheme (Wellbeing)
  • Enhanced family and sick pay
  • Paid volunteering (2 days a year)
  • Recognition Scheme
  • Discounts portal to numerous retailers

  Flexible Working
  At MaPS, we take pride in our flexible approach to work. As standard, we work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week. Hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and our headquarters in Bedford will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business needs, but personal and other relevant circumstances will also be considered. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

  Career Development
  In MaPS, we take career development seriously. We actively encourage and support applications from our existing MaPS colleagues. However, we do follow the Civil Service Commissioner recruitment principles, which means that you will be required to participate in a full, open, and fair process.

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

Important Information About Applying

To make sure your application reaches us safely, please submit it only through our official MaPS application links.

Applications sent via third‑party or unauthorised websites, or emailed directly, unfortunately can’t be considered.

Please also note that MaPS is unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Reserve List
If you are successful at interview, we operate a reserve list where your details will be held for up to 6 months. Should a vacancy come available in that time with the same essential criteria, reserve list candidates will be offered that position with no further assessment required.

Application Process
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Money and Pensions Service via email: resourcing@maps.org.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Our Recruitment Process

Stage 1: Application

Opens: 30 January 2026

Closes: 15 February 2026

To apply, please submit your application via our approved job boards using the validated application form provided.

You will be asked to upload your curriculum vitae, clearly outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the role.

Stage 2: Telephone Interview

Conducted between: 02 February 2026 – 16 February 2026

If shortlisted following the application review, you will be invited to a 30‑minute telephone interview with a Reed consultant.

This call will provide you with more information about the role and allow us to explore your relevant experience in more detail.

Stage 3: Final Interview

Scheduled for: 26 February 2026 – 27 February 2026

(Dates subject to change)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a final interview via Microsoft Teams.

Interviews will last 1 hour and will be conducted by a panel of three.

The session will include a range of competency‑based questions to assess your skills, behaviours, and alignment with the role.

We follow fair, open, and merit‑based recruitment in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Job Reference: MaPS001093
Close Date: 15/02/2026

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

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

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 : Sabreena
• Email : sabreena.chowdhury@icloud.com

Recruitment team

• Email : sabreena.chowdhury@icloud.com