Lead Data Governance Manager

Job summary

The Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow (PSR TL&G) team is at the heart of the UK government’s initiative to drive innovation and reform in public service delivery. With the £100 million PSR Innovation Fund, our team collaborates with local authorities and government departments across the United Kingdom and with the Devolved Governments to design, test, and grow innovative solutions that enhance public service outcomes. By employing a ‘Test & Learn’ approach, we focus on creating evidence-based improvements while relieving pressures on public services. Our work involves piloting foundational programmes and place-based initiatives to accelerate mission delivery, support preventative measures, and foster a collaborative environment that encourages continuous improvement and innovation in public services.

The TLG programme uses place-based projects to prototype solutions to complex policy issues (these are known as ‘accelerators’). Examples of some of the accelerators in our portfolio include ‘violence against women and girls’ in Islington, ‘special educational needs and disabilities’ in Nottingham and Sandwell, ‘economic inactivity’ in Wakefield, and ‘neighbourhood health’ in Plymouth and Liverpool.

The ‘Grow’ element of the programme also aims to change the conditions across government so that it’s easier to work in a ‘test & learn’ way, as well as building the energy, networks and demand to sustain this work after the programme ends.

Job description

As the Lead Data Governance Manager for the TL&G team, you’ll work with colleagues from different multidisciplinary backgrounds in local government, central government and the wider public sector. You’ll help them identify data protection and data sharing issues early. You’ll support them in navigating complex data governance challenges, guiding them through the necessary processes, and ensuring proper join-up with the Cabinet Office Data Protection team. You’ll also make sure that any lessons learned around data governance, data protection and data privacy are shared with the ‘Grow’ part of the TLG team and support them in their work. This part of the team looks to identify and address systemic barriers that get in the way of those in central and local government taking iterative approaches to public services, and data sharing has already come up as a major area of work.

This role is mapped to the Lead Data Governance Manager role in the Government Digital and Data framework. This role may require some limited travel within the UK to work closely with local partners. This role is eligible for a DDaT allowance, the value of which will depend on an assessment of your skills and experience, as demonstrated at interview.

Main responsibilities

You will:

• Ensure the adoption and implementation of the programme’s cross-organisational data governance framework, working closely with the Cabinet Office Data Protection team and our delivery partner–the transformation consultancy Public Digital (PD),
• Develop, implement and manage additional data governance frameworks, policies, standards and agreements for work with our other stakeholders (including other central government departments, local government partners, other public sector bodies, and occasional private sector or third sector organisations),
• Set principles for a data privacy-first approach, ensuring that data protection is embedded in the programme’s work and data risk is minimised,
• Establish and oversee the programme’s data infrastructure,
• Be responsible for understanding and managing the programme’s data risks and issues,
• Explore creative solutions to data governance issues that meet Cabinet Office’s policies and standards,
• Ensure that data governance issues are understood by seniors in the programme and by the Grow part of the TLG team,
• Support the Grow part of the TLG team to understand good data practices established within our programme, identify opportunities to improve cross-government data governance and protection policy, and scope possible solutions where technical expertise is needed.

Person specification

It’s essential that you have the following skills:

Data ethics and privacy

• Work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns,
• Research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes,
• Assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies.

Data governance

• Implement and monitor data governance using standard methodology throughout the data life cycle.

Data innovation

• Identify areas of innovation in data tools and techniques, and recognise appropriate timing for adoption.

Data life cycle

• Understand and apply data governance structures and principles over a data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each phase,
• Demonstrate knowledge of data governance industry standards,
• Design and implement continuous improvements to optimise data governance over a data life cycle.

Data management

• Monitor and improve data management practices,
• Help define, develop and support the use of data management tools, procedures and methods in compliance with data governance policies.

Data maturity

• Lead the implementation of data best practices,
• Lead on monitoring and improving areas of data maturity.

Data standards

• Create data standards for different subjects and ensure senior leaders understand them,
• Monitor compliance with policies and standards in the Cabinet Office.

Communicating between technical and non-technical

• Listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations,
• Support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders.

Stakeholder relationship management:

• Identify and resolve issues, influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively,
• Build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders.

Logical and creative thinking

• Ensure that the most appropriate actions are taken to resolve problems as they occur.

Inclusivity

• Support equity and inclusion for your delivery work as well as in your team.

It’s desirable that you have:

Cross-sectoral experience

• Experience across different organisation types would be valuable in this role (for example, experience in more than one of central government, local government, the private sector, and the third sector).

Policy influencing skills

• Experience bringing different perspectives together to create policy change.

Data strategy and data policy development

• Experience developing data strategy and data policy in complex environments.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Data governance
• Data innovation
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,207, Cabinet Office contributes £17,152 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a CV and 750 word personal statement, outlining suitability based on the essential skills and experience listed in the job advert.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

If a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift may be conducted on the personal statement using the lead essential skill: "Data ethics and privacy". Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

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

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – start-mid November

Expected interview date/s – mid-late November

Interview location - hybrid

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put 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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : psreoperations@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Email : psreoperations@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 (2) Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)