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Data governance manager

Find out what a data governance manager in government does and the skills you need to do the role at each level.

Last updated 30 November 2024 — See all updates

What a data governance manager does

A data governance manager plans, monitors and enforces the management of data assets.

In this role, you will:

  • catalogue, monitor and identify data assets that are essential to the organisation’s operations or services
  • assign ownership of data, ensuring there is a clear RACI (responsible, accountable, consulted and informed) matrix in the organisation
  • incorporate governance of data into routine processes
  • support or manage risk processes around data
  • advocate for better use and management of data within the organisation
  • encourage better data literacy within the organisation

Data governance manager role levels

There are 3 data governance manager role levels, from data governance manager to head of data governance.

The typical responsibilities and skills for each role level are described in the sections below. You can use this to identify the skills you need to progress in your career, or simply to learn more about each role in the Government Digital and Data profession.

1. Data governance manager

A data governance manager defines, implements and manages data governance frameworks, policies and standards.

At this role level, you will:

  • work on the design and implementation of practical data governance solutions to support organisational needs
  • identify opportunities and make recommendations to improve the quality and trustworthiness of data throughout the organisation
  • implement and establish wider data management competencies within the organisation (such as data quality, metadata management, master data management, data modelling, and development of data standards and data strategy)
  • apply data governance to optimise the safety and value of data throughout the data life cycle
  • work within the organisation to minimise data risks and increase data literacy

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
  • G7 (Grade 7)
Skill Description

Communicating analysis and insight

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the appropriate media to communicate findings
  • shape and share communications relevant to the audience
  • give tactical recommendations

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics
  • be an advocate for the team externally, and can manage differing perspectives

Data governance

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of data governance theory, standard methodology and the practical considerations
  • develop an end-to-end data governance framework (the processes, operational policies and standards needed to support data management)
  • work effectively with technical teams and other stakeholders to implement a data governance framework, and make recommendations to ensure compliance

Data innovation

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand the impact on the organisation of emerging trends in data tools, analysis techniques and data usage

Data life cycle

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand and apply data governance over a data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each phase

Data literacy improvement

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • raise awareness of the need for data literacy within the organisation
  • support data literacy training and development by enabling data consumers to understand what they can and cannot do with data

Data management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • understand data governance and how it works in relation to other organisational governance structures
  • participate in or deliver the assurance of a service

Data maturity

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • explain the different data maturity models available
  • measure data maturity and implement best practices
  • describe the benefits of potential improvements

Data regulation and ethics

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • apply relevant data and ethical frameworks and standards to your work
  • understand all aspects of data governance and use, ensuring these are maintained in-line with laws, regulations, codes of practice and ethical requirements
  • demonstrate an awareness of emerging best practice in areas such as data ethics, and an understanding of the changing landscape

Data standards

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • use data policies, processes and standards effectively
  • work with subject matter experts to develop standards, policies and guidance to protect data
  • monitor compliance with policies and standards in a team and take action if needed
  • analyse the impact if a standard is breached

Enabling and informing risk-based decisions

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with risk owners to advise and give feedback
  • advise on risk impact and whether it's within risk tolerance
  • describe different risk methodologies and how these are applied, as well as the proportionality of risk

Stakeholder relationship management

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • identify important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly
  • tailor communication to stakeholders' needs and work with them to build relationships, while also meeting user needs
  • build and reach consensus
  • work to improve stakeholder relationships, using evidence to explain decisions made

Strategic thinking

Level: working

Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals
  • contribute to the development of strategy and policies

2. Lead data governance manager

A lead data governance manager undertakes complex work related to the principles and practices of data governance, and co-ordinates with data owners to lead wider data management competencies.

At this role level, you will:

  • lead the formation, implementation and management of data governance frameworks, policies and standards
  • implement and establish wider data management competencies within the organisation (such as data quality assurance, metadata management, master data management, data modelling, and development of data standards and data strategy)
  • be responsible for understanding and managing the organisational data risks and issues, and co-ordinating with data owners to accept or resolve them

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • G7 (Grade 7)
  • G6 (Grade 6)
Skill Description

Communicating analysis and insight

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories
  • share data communication skills with the team and across government
  • present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages
  • communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders
  • give tactical and strategic recommendations

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them
  • effectively manage stakeholder expectations
  • manage active and reactive communication
  • support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders

Data governance

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • implement and monitor data governance using standard methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation
  • meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation
  • take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation

Data innovation

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

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

Data life cycle

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • 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
  • work with internal and external stakeholders to build organisational capacity and capability in data governance

Data literacy improvement

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • recommend data literacy as a valuable skill across all levels of the organisation
  • identify employee training courses and other opportunities to improve the organisation’s data literacy skills and data-driven culture

Data management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • advocate data governance and data management standards and guidelines within your team’s products and services
  • continually communicate and improve data management practices in your teams
  • help define and support the use of common toolsets
  • seek to automate data management activities where possible
  • develop processes to enable good data management practices and compliance with data governance policies

Data maturity

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the implementation of data best practices
  • communicate opportunities to improve data maturity
  • lead on monitoring and improving areas of data maturity

Data regulation and ethics

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • demonstrate a good understanding of relevant data laws, regulations, codes of practice and ethical requirements, and can apply these to your work
  • understand how the law and ethical considerations relate to one another
  • monitor the landscape and legislation to ensure you understand and can implement best practice in new areas of thought such as data ethics

Data standards

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • create data standards for different subjects and ensure senior leaders understand them
  • work with subject matter experts across the organisation to introduce data standards best practice
  • monitor compliance with policies and standards in the organisation
  • make recommendations about how the organisation should resolve breaches of standards

Enabling and informing risk-based decisions

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work with higher impact or more complex risks, advising on the impact and whether it's within risk tolerance
  • apply different risk methodologies in proportion to the risk

Stakeholder relationship management

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively
  • build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders

Strategic thinking

Level: practitioner

Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals
  • contribute to the development of strategy and policies

3. Head of data governance

The head of data governance works with the chief data officer across the organisation and government, providing strategic oversight and leadership in all aspects of data governance and use. They ensure high standards are maintained in-line with regulations and ethical requirements.

At this role level, you will:

  • work with the chief data officer to provide strategic oversight of data governance throughout the organisation
  • set and monitor the adherence to data governance policies, frameworks and standards
  • be accountable for understanding and managing the organisational data risks and issues, and co-ordinating with data owners to accept or resolve them
  • act as a senior advisor across government on the best practice of data security development, in accordance with the data enterprise architecture
  • maintain effective long-term relationships at a senior level with important decision-makers and influencers
  • advocate improved data risk management and practices within the organisation
  • encourage better data literacy and understanding of data governance within the organisation

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

  • G6 (Grade 6)
Skill Description

Communicating analysis and insight

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • communicate relevant, compelling stories using the most appropriate medium
  • make complex recommendations at a tactical and strategic level
  • present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages
  • communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels
  • manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales
  • speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government

Data governance

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • define the data governance strategy for the organisation, and connect it with the wider organisational strategy
  • design, implement and monitor data governance within a large organisation, throughout the data life cycle
  • set the strategy for applying end-to-end data governance frameworks, processes, operational policies, standards, compliance and assurance
  • engage and work effectively with technical leaders and senior stakeholders to implement data governance and ensure compliance

Data innovation

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • investigate emerging trends in data-related approaches, perform horizon-scanning for the organisation and introduce innovative ways of working

Data life cycle

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take responsibility for data governance structures and principles, and ensure that they’re defined and applied with best practice throughout a data life cycle
  • direct continuous improvements to optimise data governance over a data life cycle

Data literacy improvement

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • take responsibility for improving the organisation’s data literacy
  • encourage a data-driven culture within the organisation by strengthening data literacy skills among all employees
  • persuade senior decision-makers that data literacy is a vital part of a data-driven culture, enabling effective decision-making at all levels

Data management

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • ensure data management and governance processes are in place and adhered to for the products and services your teams provide
  • ensure data management responsibilities are clearly defined and training is in place to enable the execution of data management practices
  • define strategies to enable continual improvement of data management practices and compliance with data governance policies

Data maturity

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • oversee the implementation of the organisation’s data maturity model
  • work with senior stakeholders to provide data assurance
  • report assessment findings to boards or committees
  • communicate data maturity improvement plans

Data regulation and ethics

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • effectively manage data governance issues
  • oversee the implementation of relevant data and ethical frameworks and standards to the work of the organisation
  • direct continuous improvement activity to optimise data governance practices
  • work effectively with internal and external stakeholders to build the organisation’s capability in data regulation and ethics

Data standards

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • create data standards for the organisation
  • advocate for, and oversee compliance with, data policies and standards
  • decide where standards need to be set across the organisation, and how to set them in the wider context of government

Enabling and informing risk-based decisions

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • act as a point of escalation
  • be trusted by senior risk owners as an expert in security
  • apply risk methodologies at the most complex levels of risk

Stakeholder relationship management

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • direct the strategy towards stakeholder relationships
  • set stakeholder objectives and recommend that they’re met
  • influence important senior stakeholders and provide mediation

Strategic thinking

Level: expert

Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels

You can:

  • lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met

Role Shared skills
Data architect

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Data innovation

Data standards

Strategic thinking

Digital portfolio manager

Communicating analysis and insight

Stakeholder relationship management

Strategic thinking

Analytics engineer

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Data innovation

Business architect

Stakeholder relationship management

Strategic thinking

Content strategist

Stakeholder relationship management

Strategic thinking

Updates

Published 31 March 2023

Last updated 30 November 2024

30 November 2024

  • The skill 'data standards' has been updated to improve clarity and ensure consistency across the framework, allowing it be shared with roles previously using the skill 'data standards (data architect)'.

22 October 2024

  • Corrected an error in the indicative job grades for the first role level, 'data governance manager'. The grades for this level were corrected to 'SEO and G7', instead of 'HEO and G7'.

30 August 2024

  • The 'data maturity models' skill has been renamed 'data maturity'. This change is to prevent overlap with the skill 'data modelling'. The 'awareness' level of the skill 'data maturity' has been defined.

31 May 2024

  • Data governance manager now includes Civil Service job grades that reflect how each role level is commonly graded across government. This information is taken from the Digital and Data Workforce Planning Commission and is indicative only, different departments may use different grades. This change is based on the latest data on the most common grades for these role levels across government.

31 March 2023

  • First published.