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
Contents
- — What a data governance manager does
- — Data governance manager role levels
- — Roles that share data governance manager skills
- — Senior Civil Service roles that data governance manager could lead to
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 |
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating between the technical and non-technical Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Enabling and informing risk-based decisions Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Stakeholder relationship management Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
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Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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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:
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Communicating between the technical and non-technical Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Enabling and informing risk-based decisions Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Stakeholder relationship management Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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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 |
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Communicating analysis and insight Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Communicating between the technical and non-technical Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Enabling and informing risk-based decisions Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Stakeholder relationship management Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels |
You can:
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Roles that share data governance manager skills
Role | Shared skills |
---|---|
Data architect | |
Digital portfolio manager | Communicating analysis and insight |
Analytics engineer | |
Business architect | |
Content strategist |
Senior Civil Service roles that data governance manager could lead to
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.