Head of data governance

Band 8c · Data governance manager · 637 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Head of data governance

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G6.

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

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Work with the chief data officer and the executive owner of information risk to set the strategy for data governance and use.
Set data governance policies and standards and monitor how well the organisation follows them.
Be accountable for managing the organisation's data risks, and report on them to the board.
Represent the organisation on data governance with health and care partners, regulators, and patient groups.
Promote openness with patients and the public about how their data is used.
Lead and develop the data governance function.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communicating analysis and insightUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: communicate relevant, compelling stories using the most appropriate medium make complex recommendations at a tactical and strategic level
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: mediate between people and strengthen relationships, adopting the appropriate communication method with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and moderate difficult discussions about high risk and complex topics, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of, and represent the community to, large audiences inside and outside the organisation
Data ethics and privacyUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: oversee compliance with data ethics standards and legislation across the organisation develop, manage and continuously improve an ethical framework within your area develop a data ethics culture, influencing others to act on it ensure data ethics is applied appropriately when formulating, implementing and evaluating organisational policies and programmes
Data governanceUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 innovationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: advocate for adoption of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, or familiar technologies in new data contexts, ensuring organisation objectives, user needs, and operational constraints inform decisions develop organisational capability in data innovation through leadership anticipate future technology changes and advise how to take advantage of them to realise value from data
Data life cycleUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 improvementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 managementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: champion and lead data management and governance processes within your team and across your organisation define and lead on the implementation of data management responsibilities define data management tools and develop training requirements to implement data governance processes effectively enable continuous improvement of data management practices and compliance with data governance policies
Data maturityUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 standardsUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 decisionsUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	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 managementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: direct the stakeholder relationship strategy for your teams ensure stakeholder's objectives are set and support teams to meet them influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders to resolve issues and enable progress
Strategic thinkingUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: shape organisational strategy using a deep understanding of the health and care system represent the organisation with health and care partners and leaders anticipate how policy and service changes will affect digital services and care
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set information governance policy and strategy advise the board on information risk and compliance represent the organisation with regulators and partners
Data quality managementThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set data quality standards for the organisation and its partners lead data quality improvement programmes
Clinical terminology and classificationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design data models and reference sets using clinical terminologies map between terminologies and classifications, and explain the limits of a mapping advise teams on terminology use in products and analytics
Pseudonymisation and disclosure controlThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set the organisation's standards for de-identification and disclosure control assure high-risk data releases and linkage projects lead work with partners on safe data access for research and planning
Organisational risk managementThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: design the organisation's risk management framework and appetite advise the board on strategic risks
People managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: line manage a team, setting objectives and running appraisals support wellbeing and manage attendance, performance, and conduct plan the team's development and succession
Budget managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: track spending against a small budget and raise variances authorise spending within your limit

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading data governance across an organisation.

Band 8c outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge, and wide organisational and sector understanding.
Autonomy: Sets strategy for a function; accountable to a director.
Scope: A function or department.
Leadership: Leads a function through several management layers.
Accountability: A function's performance, workforce, and budget.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	6	Gives highly complex, highly contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance, using the highest level of communication skills.	60
Knowledge, training, and experience	7	Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).	196
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	5	Forms long-term strategic plans, with uncertainty and effects across the organisation.	60
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	6	Corporate responsibility for major policy or service development across or beyond the organisation.	60
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorises payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
Responsibility for people	4	Line manages a function or department, designs training programmes as a main duty, or delivers a full range of HR services.	32
Responsibility for information resources	6	Manages and develops information systems across the organisation as the main duty.	46
Responsibility for research and development	1	Carries out surveys or audits for own work; occasionally takes part in research or testing.	5
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8c: 630 to 674)			637