Data Governance Lead – Programme Advance General Business - Smiths Group - Birmingham

Smiths Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative engineering company in Birmingham is seeking a Data Governance Lead to oversee data governance frameworks and policies. The successful candidate will ensure high-quality data management, facilitate compliance with regulations, and collaborate with stakeholders to promote a data-driven culture. Candidates should possess a strong understanding of data governance principles, along with relevant technical skills such as familiarity with data management platforms. This role offers an opportunity to drive transformation and innovation in a global team.

Benefits

Inclusive and diverse workplace

Career growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks like DAMA-DMBOK.
• Experience with data cataloguing and data lineage tools.
• Ability to deliver training for data governance initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain data governance policies and standards.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure data ownership and accountability.
• Monitor data governance metrics and compliance with regulations.

Skills

Data governance frameworks understanding

Data quality management

Data privacy regulations familiarity

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree level education or equivalent

Tools

Azure Data Lake

Databricks

PowerBI

Job description

Location: United Kingdom

Ref: REF3823J

Job Function: General Business

Company Description

Smiths Group designs, manufactures and delivers smarter engineering solutions for mission‑critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. For over 170 years, Smiths Group has been pioneering progress by improving the world through smarter engineering.

We serve millions of people every year, to help create a safer, more efficient and better‑connected world, across four major global markets: Energy, General Industry, Security & Defence, and Aerospace. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs 14,600 colleagues in over 50+ countries.

This pioneering spirit continues to drive us today, underpinned by our powerful culture. Improving our world is what we do, how we think, and how we will continue to use our passion for technology and engineering to tackle our customers biggest challenges today and in the future. We're looking for people with curious minds. Who want responsibility and relish a challenge. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting out, our global scale and focus on growth means we have some great career opportunities for you. There's never been a better time to join Smiths.

Overview

• The Data Governance Lead will be pivotal to the success of Programme Advance, the HCM and Payroll transformation initiative—by ensuring that the foundation of all transformation activities is built on high‑quality, trusted, and compliant data. As the organization transitions to new operating models and technologies, the Data Governance Lead will establish and enforce data governance frameworks that guarantee the accuracy, integrity, and security of employee and payroll data across all business units.
• This role will drive the development and implementation of policies, standards, and processes that support seamless data integration, master data management, and regulatory compliance. By collaborating with HR, Payroll, IT, and business stakeholders, the Data Governance Lead will enable the organization to unlock the full potential of its HCM and Payroll systems, facilitating efficient onboarding, payroll processing, workforce planning, and strategic decision‑making.
• Through proactive stewardship and continuous improvement, the Data Governance Lead will help mitigate risks, address data‑related pain points, and foster a culture of data‑driven innovation. Ultimately, this leadership will ensure that Programme Advance delivers sustainable value, supports business objectives, and empowers employees with reliable information throughout the transformation journey.
• You will lead the establishment, management, and continuous improvement of the company’s data governance framework. Support senior management in developing and executing the organization’s strategic plan for data quality, compliance, and stewardship. Oversee the development and enforcement of data policies, standards, and processes to ensure the integrity, security, and effective use of data across Smiths Group and its divisions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain data governance policies, standards, and procedures to ensure high‑quality, trusted data across the organization.
• Establish and govern master/reference data, data quality management, data cataloguing, data lineage, and traceability as foundational pillars for all business units.
• Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to define data ownership, stewardship, and accountability models.
• Lead initiatives to improve data quality, resolve data issues, and drive adoption of data governance best practices.
• Oversee compliance with legal, regulatory (GDPR), and company requirements for data privacy, security, and usage.
• Facilitate the creation and maintenance of business glossaries, data dictionaries, and metadata management tools.
• Provide guidance and training to data stewards, business users, and technical teams on data governance principles and practices.
• Monitor and report on data governance metrics, including data quality KPIs, policy adherence, and remediation progress.
• Support the integration of data governance into project delivery, change management, and business‑as‑usual (BAU) activities.
• Act as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex data governance queries and issues.
• Foster a culture of data stewardship and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Develop and design approval processes using workflows for master data.
• Define data quality metrics and drive continuous system and data improvement.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK), data management principles, and industry best practices.
• Strong experience with data quality management, data cataloguing, metadata management, and data lineage tools.
• Familiarity with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR) and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in data management platforms (e.g., Azure Data Lake, Databricks) and BI tools (e.g., PowerBI).
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with both onshore and offshore teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to interact at all levels of the organization.
• Experience in developing and delivering training and documentation for data governance initiatives.
• Passion for data, technology, and continuous improvement.

Additional Information

Diversity & Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners, ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc).