Job Description

Job Title: Data Governance Lead

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Hybrid Working | UK

Salary: £55-60,000 + Bonus and Benfits

Are you passionate about data governance and ensuring data is trusted, secure and used effectively to drive business value?

As Data Governance Lead, you'll establish and embed practical governance frameworks, standards and controls that ensure data is trusted, compliant and well managed throughout its lifecycle. You'll work across Data & Analytics, Technology and business functions to drive accountability, improve data quality and enable trusted analytics.

What you'll be doing:

• Define, maintain and evolve Whitbread's data governance framework, standards and operating model.
• Establish governance requirements for new data pipelines, platform changes and data products.
• Own governance processes including approval criteria, checklists and exception management.
• Drive data ownership, stewardship and accountability across business and technical teams.
• Lead the adoption of data catalogue, metadata, classification and lineage standards.
• Oversee data quality frameworks including monitoring, controls, thresholds and remediation processes.
• Partner with engineering, analytics, security, privacy and business stakeholders to embed governance into day-to-day delivery.
• Coordinate governance forums, providing guidance, decision-making and escalation where required.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place for data access, security, privacy, retention and regulatory compliance.
• Create governance reporting, KPIs and maturity measures to drive continuous improvement.
• Deliver education, coaching and communication activities that support governance adoption across the organisation.
• Provide governance assurance through reporting, risk management and evidence-based recommendations.

Why you'll love it here:

• Play a pivotal role in shaping Whitbread's data governance strategy and future data capabilities.
• Help enable trusted analytics, self-service reporting and AI innovation.
• Influence decision-making at both operational and senior leadership levels.
• Be part of a team driving large-scale data transformation across the business.
• Access excellent career development opportunities within one of the UK's leading hospitality businesses.

What you'll need:

• Strong knowledge of data governance principles, stewardship models and governance operating frameworks.
• Experience with data quality, metadata management, cataloguing, lineage and data lifecycle management.
• Understanding of data security, access controls, GDPR, retention requirements and audit processes.
• Knowledge of modern cloud data platforms, data products and lakehouse architectures.
• Ability to translate governance strategy into practical, scalable processes and controls.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and drive accountability across multiple functions.
• Strong analytical skills with experience defining KPIs, governance reporting and remediation activities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to coach, educate and constructively challenge stakeholders.
• Proven experience leading or contributing significantly to data governance initiatives within a complex organisation.
• Experience working closely with data engineering, analytics and business teams.

It would be great if you also have:

• Knowledge of Databricks Unity Catalog and medallion architecture.
• Understanding of Data Mesh, FinOps and AI governance principles.
• Experience using governance and data catalogue tools such as Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Alation or Unity Catalog.
• Experience in process automation, dashboarding and agile delivery environments.
• Experience supporting cloud platform or data product transformation programmes.
• Relevant certifications such as DAMA CDMP, DCAM, Microsoft or Databricks certifications.
• Knowledge of the hospitality sector and broader data landscape.

Bring your expertise in data governance, passion for improving data quality and ability to influence across the business to help Whitbread build a trusted, data-driven future.