Canada Life UK looks after the retirement, investment and protection needs of individuals, families and companies. We help to build better futures for our customers, our intermediaries and our employees by operating as a modern, agile and welcoming organisation.

Part of our parent company Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life UK has operated in the United Kingdom since 1903. We have hundreds of respected and supported employees committed to doing the right thing for our customers and colleagues.

Canada Life UK is transforming to create a more customer-focused business by providing our customers with expertise on financial and tax planning, offering home finance and annuities propositions, and providing collective fund solutions to third party customers.

Purpose of the role:

As the Head of Data Governance, you will lead the Data Governance function, overseeing the development and implementation of data governance frameworks, policies, and practices across the organisation. You will be responsible for ensuring that data is managed as a valuable asset, maintaining data quality, integrity, and security. Your role will involve managing a team of data governance professionals, developing and implementing data governance strategies, and working closely with stakeholders to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

You will join a collaborative and innovative team within the Data and Analytics department, dedicated to leveraging data to drive business success. As a leader, you will be expected to foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and accountability within your team. A high-performing data governance function is expected to deliver high-quality data management practices, optimise data processes, and support the business in achieving its strategic goals.

In this role, you will be responsible for orchestrating the full-scale implementation of the data governance framework, establishing governance structures, and fostering collaboration via working groups and cross-divisional forums. You will spearhead the development of data quality metrics and KPIs, instrumental in elevating data quality management standards. Additionally, you will play a pivotal role in assigning ownership roles and responsibilities by actively engaging with stakeholders across the organisation.

Your expertise will be crucial in facilitating dynamic workshops, effectively securing consensus, and driving the adoption of Critical Data Element (CDE) identification processes. You will lead the strategic procurement of state-of-the-art metadata management tools, optimising data management capabilities. Furthermore, you will significantly enhance the Data Quality Issue management process through meticulous gap analysis and strategic implementation.

As the Head of Data Governance, you will author comprehensive data policy documents and provide guidance while overseeing the development of corresponding standards within data quality, metadata, and data lineage. You will execute the identification of data risks and corresponding controls in line with the company risk management framework, providing invaluable insights and recommendations for a streamlined and efficient organisational structure conducive to robust data governance practices.

Your role will also involve improving data literacy across the business, engaging with both technical and non-technical audiences to explain the business value of data governance projects. You will be required to build innovative and effective approaches to solving data governance problems and communicating clear and relevant results and methodologies to internal stakeholders. This will include business as usual as well as special projects.

What you’ll do: *Data Governance Strategy and Vision: Support the Head of Data & Insight by defining and communicating the data governance strategy, vision, and roadmap. Identifying use cases that support the long-term operational and commercial strategy within the business. Prioritising cases based on good customer outcomes, business objectives, and operational efficiency.
*Business Requirements and Data Development: Collaborate with business stakeholders and Data Council to gather and document detailed requirements for data governance use cases, including defining use cases, acceptance criteria, and functional specifications. Work closely with the IT and change functions in an agile environment, participating in sprints, backlog, and daily stand-ups.
*Managing a Team of Data Governance Professionals: Day-to-day management and matrix management of a team of data governance specialists. Helping the team to determine the best route for tackling use cases, understanding the scope, identifying possible techniques and approaches, and outlining both the business and technical advantages or drawbacks to each.
*Improving Data Literacy: Engage with both technical and non-technical audiences to explain the business value of data governance projects.
*Project Delivery: Build innovative and effective approaches to solving data governance problems and communicating clear and relevant results and methodologies to internal stakeholders. Will include business as usual as well as special projects.
*Risk, Control & Regulatory Environment: Ensure familiarity with risk management programs, as they impact this position, and follow appropriate risk management procedures to control, monitor, and report on business activities. Ensure compliance with Company policies, regulatory, professional & legal requirements.
What you’ll be accountable for: *The Head of Data Governance holds significant accountability for ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of data governance services across the organisation. This role is critical in maintaining operational performance and supporting strategic decision-making. The key areas of accountability include:
*Strategic Impact: Developing and implementing data governance strategies that align with the company’s long-term goals. Creating frameworks and policies that ensure data quality, integrity, and security.
*Operational Efficiency: Optimising data processes and resource utilisation, reducing waste, and improving productivity. Managing a team of data governance professionals, guiding them in best practices, and ensuring that their work supports the overall efficiency of the operations.
*Stakeholder Engagement: Effectively communicating with various stakeholders, including senior leaders, executives, and board members. Presenting complex data governance concepts in a clear and understandable manner, ensuring that stakeholders are informed and can make data-driven decisions. Risk Management: Ensuring compliance w