Job Description

Job Introduction

We're looking for an exceptional

Lead Data Governance Manager

to help us make a difference to our planet.


As our Lead Data Governance Manager, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.


Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

We're a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact We're experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making We're better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

You will design and deliver a structured approach to the governance of our environmental data assets from data ingestion, data creation, processing and provision to our external users. You will lead on data governance activities across the organisation ensuring and leading compliance with policies, standards and provide support to internal user groups. Identify opportunities to support strategic objectives and corporate decision making. This will lead to the effective use of our environmental data and data services both across the Met Office and in delivering our commitments to government, industry and the public.

Your key duties

:

Working with the Head of Data Governance and key stakeholders including senior leadership teams, you will establish and maintain a Data Governance Framework of principles, policies and guidance that underpin our data governance and corporate decision making and communicate and reinforce their adoption to enable us to deliver the many data-related objectives of our strategic actions. Ability to engage with business units and end users to promote data governance principles, build stakeholder buy-in, and communicate the value of trusted data as a driver for operational efficiency and strategic decision-making. Develop and support the adoption of the Data Governance Framework through formal and informal engagement across capabilities within the organisation. Responding to business challenges and identifying opportunities, you will maintain alignment to enterprise design frameworks and compliance with external policies and best practice. You will introduce and manage measures to monitor and raise Met Office maturity in environmental data governance practices and, through research, collaboration and user feedback, you will identify organisational challenges and blockers, making improvements to support staff, to embed sustainable ways of working and to address business needs. Lead an inclusive and accountable approach to environmental data governance and management to build a culture of openness and transparency across the Met Office, so that insights, intelligence, experience and lessons learned inform decisions, direct work priorities and enable staff to collaborate on efficient and consistent approach to environmental data management. Work with industry leaders and external stakeholders to exchange governance knowledge and learning. Lead data governance assurance reviews to ensure compliance, data quality, and risk mitigation. Provide expert guidance to stakeholders, promoting best practices and a consistent enterprise-wide approach to managing environmental data assets.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their 'Best Workplaces in Tech' 2023, 2024 and 2025 lists, as well as their '54 Best Workplaces for Women' 2023 list.


As our Lead Data Governance Manager, your total reward package will be up to 79,657 annually, which includes:

54,515 base pay An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97% Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) you will be paid 3,800 per annum as a market supplement to reflect the demand for your skills. Whilst in post, you will be paid this market driven allowance from April 2024 until March 2026 in your monthly pay Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

Leadership & Mentorship - Ability and willingness to be an effective line manager and mentor, supporting, developing, and motivating others. Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance - Proven experience in helping develop, then lead the implementing of enterprise-wide data strategies, establishing governance structures for design, assurance, and delivery of data-driven products and services. Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Design - Excellent ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders, advocate for data management best practices, and design clear, practical governance policies that address adoption challenges and embed new ways of working. Compliance, Assurance & Technical Expertise - Evidence of embedding compliance across the data lifecycle, defining and monitoring assurance metrics, aligning with regulatory and organisational requirements, and applying strong technical understanding of data architecture, metadata management, and data management principle.

We encourage you to apply if you believe you meet our essential criteria, but we're also keen to discover if you have:

Experience with working on Environmental data and geospatial data DAMA - DMBOK knowledge and qualified with experience of delivering across all the DAMA functional areas Experience of leading a Data Strategy and implement the necessary governance required for effective design and delivery of products and services with a focus on AI

How to apply

If you share our values, we'd love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.


Closing date 21/01/2026 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 09/02/2026. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

Using AI in your application

We welcome applications that use AI tools for support in drafting or refining, as long as they accurately reflect your own skills and experience. All hiring decisions at the Met Office are made by people, not AI. For more details, visit our approach to recruitment.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.


If you're considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.


We understand that great minds don't always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.


We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible, 2 of these years must be immediately preceding the point of your application. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.


If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact us at:

careers@metoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:

info@csc.gov.uk