Data Manager Job Description and Role Profile

The Data Manager role is suited to experienced data professionals responsible for ensuring data integrity, accessibility and compliance across the organisation. Candidates should be comfortable working with stakeholders across business and technical teams to implement data governance, improve data quality and support data-driven decision making.

Data Manager Job Profile

The Data Manager is accountable for the development and execution of data management practices that support business objectives. This role oversees the data lifecycle from acquisition to disposal, establishing standards and processes to maintain accuracy, consistency and security of organisational data.

The post-holder will act as a central point of contact for data governance, quality assurance and metadata management, working with senior stakeholders to align data activities with strategic priorities and regulatory requirements.

Data Manager Job Description

The Data Manager leads the design and implementation of data governance frameworks, policies and procedures to ensure data is reliable, usable and secure. They coordinate cross-functional activity to define data standards, maintain metadata, and resolve data quality issues, enabling consistent reporting and analytics across the organisation.

The role requires close collaboration with business units, analytics teams and technical teams to deliver data projects, support integration and ensure controls are in place for data access and protection. The Data Manager monitors performance through data quality metrics and drives continuous improvement initiatives to reduce risk and increase the value of data assets.

The position typically involves line management of data staff or oversight of data stewards, prioritising workstreams, and communicating progress to senior management. The Data Manager ensures compliance with relevant data protection and privacy obligations and supports audits and regulatory enquiries as required.

Data Manager: Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a data governance framework that defines roles, responsibilities and policies for data management.
• Establish and enforce data quality standards, processes and remediation plans to address data issues.
• Create and manage metadata registries and data dictionaries to support consistency and discoverability.
• Define and monitor data quality metrics and report on trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate data collection, integration and consolidation activities across business units and systems.
• Oversee data access controls and ensure appropriate privacy and security measures are applied.
• Lead or contribute to data migration, integration and master data management projects.
• Collaborate with analytics and business teams to ensure data meets reporting and analytical requirements.
• Manage relationships with data suppliers and third parties to maintain data accuracy and contractual compliance.
• Provide guidance and training to data stewards and business users on data standards and best practice.
• Maintain documentation for data processes, lineage and system interfaces for auditability.
• Prioritise and allocate resources for data initiatives, tracking progress against objectives and timelines.
• Support regulatory compliance activities related to data protection, retention and disclosure.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase data maturity and operational efficiency.

Data Manager: Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information management, statistics, mathematics or a related field.
• Proven experience in data management, data governance or related roles within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of data quality concepts, metadata management and data lifecycle practices.
• Practical experience with data modelling, data integration and ETL principles.
• Knowledge of data protection and privacy regulations and their application to business processes.
• Demonstrable ability to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail and problem solving skills.
• Experience in developing policies, standards and operational procedures for data management.
• Good communication and presentation skills, including the ability to produce clear documentation.
• Project management skills and experience prioritising multiple workstreams to meet deadlines.
• Experience of leading or coaching a small team of data professionals or stewards.
• Familiarity with both cloud and on-premise data environments and related operational considerations.
• Relevant professional certification in data management or analytics is desirable.