Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world‑first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future.
Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.
We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.
Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems.
We’re on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime – from birth to old age.
Job Description
Principal Data Governance Manager
We are looking for a Principal Data Governance Manager to provide senior leadership across data governance, data management and information stewardship, helping ensure some of the UK’s most important clinical, genomic and research data assets are governed, protected, understood and used responsibly.
This is a strategic leadership role for someone who can be accountable, set direction, build organisational capability and work confidently across clinical, research, technology and corporate domains. You will play a key role in strengthening data ownership, stewardship, quality, metadata, data release and risk management across the National Genomic Research Library and Clinical Healthcare Systems.
Responsibilities
- Set data governance direction across clinical and research domains.
- Establish sustainable data ownership, stewardship and decision‑making models.
- Lead the development of data governance frameworks, standards, controls and road‑maps.
- Provide governance oversight for data release, data sharing, data tagging, participant withdrawal, metadata classification and data quality.
- Identify and manage data governance risks as services, datasets and research activity scale.
- Influence senior stakeholders through clear, evidence‑based recommendations.
- Chair or contribute to governance boards, steering groups and delivery forums.
- Build data governance capability and maturity across teams, services and communities of practice.
Qualifications
You will bring significant experience leading data governance, data management or information stewardship programmes in complex environments. You will understand how to design and embed governance frameworks that are proportionate, practical and trusted by technical and non‑technical teams.
Key Experience
- Significant experience leading enterprise data governance or data management programmes.
- Strong understanding of data ownership, stewardship, data quality, metadata and lineage.
- Experience working with sensitive, regulated or research‑critical datasets.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through matrix structures.
- Experience managing organisational change and improving data management maturity.
- Knowledge of DAMA‑DMBOK or equivalent data management frameworks.
- Experience leading, coaching or developing teams and governance practitioners.
- Experience in clinical genomics, biomedical research, healthcare data, Trusted Research Environments, NHS or public sector governance, data linkage, consent, withdrawal or research data access would be an advantage.
Benefits
- Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and an option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
- Family‑Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
- Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double‑matches up to 10%, you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), an Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme and a Give As You Earn scheme.
- Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
- Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
- Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests and flu jabs.
Equal Opportunities
Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation or social background.
Genomics England’s policies of non‑discrimination and equity will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or new parenthood, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, full‑time or part‑time status, permanent or fixed‑term contract or any other relevant factor.
Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity.
Culture
We have four key behaviours that represent what we would like Genomics England to feel like and the culture we want to encourage, in order for us to achieve our mission. These behaviours help us all work well together, deliver on our outcomes, celebrate our successes and share feedback with each other.
Blended Working Model
Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring. We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of two times each month. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full‑time on‑site attendance, e.g. lab teams, reception team.
Our office locations are: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.
Background Checks
As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applicants must disclose any previous offences at the point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.
Salary
Salary From: £102,000Closing Date: Sunday 26th July @ 23:00 (UK time)
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