Data Governance Operation Model Lead

Data Governance/Operating Model Lead - 1-2 month contract - £550-650 per day (inside IR35) - London, hybrid (x2-3 days per week)

We are looking for a Data Governance / Operating Model Lead who will define and embed the governance framework required to support the Microsoft Fabric platform for our client.

The role will work across business, technology, security, data protection and platform operations teams to establish clear ownership, decision rights, access controls, data classification, lifecycle management and onboarding processes for data used within Fabric. The individual will be responsible for defining the operating model and RACI between Data Owners, business users, Technology and control functions; shaping minimum governance and production-readiness controls; and ensuring that business-led analytics and AI use cases operate within agreed guardrails.

The role requires strong experience in Data Governance and Data Management, with a practical understanding of how governance is applied to modern cloud data and analytics platforms rather than purely through policy. Experience should include data ownership and stewardship models, data classification, metadata and lineage, access governance, data lifecycle and retention, data-product concepts, and the governance implications of analytics and AI consumption. A good understanding of Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform and Microsoft 365 governance would be highly desirable.

The successful candidate must be able to translate regulatory, security and governance requirements into pragmatic operating processes and technical controls, while recognising the distinction between a tactical governed platform and a broader enterprise data-governance programme. They will be expected to define repeatable processes for data onboarding, approval, access, change, support, review and retirement, and to establish the criteria by which tactical data assets may later be promoted into more strategic governed data products.

Strong client-facing and stakeholder-management skills are essential. The role will engage with senior business stakeholders, Data Owners, DPO/Privacy, Information Security, architects and engineers, and must be able to articulate governance requirements clearly to both business and technical audiences. Experience working in regulated organisations, ideally financial services or banking, together with a strong understanding of GDPR, data privacy, information classification and access-control principles, is highly desirable.

Damia Group is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy and in accordance to Conduct Regulations 2003.