Data & Information Governance and Assurance Lead

Shape the Future of Data Governance at Southern Housing, We're looking for an experienced Data & Information Governance and Assurance Lead within housing to become our organisation's subject matter expert for data and information governance. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives on influencing senior stakeholders, shaping policy, improving governance frameworks and ensuring data is managed responsibly across a complex organisation.

If you're passionate about governance, assurance, information management, emerging technologies and ethical AI, we'd love to hear from you.

Reporting to the Head of Data Quality and Improvement, you'll lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Southern Housing's Data and Information Governance Framework.

You'll act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing expert guidance and assurance across data governance, information management, records management and regulatory compliance. You'll play a key role in ensuring our policies, procedures and controls remain effective, proportionate and fit for purpose.

This role offers significant visibility across the organisation, regularly presenting governance insights, risks and recommendations to executive-level stakeholders and governance groups.

You'll also help shape Southern Housing's approach to the responsible adoption of AI, working closely with our AI Ethics Group, Information Governance Group, Data Protection Team and Technology colleagues.

This role will be based at our main offices in Farringdon, with the option for working in a hybrid way when appropriate and as agreed with your manager.

• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across governance, technology and operational teams.

• Strong knowledge of governance principles for structured, semi-structured and unstructured data.

• Comfortable communicating and presenting to colleagues at all levels.

• Provides a clear sense of leadership and direction, working proactively and taking ownership of problems.

• Strong awareness of relevant external factors and frameworks (e.g., ICO guidance, sector standards), and ability to translate these into practical, proportionate controls.

• Experience writing policies and procedures, with an ability to communicate clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own!We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people's lives. A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.