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“Keep checking Met Careers on a daily basis for new and exciting opportunities being released to join Digital & Innovation!”
Location: Bow, Hendon, Lambeth, Sidcup, Southwark, Wimbledon, Other
Part/Full Time: Full Time
Type of Contract: Permanent
Policing London is a hugely complex challenge that evolves every day. To make sure the Met is up to the task, we need the right IT and systems across our organisation. As a Head of Data Governance, you will help to enable us to do our best for the London area. Join us and play your part in making London the safest capital in the world and delivering ‘More Trust, Less Crime and High Standards’.
As a member of the Met, you will also enjoy great benefits including annual leave, civil service pension arrangements, maternity/paternity support, as well as being part of a continuous learning culture.
Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) is part of the Digital & Innovation Business Group and reports to the Chief Digital & Innovation Officer.
The mission of Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) is to provide the Met with information (and specifically data), communications and technology to help frontline officers and Met staff do their jobs more efficiently, to deliver the New Met for London plan. In other words, DDaT is about “passionately delivering trusted technology for precise data driven policing”.
As well as keeping up to speed with developments in technology and making recommendations for new equipment and systems that will help modernise policing, DDaT also comprises the Data Office which:
- Owns and drives the data compliance and analytics agenda.
- Brings together the accountabilities that are currently dispersed across the Met business areas.
- Consolidates and further develops existing Met data and insight services.
- Enables data sharing and collaboration to serve the public and external partners.
DDaT is committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We support hybrid working, and the hiring manager will be happy to discuss arrangements for this role.
Job Purpose
The Head of Data Governance is a unique role sitting within the Digital, Data & Technology (DDaT) Data office with far-reaching impact across the Met and externally. Reporting to a Deputy Director, you will be accountable for overseeing >30 Data Governance professionals. You will sit on the Director of Data’s Senior Leadership Team and will work with peers to support them in delivering the Met Data and Analytics Strategy and Vision. As the Head of Data Governance, your role is to ensure our strategy is ethically and legally compliant. You will be expected to partner with other functions from within the Data Office and the wider organisation to deliver on the priorities.
Due to the nature of this role, the post-holder could have access to sensitive Met information and data. As such, we are looking for an experienced Data Governance professional who can take ownership of shaping and transforming how the Met delivers its statutory obligations under all Data Protection Laws. You will be required to lead and mature several teams into a high performing, omnicompetent function whilst working closely with other teams in DDaT and driving a cultural shift in the wider organisations approach to data capability assurance.
The successful applicant will demonstrate a mature leadership style with the ability to motivate a diverse am to work towards a common strategic objective. You will be flexible in your approach and show astute political judgement to keep the Met at the forefront of Data Governance across Policing. The role holder will have access to Senior Police and Corporate Leaders; your role is to develop these relationships to ensure the Met’s future use of data whilst establishing governance standards Met-wide. This role is central to building and directing new relationships with our policing partners nationally. You will be key in delivering the organisations ambition for an open data approach to ensure transparency and build trust and to our ambitions set out in the DDaT Innovation Strategy.
Key Role Responsibilities
- Embed new ways of working across Data Governance to create a single consistent approach to managing and complying with Data Protection legislation.
- Review, design, and articulate a strategic vision underpinned by the safe, ethical and legal use of data in the Met as a service to the public and build an ambitious and creative plan to realise this strategy against a complex operational, technical, and compliance landscape.
- Support the organisations open data aspirations, ensuring it is done in a way that demonstrates due consideration of the rights and freedoms of individuals. This is particularly important to build “More Trust” by meeting public requests promptly and compliantly.
- Own and lead the development of our Data Governance function – maturing and developing the skills of the team already in post to ensure they are at the core of our data understanding and meeting our Data Protection responsibilities, aligned with the Government Knowledge and Information Management (GKIM) capability framework.
- Provide dedicated support and advice to orchestrate proportionate, ethical and lawful data sharing.
- Own and mature Met Data Capability Assurance Framework (DCAF) processes, strategic alignment and supporting metrics.
- Work with Senior Leadership Team (SLT) colleagues to develop and be responsible for policies and procedures for the ongoing implementation of the Met Data Vision.
- Coordinate, and work closely with, the Data Protection Officer on wider privacy, data breach, and information governance matters including the ability to act as Deputy Data Protection Officer if required.
Additional Information
Vetting Clearance
This post requires access to the most sensitive intelligence material on a daily basis. Applicants must hold or be prepared to undergo National Security Vetting (NSV) Security Check (enhanced) (SC(e)) level before taking up the post; with a willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) once in post, if required.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid Working available in line with the Metropolitan Police Service hybrid working policy.
How to apply
To begin your career at the Met, please click the "apply button ". The application process requires a comprehensive CV, a Personal Statement (1000 words max), and an online application form. In your Personal Statement, you should explain your interest in the position and illustrate how your skills and experiences (see stated Essential and Desirable Criteria) make you a suitable candidate. Please note that you should not submit two copies of your CV, and ensure that your documents are saved in either PDF or Word format, clearly labelled as CV and/or Personal Statement.
Completed applications must be submitted by 23:55 on 9th February 2026.
Once received, your application will be reviewed against eligibility criteria, following this, your application will be reviewed by the hiring manager. The application review for this vacancy will commence mid-February.
Following application review, successful candidates will be invited to interview. Interview dates will commence beginning of March.
www.metpolicecareers.co.uk
Essential For The Role
- Experience in leading and directing a team of Senior Managers in delivering a quality service within a large organisations Data, Technology or Analysis function.
- Capable of strategic and tactical decision making, often with incomplete information, using own knowledge, skills and judgement.
- Can build relationships with senior stakeholders, you will need to demonstrate skills in influencing, negotiation and stakeholder engagement.
- Can define and track key monthly metrics to demonstrate progress and maturity of the Data Governance service.
- Oversee the refinement of processes to drive efficiency, including the implementation of the Data Capability Assurance Framework (DCAF).
- Evidence of strong communication skills, capable of influencing to Chief Officer level.
- Can develop strategies and evidence skills in delivering transformation programmes in Data at an organisational level, including complex dependencies and external relationships.
The role-holder requires knowledge of Data Protection legislation action as the Met Data Governance subject matter expert working closely with the Met Data Protection Officer, ensuring Data held and shared is ethically and legal compliant. This includes a deep understanding and ability to interpret and apply the following:
- Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998.
- Data Protection Act 2018.
- United Kingdom – General Data Protection Regulation.
- Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
- Experience as a senior data leader or legal leader.
Qualifications: LLB (Bachelor of Laws) or equivalent practical experience in Data Protection.
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