Data Manager

Role: Data Manager

Location: London Marylebone, Hybrid Working – you should be comfortable working in a Chiltern location 3 days a week.

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Up to £67,000 per annum

Job Purpose

The Data Manager is accountable for establishing and operating an enterprise data management capability that ensures organisational data is accurate, trusted, secure, and fit for operational, regulatory, and strategic decision-making.

This includes designing and implementing a data strategy and services, setting and monitoring standards and principles, ensuring data accuracy and integrity, and enabling data-driven decision-making across the business. It will cover the full suite of data capabilities – architecture, governance, management, engineering, master data, reporting and analytics.

Key Accountabilities

• Establish and maintain an operational data capability aligned to the Chiltern Railways Data, Digital and Technology Strategy, with clear ownership, governance, and prioritisation.
• Develop, maintain, and assure a data strategy that supports organisational objectives, regulatory requirements, and measurable business outcomes.
• Recruit, lead and manage a team of up to three data engineers/BI Analysts over successive years.
• Undertake procurement exercises to select a partner(s) to define the target data architecture, assist with its implementation and ongoing, inform the data strategy for the organisation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand data needs and provide timely, accurate, integrated data, reporting and insights.
• Define and evolve the target data architecture, and oversee delivery of data modelling, warehousing, integration, and pipeline solutions through internal teams and delivery partners.
• Ensure the integrity, security, availability, and appropriate use of data across all platforms, in line with agreed standards and controls
• Monitor data compliance with relevant legal, regulatory, and ethical standards (e.g., GDPR, Data Protection Act).
• Lead data governance initiatives, including defining and refining data policies, classifications, and quality standards.
• Supervise data analysts and data stewards; ensure effective training and capability development.
• Act as a key liaison between IT, business units, and third-party data providers.
• Work with IT and Digital teams to select, implement, and govern appropriate platforms for data management, visualisation, and analytics.
• Drive continuous improvement through audits, data quality metrics, and process enhancements.
• Work with the business, DDaT governance and the digital team to streamline and prioritise the team’s workload

Person Specification

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Management, or a related field (Master’s desirable) or equivalent experience
• Certifications in data management or governance (e.g., DAMA CDMP, Microsoft Certified Data Analyst) are an advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft data platforms, including Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure database technologies, with an emphasis on governance and enterprise use.

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience working in the rail industry or another regulated, asset-intensive, or safety-critical environment.
• Experience with machine learning, AI, or advanced analytics platforms.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex data concepts clearly to non-technical and senior stakeholders.