Head of Group Data Governance

My client based in Westmeath is currently recruiting for a Head of Group Data Governance to join the team on a permanent basis. The Head of Group Data Governance will establish and oversee data governance practice within the organisation. You will be a trusted expert advisor to the business on all Data Governance matters and will ask as a point of liaison with the regulator.

Head of Group Data Governance will be responsible  to provide independent high-quality advice &  assurance relating to Data Management, Data Sharing & Data usage activities.

Job Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for defining & facilitating the rollout of a Group Data Governance framework to govern how the Group will collate, process, analyse & share data both internally within & across the organisation as well as with external stakeholders.
• The framework will need to account for the necessary compliance & protection considerations in relation to management of data across multiple legal jurisdictions & distinct business segments.
• You will work closely with the DPO & Risk & Compliance teams across all business segments to ensure adherence & alignment to the Group level governance & protection frameworks.
• You will be looking at all issues relating to the governance & protection of personal data.
• Be promptly consulted once a data breach or another incident has occurred work with relevant business & teams as needed to ensure any such breach is managed effectively and in line with all legal & compliance requirements.
• In conjunction with the DPO for Group functions, act as an easily accessible point of contact for data subjects including policyholders, claimants & employees, acting with discretion in a confidential & professional manner at all times.
• You will monitor compliance with the GDPR & other data protection / data usage laws, our data protection policies, including managing internal data governance activities; raising awareness of data governance & protection issues, training staff & conducting internal audits & gaining assurance that the Information asset register & other documentation requirements are being kept up to date.
• You will ensure that adequate fair processing notices are in place & seeking approval of any material variations from group standards.
• You will inform & advise the firm & its employees about its obligations in relation to Data Governance, the need to comply with the GDPR & other data protection laws & help foster a compliant data protection & governance culture.
• You will be working with the DPO teams, monitor the data Privacy Impact Assessment (PIAs)process & provide feedback & sign off that key individual PIAs have been completed correctly so that they take due regard to the risks associated with processing operations & take into account the nature, scope, context & purposes of processing.
• This may include conducting ad hoc PIAs on high risk, in flight processes that they deem appropriate.
• You will consult the ICO prior to processing where a data protection impact assessment indicates that the processing is still high risk after mitigation (see GDPR Article 36).
• You will act as a contact point for the ICO. Co-operate with the ICO, & will consult on any relevant matter.
• You will provide reporting on the levels of compliance & data governance practice to the segment & group as required.
• You will provide effective oversight of complex or high-risk personal data processing.

Experience Required

• Have experience of data protection & governance practice in financial services
• Have experience of designing & implementing information governance policies & control frameworks
• Risk management
• Audit & compliance
• Delivery of consistent communications to senior stakeholders
• High level of technical knowledge of data protection and privacy law
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail to all levels of management
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Initiative, proactivity, enquiring approach, resourcefulness
• Adaptability, ability to embrace and respond positively to change
• Analytical and investigative skills, logical reasoning and problem solving skills – individually & collaboratively
• Ability to work under pressure
• Integrity and assertiveness when dealing with complex / business critical issues
• Ability to probe and question for accurate information
• Ability to formulate pragmatic solutions to compliance issues that balance business needs with risk and practicality
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience of producing material and presenting to senior stakeholder

Essential and Desirable Skills

• Experience of dealing with the ICO

Educational Requirements

•  Degree
• Data Governance, Data protection and Privacy, Information risk management
• Professional Certification (can be evidenced by industry experience without formal qualification)
• Data privacy qualification: ISEB Data Protection Practitioner, or GDPR Practitioner, or CIPP/CIPM
• Information Risk Qualification: Information Risk Practitioner
• Microsoft office to an intermediate level

Working Hours & Benefits

• 38 hour Working Week
• Bonus
• Pension
• Healthcare