Data Management Lead

Location: National

Closing Date: 18^th November 2026

Interviews: Week Commencing 30^th November 2026

Grade: G7

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary**: National: £58,511 – £65,329

London: £63,343 – £70,725

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Contract Type: Permanent

Number of vacancies: 7

Vacancy number: 23803

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

Please note that unless you are an existing member of staff at Justice Digital, Data and Science, the only London location being recruited to is 10 South Colonnade, E14 4PU. We are no longer recruiting to 102 Petty France, SW1H 9AJ.

The Role

We’re recruiting for Data Management Leads here at Justice Digital, Data and Science to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Management team which are distributed across key business areas.

There are several roles available, and the final allocation across the Data Management teams within the Justice Data and Science directorate will depend on the priority areas, but all the roles sit where data plays a vital role in protecting the public and enabling fair, evidence based decisions.

As a G7 Data Management Lead, you will help shape how data is looked after, understood and used. You will work closely with policy, digital, analytical and operational colleagues to improve the data foundations which includes data quality, ownership, and ensuring that metadata and master data management frameworks are implemented and ultimately support better use of data across services.

This is a collaborative role, suited to someone who enjoys leading and working with multidisciplinary teams to solve problems, build confidence in data, and turn complex requirements into practical, workable approaches.

You may be involved in:

• Improving how data is defined, owned and assured
• Leading on data management improvements that make a real difference to operational decision making
• Contributing to transformation activity, including new systems, services and ways of working
• Leading teams to adopt clear, proportionate data standards and guidance
• Horizon scanning and working with other government departments to ensure best practice is both shared and implemented across a wide range of business areas
• Leading a team (direct reports and multi-disciplinary teams where applicable)

You’ll be part of a supportive and growing Data Management community within MoJ, with opportunities to learn, share knowledge and develop as a data management leader.

You’ll receive a range of excellent benefits when you join our department, including:

• A generous employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, (increasing to 30 days once you have reached 5 years of service), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid working, working part time or compressed hours. Designed to support a positive work–life balance.

You can find more details of the Benefits we offer here. To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital, Data and Science please take a look at our blog.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of data management processes across the organisation.
• Drive adoption of data policies, standards and frameworks that support improving the data foundations for the MoJ.
• Provide expert advice and strategic insight on data maturity and best practice in data management.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support capability-building and promote a culture of confident and informed data use.
• Promote and monitor adherence to data standards across diverse domains.
• Represent the MoJ in cross-government data governance and data maturity initiatives.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Person Specification

Essential

• Data management: Support high-quality data management and guide colleagues in the use of frameworks, tools, standards and methods.
• Data innovation: You spot and recommend new tools or techniques that support better, more efficient ways of managing data.
• Data maturity: Can assess data maturity and lead improvements, helping the organisation grow its capability over time.
• Enabling and informing risk-based decisions: Can advise others on how to assess and respond to risk.
• Stakeholder relationship management: Foster strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders and ensure their voices shape governance decisions.
• Strategic thinking: Help define and evaluate data strategies, aligning it with business goals and user needs.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for BPSS clearance.

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Salary Information**

Base salary for this role is from National: £58,511 – £65,329 OR London: £63,343 – £70,725

• New entrants to the Civil Service joining the MoJ are expected to start at the minimum of the pay band.
• Existing Civil Servants moving on a level transfer will retain their current base salary or move to the minimum of the pay band for the role, whichever is higher.
• Existing Civil Servants who are promoted will either move to the bottom of the new grade’s pay band or receive a 10% uplift, whichever provides the greater increase.

The final offer will reflect the skills and experience you demonstrate during the assessment process.

How to Apply

In Justice Digital, Data and Science, we recruit using the Success Profiles Framework. We shall assess a combination of your Experience, Technical skills and Behaviours during the assessment process.

Stage 1 - Application and sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

• A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Person Specification of this advert.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 750 words) which should outline your experience and skills, giving clear examples of work undertaken. It should specifically address the 3 of the following Essential criteria listed below:

• Data Management (Support high-quality data management and guide colleagues in the use of frameworks, tools, standards and methods.)
• Stakeholder Relationship Management (Foster strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders and ensure their voices shape governance decisions.)
• Strategic Thinking (Help define and evaluate data strategies, aligning it with business goals and user needs.)

A diverse sift panel will review the information in your CV and Personal Statement to assess the sift criteria specified above. We operate an anonymous shortlisting process.

Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based on Data Management: Support high-quality data management and guide colleagues in the use of frameworks, tools, standards and methods criteria will be conducted before the sift.

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Stage 2 - Interviews:

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a panel interview held via Microsoft Teams. At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements – Experience and the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a presentation that assesses your technical capability and presentation skills. Further details will be provided if successful at sift.

Appointments are made strictly in merit order. In the event that two or more candidates receive identical interview scores, the Seeing the Bigger Picture behaviour will be applied as the primary lead criterion to determine the final merit order.

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Terms & Conditions

Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk