Data Governance Officer

Job Introduction

Handelsbanken combines a long‑established relationship banking model with secure, resilient, and customer‑focused technology. Our technology teams enable the Bank’s decentralised way of working, delivering systems built for stability, trust, and long‑term value.

We are on a multi‑year technology and digital transformation journey to enhance customer experience and improve how colleagues work together. By modernising platforms, simplifying processes, and better connecting data and systems, we help relationship teams focus on customers and less on complexity.

Our decentralised culture extends to technology. Teams are trusted to take ownership, make informed decisions, and deliver sustainable, high‑quality solutions. We value engineering excellence, pragmatic problem‑solving, and strong collaboration across technology, business, and risk.

We offer technologists the opportunity to build lasting careers, deepen their expertise, and contribute to meaningful change. We look for people who care about quality, security, long‑term impact, and who want to shape the future of a relationship‑led bank.

Data Governance Officer is a key role in our journey to becoming a data driven organisation.

Working within the UK Data Management function, the role holder is responsible for contributing to the design, implementation, oversight, awareness and maintenance of the Bank’s approach to data governance. This includes:

• contributing to the design, documentation and implementation of the Data Management Policy, frameworks, control standards
• supporting the establishment of the Bank’s operating model for data ownership and the Bank’s data governance committee structures.

The role reports directly to the Data Governance Lead, and is part of a small team of data governance officers responsible for embedding best practice data governance practices across the Bank.

• Design and implement data management frameworks, control standards and procedures, acting as a champion for data governance, raising awareness of data controls, and helping the business to unlock the value of data.
• Create and mature operating models, processes, governance structures for the effective management of data in the Bank
• Prepare, present, and effectively communicate data management content at data governance forums and management committees
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure clear and robust governance frameworks exist for data management, including data quality management, metadata management, master and reference data management
• Provide advice and support on how data should be created and captured and maintained effectively, safely and collaboratively, working with data producers, data consumers, data owners and stewards
• Perform regular horizon scanning, impact assessments and provide recommendations on new and emerging data‑related regulation and industry trends
• Support and influence the definition of clear goals to improve data collaboration, data quality, and reduce data architecture complexity
• Be passionate about data governance and continuously strive to promote data governance through the development of system and process controls
• Operate in line with the Bank’s Risk Management framework (including sub‑frameworks) and relevant risk and compliance policies and procedures, ensuring appropriate and timely escalation of any concerns to their line manager.

• Experience designing and embedding governance processes, operating models, and standards in a regulated environment. You may have held data responsibility in an organisation, led the development of best practice or have been a consultant or business analyst working to deliver a large change project, partnering with business and technology preferably within a Financial Services environment
• Experience of leading data governance initiatives that have provided tangible business value
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with high attention to detail and focus on continuous improvement
• Self‑starter, who has strong organisational skills and can manage competing priorities
• Strong presentation skills both written and oral,…