Data Product Management Lead Director

SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term

Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn't perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we'll always strive to be better, we're proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.

The EMEA Data Office was established in 2022 within the Operations, Planning and Data Department and is responsible for building out the Bank's data capabilities across all EMEA entities and all datasets.

The Data Office initially concentrated on building foundational governance through improved Data Architecture, Data Management and Data Quality but is ultimately committed to exploiting data more effectively and innovatively across SMBC, to drive new ways of working and improved business outcomes. Our Data Strategy defines a vision for a data-enabled organisation and sets out the strategic outcomes that data must support across the bank.

We will continue to evolve the strategy while prioritising key foundational initiatives and business priorities for the next financial year.

We are driving data-led transformation through EMEA as well as aligning to the delivery of global capabilities, and it is a great opportunity to join us on this exciting journey.

The Data Products Delivery and Governance Lead is a new role responsible for setting the vision around how data products are delivered to add value to the organisation. The incumbent will ensure data products are:

• business-aligned
• appropriately prioritised
• delivered effectively
• governed appropriately
• well-documented
• trusted and controlled
• adopted and delivering value.

The role will work closely with colleagues across the EMEA Data Office, IT, and business functions ensuring consistency of delivery and governance, coordinating oversight, controls, and reporting, as well as driving cross-product operating discipline.

This role sits in a new pillar of the Data Office, and therefore there is significant opportunity for this role holder to shape the future of Data Products in EMEA.

The candidate must be willing to challenge the status quo in an empathic manner, while helping the wider Data Office team to have an ethos of openness and transparency that will help us nurture real business innovation.

If you want to make a real difference, and not just in one team but across the entire bank, we would love to speak to you.

The anticipated salary range for this role is £108,000 - £162,000 with the final offer determined based on the candidate's skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.

• Proven experience of driving data products with the business
• Strong communication skills, with ability to engage stakeholders across business, data and technology
• Experience in data delivery / programme delivery
• Understanding of data product operating models
• Good knowledge of data quality, metadata, lineage, and control frameworks
• Experience operating in complex, matrixed organisations
• Ability to translate technical concepts into business-relevant outcomes

• Experience working in regulated frameworks, ideally financial services
• Understanding of AI, data tooling, and analytics ecosystems
• Knowledge of emerging trends and issues within the data landscape

The EMEA Data Office was established in 2022 within the…