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About the Role

In this newly created role, you'll lead the Cancer Research UK org-wide data operations capability, building a vision on how we use data as a trusted, high-quality asset that enables us to beat cancer faster. You'll spearhead improvements in data quality across critical datasets, whilst embedding clear data ownership and stewardship, making data more accessible, findable and reusable to support better decision-making and innovation. This will enable us to drive value across the organisation through improved performance, operational effectiveness and audience‑centric customer journeys. This is a pivotal role at an exciting point in our data journey. As our ambition grows, so does our reliance on trusted, high-quality data to guide decisions, deepen relationships with our supporters, and speed up the pace of research. You'll shape how the whole organisation understands, values, and cares for its data, setting foundations that will serve CRUK for years to come. Above all, this is a change and transformation role. Our teams are empowered and close to the audiences they serve, so you'll lead through influence, insight, and strong relationships rather than mandate. You'll be a persuasive advocate for the value of data. You'll make the case for ownership, stewardship, and good data management by tying each to the strategic outcomes colleagues care about most. You'll build belief, create momentum, and turn better ways of working into lasting habits across the organisation.

Responsibilities

Lead the organisation-wide shift to treating data as a trusted, strategic asset which is critical to achieving our business goals.
Build the understanding, the belief, and the accountability structures that turn better data management into better decisions and business outcomes across a complex organisation.
Lead the development and implementation of a data quality framework across CRUK's critical datasets to ensure data is accurate, consistent, and fit for purpose across all priority operational and analytical use cases.
Define and govern enterprise data standards and integration guardrails to ensure consistency and scalability across CRUK's data and technology ecosystem, including MarTech platforms enabling audience engagement.
Drive adoption of automation and AI-enabled approaches to proactively detect, diagnose, and resolve data quality issues at scale.
Establish and embed a data ownership and stewardship model across the organisation to ensure clear accountability for the quality, integrity, and compliant management of data assets.
Develop and maintain a Business Information Model (BIM) that defines CRUK's core data entities, their relationships, and agreed definitions, providing the semantic foundation for data discovery and catalogue metadata.
Own data discovery and data observability capabilities (excluding data engineering pipeline build), ensuring CRUK's data assets are visible, understood, monitored for quality and health, findable and reusable across the organisation.
Ensure data protection requirements are built into data systems, processes, and projects from the outset, working in close partnership with the Data Privacy team to embed privacy-by-design principles.
Design and build the team structure, roles, and operating model within Data Operations and Governance to create a high-performing function, whilst providing clear direction and leadership.

Requirements

Proven success leading data or business change in an empowered, federated organisation, building belief and momentum through influence rather than formal authority.
Significant experience leading data governance, data quality, or data operations functions in a complex organisation.
Relevant experience designing and implementing data quality frameworks, data catalogues, or master data management programmes at scale.
Experience establishing data ownership and stewardship models, including engaging senior stakeholders to take on accountability for data assets.
Strong working knowledge of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the practical application of privacy-by-design principles.
Experience managing and developing multidisciplinary data teams, including optimising organisational design to meet evolving organisational needs.
Ability to translate complex data governance concepts into accessible language and practical action for non-specialist audiences and executive stakeholders.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose root causes of data quality issues and design sustainable remediation approaches, working with others across the organisation.
Collaborative working style with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders without direct authority across a large, mission-driven organisation.
Must be eligible to work in the UK.
Candidates must be 18 years or older.

Skills

Data Governance
Data Quality
Data Operations
Data Catalogs
Master Data Management
UK GDPR
Data Protection Act 2018
Privacy-by-design
Team Management
Organisational Design
Analytical Skills
Problem-Solving
Stakeholder Management
Automation
AI

Location

Stratford, London

Work Type

Office-based with high flexibility (typically 2 days per week in the office)
Full-time
Flexible working arrangements

Experience Level

Head of Data Operations

Salary/Compensations

£90,000 - £98,000 per annum

Benefits

Substantial retirement plan
Generous and flexible leave allowance
Discounts on travel
Discounts on technology
Gym membership

About the Company

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world.

Equal Opportunity

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK.
Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do.
We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner.
If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.
We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen by emailing us at recruitment@cancer.org.uk.