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About the Role

Lead the Cancer Research UK org-wide data operations capability, building a vision on how data can be used as a trusted, high-quality asset to beat cancer faster. Spearhead improvements in data quality, embed clear data ownership and stewardship, and make data more accessible, findable, and reusable to support better decision-making and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organisation-wide shift to treating data as a trusted, strategic asset critical to achieving business goals.
• Build understanding, belief, and accountability structures that turn better data management into better decisions and business outcomes.
• Lead the development and implementation of a data quality framework across CRUK's critical datasets.
• Define and govern enterprise data standards and integration guardrails for consistency and scalability.
• Drive adoption of automation and AI-enabled approaches to proactively detect, diagnose, and resolve data quality issues.
• Establish and embed a data ownership and stewardship model across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain a Business Information Model (BIM) defining CRUK's core data entities, relationships, and definitions.
• Own data discovery and data observability capabilities, ensuring data assets are visible, understood, monitored, findable, and reusable.
• Ensure data protection requirements are built into data systems, processes, and projects from the outset.
• Design and build the team structure, roles, and operating model within Data Operations and Governance to create a high-performing function.

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.
• 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.
• Collaborative working style with the ability to influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders without direct authority.
• Must be eligible to work in the UK.

Skills

• Data Governance
• Data Quality
• Data Operations
• Data Catalogues
• Master Data Management
• UK GDPR
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Privacy-by-design
• Team Management
• Organisational Design
• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Stakeholder Influence

Location

• Stratford, London

Work Type

• Office-based with high flexibility (typically 2 days per week in the office)
• Permanent
• Full-time

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 vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do.

Equal Opportunity

• We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.
• 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.
• Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.