Data & AI Governance Partner

Southern Water is recruiting for the role of Data & AI Governance Partner. This role helps shape how data and AI are managed, shared and reused across the organisation. It focuses on practical governance, better decisions and responsible innovation.

Role details

• Location: Worthing
• Job type: Full time
• Salary: £55,000
• Closing date: 17/09/2026

What you’ll do

• Embed data and AI governance policies, standards and processes into everyday ways of working.
• Support the use of Microsoft Purview and Databricks Unity Catalogue to improve discovery, ownership, classification and lineage.
• Work with Data Owners, Data Stewards, Platform Engineers, BI Engineers and business teams to make governance practical and useful.
• Help improve data quality, data model governance and lifecycle management.
• Support responsible data sharing, open data governance and controlled reuse of trusted data products.
• Help ensure AI-related data and assets are used responsibly, with appropriate transparency, accountability, safeguards and oversight.
• Produce clear reporting and insight for senior stakeholders and governance committees.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, improve and strengthen governance processes and tools.

What they’re looking for

• Experience supporting or implementing a data governance framework, operating model or set of governance processes.
• A good understanding of data governance principles, such as data ownership, stewardship, metadata, data quality, cataloguing, lineage and lifecycle management.
• The ability to translate complex requirements into clear, practical guidance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative approach and confidence working across business, data and technology teams.
• An interest in responsible data sharing, open data, data reuse and AI governance.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to spot opportunities and suggest practical solutions.
• The ability to produce clear documentation, reports, standards or governance materials.

Additional role information

• Experience with Microsoft Purview, Databricks Unity Catalogue or similar data catalogue/governance tools is helpful.
• Knowledge of DAMA-DMBOK or other data management frameworks is helpful.
• Understanding of UK GDPR, data protection or information security principles is helpful.
• A relevant qualification or certification, such as Microsoft Purview, CDMP or a related information/data management qualification, is helpful.