The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Data Governance Manager / Head of Data Quality
3-5 years in a senior management role (L5)Skills to master
- Enterprise-level strategic planning, executive stakeholder management, large-scale team leadership (managing managers), P&L responsibility, and driving cultural change across a large organisation.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a significant data governance programme from inception to measurable impact.
- Consistently received strong feedback on executive communication and influence.
- Demonstrated ability to build and retain high-performing teams.
- Proven track record of managing budgets and delivering projects within financial constraints.
- 2
From Senior Operations Leader (with strong data focus)
5-7 years in a Head of Operations / VP Operations role (L5) with a strong data quality mandate.Skills to master
- Deepening expertise in data governance frameworks, data architecture, and specific data quality methodologies, while maintaining operational leadership skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully driven operational efficiency through data quality initiatives.
- Demonstrated a passion and aptitude for data strategy and governance beyond just operational reporting.
- Proven ability to translate business needs into data requirements and vice versa.
- Strong understanding of the technical aspects of data management, even if not hands-on.