Senior Data Management Consultant

At Oakland, we help businesses unlock the power of their data. Whether it's strategy, governance, engineering, analytics, or AI, we work with our clients to turn data into real, impactful results. Our team is made up of friendly, hands-on experts who love solving problems and making a difference. We don't just advise, we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working alongside our clients every step of the way.

Founded in 1986 out of our Leeds HQ, we work with a diverse range of clients across all sorts of industries including Utilities, Telecommunications, Media, Financial Services, Public Sector, and many more! Our projects range from multi-year data transformations to specific, shorter-term assignments, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to diversify your skillset.

We meet high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We believe businesses should be a force for good, so we make sure our decisions don't just benefit the bottom line but also our people, communities, and the planet.

And it's not just us saying we're a great place to work we were recently named the Best Consultancy to work for in the UK through Best Companies! We're all about creating an environment where people can grow, do meaningful work, and enjoy the journey.

In April 2025, Oakland was acquired by Softcat, a leading provider of IT infrastructure services to corporate and public sectors. By combining Oakland's deep expertise in data and AI consulting with Softcat's extensive portfolio and market presence, we can deliver unparalleled value and innovation to our clients. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we're looking forward to achieving great things together.

Hybrid working policy:

We operate a hybrid working arrangement from our Head Office in Leeds, designed to balance your commitments and preferences with our client's needs. Whilst we support flexible working, we expect our team members to be in the office or with clients at least twice per week. This balance helps us stay connected, learn from each other, and build strong relationships - both within our team and with the businesses we support.

Thanks to growth in our client base, we are on the lookout for a Senior Data Management Consultant to join our team. If you have a strong knowledge of data management concepts and believe that organisations perform better when their data is clean, secure, and well-governed, this role is for you!

As a Senior Data Management Consultant, you will work closely with our clients and Oakland internal teams in the design and implementation of data management/data governance initiatives. No two projects are the same, so you can expect to gain exposure to a variety of challenges across different industries.

Key responsibilities:

• People-focused Data Management - Leading interviews/workshops to understand the data problems organisations are trying to solve, achieving stakeholder buy-in. Using storytelling to help clients understand data management strategies.
• Data Management Strategy - Development of data management strategies, maturity assessments, and adapting frameworks, policies and standards to support our customers.
• Data Ownership - Implementing ownership structures and educating data owners on best practices for data handling and governance.
• Data Quality - Leading on data quality initiatives with clients.
• Data Security - Ensuring data initiatives are aligned with regulatory compliance and providing guidance on risk management and mitigation.
• Data Lifecycle Management - Mapping the data lifecycle from creation to deletion, understanding how it moves and transforms around the organisation, and how data delivers value.
• Data Management Tooling - Leading identification of requirements for data management tools, ensuring tools are implemented and used effectively by clients.
• Managing client relationships - Setting expectations and guiding clients through technical and process changes.
• Beyond client work - Getting involved in proposition development, proposal responses, and helping build Oakland's brand.

At Senior level, we expect you'll have significant experience in leading data management/data governance initiatives.

We're open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, but the key skills and experience we are looking for include:

• Experience in strategising and implementing Data Management initiatives such as Data Quality, Data Security, Data Governance, or Data Lifecycle Management.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities. Ability to communicate technical problems to a non-technical audience.
• Strong analytical skills to document, assess and improve data.
• Commercial awareness - understanding how data impacts business success
• A broad understanding of technical data management capabilities such as data modelling, integration, storage, etc.
• Awareness of data management tools and technologies (Purview, Erwin, Collibra, Informatica etc.).
• Qualifications or certifications in Data Management (e.g. DAMA) are helpful but not essential.

At Oakland, we believe in taking care of our people - both inside and outside of work. Here's what you can expect when you join us:

• Health & Wellbeing - Enjoy Private Healthcare from day one for you and your household, including dental cover, physiotherapy, mental health support, and access to a range of wellbeing services to keep you feeling your best.
• Discretionary Bonus - Your hard work won't go unnoticed. When we do well, you'll do well.
• Generous Pension - We invest in your future with a 10% employer contribution, plus flexible options so you can adjust to your investment preferences.
• Electric Vehicle Scheme - Drive greener with tax-efficient options to get behind the wheel of an electric car.
• Giving Back - Support causes you care about with our Payroll Giving Scheme and Matched Charitable Giving program.
• Bike to Work Scheme - Save money, stay active, and enjoy tax savings on a new bike.
• Family-Friendly Policies - We support all paths to parenthood with:
  Enhanced Maternity Pay - 16 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay.
  Enhanced Paternity Pay - 2 weeks full pay, 2 weeks half pay.
  Adoption, Surrogacy & Shared Parental Leave.
  Fertility Treatment Support - Because your family matters.
• Time to Recharge - 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (and your allowance grows the longer you're with us!).
• Learning & Development - We invest in you with:
• • Personalised development plans tailored to your goals.
  • Full support for certifications.
  • Access to The Oakland Academy for a suite of learning materials.
  • An annual Personal Learning Budget to upskill in ways that matter to you.
• Refer & Earn - Know someone great? If they join us, you'll get a referral bonus as a thank you.

At Oakland, we believe that diverse perspectives drive better outcomes - for our people, our clients, and our business. Our commitment to DEIB isn't just about policies; it's about creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.

We are building a truly inclusive Oakland where you can be yourself, no matter your background, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

Fair & Inclusive Hiring - Every interviewer completes recruitment and unconscious bias training, and our hiring process is skills-based and structured to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates.

Support Throughout the Interview Process - If you require any reasonable accommodations to make your interview experience more accessible, our Talent team is here to help.