Data Governance Lead

UNILEVER IS HIRING A DATA GOVERNANCE LEAD

Location: Hofplein, Netherlands 

Local conditions apply

Full Time

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe that one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future. 

We want our business to flourish, and we know that our success depends on others flourishing around us. That's why our purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and why sustainable, long-term growth is at the heart of our business model. 

 JOB INTRODUCTION
In today’s digital and AI-driven world, data is the backbone of our Social First agenda—fuelling insights, personalisation, and growth while meeting rising consumer expectations for transparency and trust. As regulations tighten and data-driven ambitions expand, we need a visionary Data Governance Lead to safeguard, manage, and maximize the value of consumer and employee data. This role will ensure accuracy, security, and compliance, enabling markets to deliver meaningful engagement at scale.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Data Governance Lead will be responsible for driving our Consumer and Employee Data Governance and Excellence Maturity Programme, ensuring that markets meet standards on data collection, quality, privacy, sharing, storage, and retention. The ideal candidate will possess a working knowledge of data-related challenges in a marketing and HR context, including data collection, consent and preferences management, data storage, sharing, data marketing, and retention. They will work with markets, technology teams, and legal teams to ensure that consumer data governance standards are implemented to the highest level in local markets. Additionally, the role will encompass managing customer data and the employee and candidate data. (Please Note: the HR scope will only be 10% of the overall tasks)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Data Compliance (30%)

• Ensure that the market is able to collect and use rich, relevant, and legally compliant data for marketing and HR. This includes aligning data collection practices with our Social First agenda to enhance consumer engagement and personalisation.
• Act as the conduit between Global Data Governance, Global Privacy Legal, and local Privacy teams to ensure that global standards are deployed within marketing processes, technology ecosystems, and third-party processing activities.
•  Develop and update privacy and governance controls, including specific controls required to protect data from accidental or deliberate misuse.
• Analyse upcoming regulations with global and local privacy teams and legal teams to determine the risk-assessed position for compliance.
• Conduct data audits and prepare compliance reports to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Develop end-to-end data maps which provide full transparency and visualisation of the data lifecycle in marketing and HR. Catalogue, monitor, and identify essential data assets.
  

Data Management and Quality Improvement (30%)

• Support the market by establishing and maintaining capabilities for data quality and data leverage. This includes ensuring that data used in Social First campaigns is accurate, relevant, and actionable.
• Drive the development of best practice media data frameworks to capture clean, structured, and more insightful data.
• Regulate, assess, and support the onboarding of third parties and set standards on how data is shared, co-owned, and deleted with third parties.
• Support in data management when business units are purchased or separated.
• Provide expert technical and procedural advice and solutions to data governance and management challenges.
• Lead initiatives to improve data quality across the organisation.
• Identify opportunities and make recommendations to enhance data quality and trustworthiness.

Frontline Data and AI Governance, Awareness, Best Practices & Data Maturity (40%)

• Support the completion of the annual data governance maturity programme for key EU markets
• Define clear data and AI ownership roles, clarifying responsibilities of data custodians, processors, analysts, advisors, users, and third-party providers.
• Adapt and customise global data governance, AI governance, and privacy standards for the key European markets to meet local regulations and marketing goals.
• Create repeatable processes and tools for data and AI governance that support Social First initiatives and responsible AI use.
• Promote responsible AI practices, including transparency, fairness, and bias mitigation in data-driven marketing.
• Conduct regular training programmes and workshops with marketers to improve capabilities for collecting and using consumer data, and introduce AI literacy sessions to ensure ethical and compliant AI adoption.
• Champion better data and AI literacy within the organisation.
  Manage the organisation and administration of the Data Governance Board, expanding its remit to include AI oversight.
• Build relationships with data owners, AI practitioners, and subject matter experts.
• Manage integration points outside Marketing, ensuring AI-driven processes align with governance principles.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• Experience: 4-5 years of experience in working within digital and data marketing functions ideally in monitoring and reporting performance
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in data governance tools, data quality management, metadata management, and data integration techniques. Experience with data architecture practices. Knowledge of data quality, metadata management, and master data management. Understanding of consumer data and its use in Data Driven Marketing, and the technologies which underpin it.
• Data Skills: Strong understanding of data collection, consent and preferences management, data storage, sharing, data marketing, and retention. Ability to identify opportunities to improve data quality and trustworthiness. Make recommendations to optimise the safety and value of data. Experience with data modelling and development of data standards. Proficiency in master data management.
• Compliance Skills: Expertise in establishing and maintaining data frameworks, privacy controls, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Working Knowledge of data protection and privacy and new laws and regulations including the GDPR, e-Privacy Directive, EU AI act etc
• Management Skills: Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage projects, and drive data governance initiatives.
• Networking Skills: Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with global and local teams, including marketing, IT, legal, and privacy teams.
• Drafting and Articulating Skills: Excellent communication skills to develop and update privacy and governance controls, and articulate data governance strategies.
• European Context: Knowledge of European data privacy regulations and the ability to adapt global standards to meet local requirements.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation abilities.
• Expertise in AI technology and AI governance.
• Stakeholder Communication and Advocacy: Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Advocate for better use and management of data within the organisation. Ability to communicate analysis and insights effectively. Support and host discussions within multidisciplinary teams. Understanding of consumer data and its use in Data Driven Marketing, and the technologies which underpin it;
  • Understanding of the end to end Consumer Data Lifecycle: data collection, profiling, cloud storage, CRM platforms, and architecture;
  • Technical understanding of Digital platforms (i.e. web, social, mobile)
  • Understanding of privacy issues and data marketing technologies and solutions.
  • Working Knowledge of data protection and privacy and new laws and regulations including the GDPR, e-Privacy Directive, etc.;
  • Working knowledge of Data Security and its application within a marketing business;
  • Strong project management skills;
  • Ability to coordinate and collaborate through a virtual organisation;
    

WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?
Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!

• Attractive total remuneration package: excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.
• Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.
• Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.
• We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.
• Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate.  For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office, you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products.
• Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products. 
• My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).
• Homework allowance
• Company laptop and mobile phone
• Green Mobility Policy.   
  

EXCITED?

Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter.  Your application will be reviewed against our requirements, and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Looking forward to meeting you! 

Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against. 

By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.

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