Ministry of Justice

Job Title & Grade: SEO Data Governance and Quality Lead

Contract Type:  Detached Duty/Loan – 24 Months

Salary range (depending on location): National - £42,914 - £46,182

London - £49,325 - £53,081

Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.

Location: National – Any LAA Office including London

40% office attendance is required. That may be at base location and other offices.

Please note that travel to other offices may be required

Please note that whilst this role is open to all Civil Servants, you can only apply for London, Cambridge and Brighton offices if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.

Minimum Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc.

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.

Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.

Corporate Services

Corporate Services provides the leadership, strategy, governance and business support that enables the LAA to deliver its organisational priorities.

This role supports a significant transformation programme to shape the future of data across legal aid, improving how data supports services, decision-making and operational delivery across England and Wales.

Strategy, Data & Analysis

The role works across policy, operational, digital, analytical and transformation teams to ensure data is embedded effectively within service redesign and transformation activity.

Job Summary

Help build the future of data governance across legal aid.

The Legal Aid Agency is transforming how data supports services, decision-making and operational delivery across England and Wales.

We are looking for a Data Governance and Quality Lead to establish and embed the governance, standards and quality frameworks that will support the next generation of legal aid systems and services.

This is a unique opportunity to shape how data is governed across a national organisation and influence decisions at the highest levels of the Agency and Ministry of Justice.

As Data Governance and Quality Lead, you will help create the frameworks, structures and standards that enable data to be managed consistently, securely and effectively across legal aid.

You will work with transformation, operational and digital teams to ensure data quality and governance are embedded from the outset in new services and systems.

The role combines governance, stakeholder engagement and organisational change, requiring strong communication and influencing skills alongside an understanding of how effective governance supports better business outcomes.

This role offers the opportunity to:

Establish the foundations of data governance across legal aid.

Influence senior leaders on the strategic importance of data quality.

Support the Chief Executive in their role as Legal Aid Data Patron.

Work across the Legal Aid Agency, Ministry of Justice and Digital teams.

Shape governance arrangements that will underpin future services and systems.

Deliver meaningful improvements that enhance decision-making and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Establish governance and standards: develop and embed data governance arrangements aligned to the Ministry of Justice Data Quality Framework; establish clear accountabilities, roles and responsibilities for managing data across legal aid; support standards and processes that improve data quality and consistency; and ensure governance supports organisational priorities and transformation outcomes.

Influence and engage stakeholders: build strong relationships across the Legal Aid Agency, Ministry of Justice and Digital teams; work with operational, analytical and technical stakeholders to embed governance principles into service design and delivery; support senior leaders to understand and fulfil their data governance responsibilities; and facilitate discussions and decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups.

Support strategic decision-making: provide advice, briefings and recommendations on data governance and quality matters; support the Chief Executive in their role as Legal Aid Data Patron, including engagement with wider Ministry of Justice governance structures; identify governance risks and opportunities; and monitor progress and provide assurance on governance implementation.

Drive continuous improvement: promote the value of high-quality data across the organisation; support improvements in data quality, governance maturity and organisational capability; and use insight and evidence to identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen governance arrangements.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of developing, implementing or working within governance frameworks.
• Experience of using data, information or evidence to support decision-making and improvement.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Experience of leading change or embedding new ways of working.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries to achieve shared outcomes.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues clearly.
• Experience of managing competing priorities and delivering results in complex environments.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of data governance, data quality or information management.
• Understanding of data standards or data quality frameworks.
• Experience supporting transformation programmes or major organisational change.
• Experience working with senior governance boards or decision-making forums.
• Knowledge of public sector, justice or operational delivery environments.

Person Specification

You are collaborative, resilient and comfortable working in complex environments.

You enjoy influencing decisions, bringing people together and creating clarity where there is ambiguity.

You can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery and are motivated by improving how organisations use information to make decisions.

You understand that effective governance is not simply about compliance, but about enabling better services, stronger decisions and improved outcomes.

Assessment approach

Application Process

To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 1000 words and a Behaviour example for Communicating and Influencing of no more than 250 words.

An initial sift will be undertaken on the behaviour statement, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift of your statement.

Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.

When submitting an example of a behaviour remember to include the situation, what you did and why, and what was the outcome / result.

Please note we do not require a CV and we only require a Statement of Suitability and a behaviour example for your application. The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary.

Interview / assessment Process

If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:

• Strengths relevant to the role.
• Behaviours:

Communicating & Influencing

Working Together

Delivering at Pace

• Ability:

You will be assessed on your ability to improve confidence in organisational data. This will be completed via a scenario-based exercise.  You will have time during the interview to prepare your answer. You will be required to share your screen during this time. Further details of this will be shared at interview stage.

• Experience:

Your experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy.

For this SEO role, we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important in a work environment. We would also expect examples of action they have taken to embrace diversity, for example increasing understanding for self or others, or improve inclusion at a team or wider group level.

Recruitment Timeline

Shortlisting is planned for week commencing: Monday 17th August 2026 

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact: LAAPerformanceandPlanning@justice.gov.uk

Our LAA commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.

Complaints procedure

If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.