We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

As a Data & Records Governance Manager, you will play a critical role in ensuring the effective management, compliance, and oversight of our data governance framework. Leading a team of specialists, you will collaborate with business-aligned Owners and Champions to uphold policies and best practices, driving efficiencies and ensuring regulatory compliance, including GDPR. If you have a passion for data integrity, process improvement, and stakeholder engagement, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Governance Frameworks & Compliance – Develop, implement, and oversee data governance and records management policies to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Records & Retention Management – Manage the classification, retention, and disposal of records while maintaining accuracy and accessibility.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Collaborate across departments to enforce governance frameworks and provide training to ensure best practices are followed.
• Monitoring & Reporting – Track data practices and deliver insights to support continuous improvements and compliance reporting.
• Change & Process Improvement – Lead initiatives to enhance data governance, reduce paper files, and drive efficiency in records management.
• Legal & Supplier Management – Support legal hold processes, oversee relationships with records storage suppliers, and ensure cost-effective solutions.
• Team Leadership – Manage and mentor the Data & Records Governance team, fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.

• Degree qualification or equivalent experience in data and records governance.
• Proven expertise in data and records management within a Microsoft 365 environment.
• Strong understanding of ISO15489 accreditation and data privacy regulations, including GDPR.
• Experience in developing and implementing data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance standards.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team effectively.
• Proven track record of leading projects related to data and records management.
• Strong problem-solving and issue resolution capabilities in governance and records management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated supplier management experience, overseeing records storage services and cost efficiencies.
• Ability to champion process improvements, drive operational change, and promote best practices.

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported.  This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim. 

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks ­with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.