Data Governance Specialist

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford tackles humanity’s greatest challenges by turning science and technology into impactful global solutions. Focused on areas like health, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate change, clean energy, and AI-driven government innovation, EIT Oxford blends groundbreaking research with practical applications to deliver lasting results.

A cornerstone of EIT Oxford’s mission is its upcoming 300,000-square-foot research facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This cutting-edge campus will feature advanced labs, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative spaces to strengthen its partnership with the University of Oxford. It will also host the Ellison Scholars, driving innovation for societal benefit.

The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle’s cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system. This initiative aims to improve diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatments by profiling antimicrobial resistance. The goal is to deliver certified diagnostic tools for widespread use in labs, hospitals, and public health.

EIT Oxford fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges.

EIT Pathogena is looking for a Data Governance Specialist to support the establishment and management of our global pathogen data platform, with a focus on the needs of partners who will contribute to and use it. The specialist will act as the focal point to ensure compliance with data governance policies across multiple international partners, and to support the partners in their own data governance processes. Whilst we have a focus on pathogen genomic and diagnostic characterisation data, appropriate management of related patient data is a critical aspect. This role will be instrumental in enabling secure, ethical, and compliant data sharing within the growing EIT Pathogena partner network.

Key Responsibilities:

Partner Onboarding & Engagement

• Work closely with each new partner organisation to assess their data governance needs and integrate them into the network.
• Act as the primary liaison for data governance specialists at partner organisations, fostering strong collaboration.
• Support partners in establishing data-sharing agreements, consent frameworks, and ethical review processes.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing on best practices for data governance across the EIT Pathogena partner network.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with relevant national legislation(s), institutional policies, and international data standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, local health data laws).
• Conduct periodic audits and risk assessments related to data privacy, security, and ethical considerations.

Data Governance Framework Development

• Establish and maintain standardised data governance protocols for the Pathogena partner network, aligning them with global industry best practices.
• Establish and maintain guidance documents on data access policies, de-identification, and security measures to protect patient and research data, drawing on external specialist input as needed.
• Develop training materials and workshops to enhance data governance literacy across the EIT Pathogena partner network.

Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with EIT Pathogena internal teams (Implementation, Science, Technology & Product) to align data governance with research and product development needs.
• Work closely with the EIT Oxford Legal team and DPO to ensure alignment in best practice data governance operations across the Institute.
• Provide strategic insights and recommendations on governance-related challenges to leadership.
• Contribute to reporting on compliance and governance performance across the network.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems, Data Science, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10+ years in data governance, data protection, or compliance, in healthcare, life sciences, or research settings that involve clinical data. Shorter duration of experience would be considered for candidates with highly relevant experience. Experience of establishing data governance frameworks and processes.
• Strong understanding of GDPR, HIPAA, HDS, and other relevant international health data regulations.
• Familiarity with data security measures, anonymization techniques, and governance frameworks.
• Experience working with hospitals, research institutions and software vendors. Experience working internationally. Strong communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple partners, track compliance efforts, and report on governance effectiveness.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Master’s Degree in Data Management, Information Security, or a relevant discipline.
• Industry specific certification, e.g. CDMP.
• Experience working with cloud computing and federated learning data environments.
• Genomics experience.
• Familiarity with data interoperability standards (e.g., FHIR, OMOP).

Benefits

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Salary:  Competitive, depending on experience + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.