Data Manager

Job Description

We have an exciting new opportunity for a Technology Data Manager to join our Marketing team, based in the A&O Shearman Belfast office.

Business Development, Marketing and Communications Team - Belfast

Our business development, marketing, and communications team is integral to the setting and achievement of the firm's global client strategy, which includes guiding the partners and associates in their pursuit of becoming the clients' trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, deep, institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the visibility of the firm globally, and positioning the firm as the thought leader and most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms. The function works as one team across the globe with very close collaboration between the central groups, such as communications, and the professionals working in local offices, practice groups, sectors, and clients.

What you will do

Reporting to the Senior Marketing Technology Manager and to the Senior Digital Manager, this newly established role is pivotal in ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and security of the firm's data. The Data Manager will develop processes for evaluating and monitoring the quality of key Marketing and Digital data points and will work proactively with data owners to ensure quality standards are upheld. The role will work closely with business stakeholders to define and document the capture, usage, and data quality business rules for all governed data elements. This includes helping develop key business terms and definitions to ensure clarity and consistency.

The Data Manager is responsible for the firm's Marketing & Digital data, accountable for the governance, quality, integrity, and optimization of data assets in alignment with business goals and in compliance with regulatory obligations.

The Data Manager will work closely with the Digital and Marketing platform owners, counterparts in IT and other business departments to ensure our data is in a state which allows us to achieve our related objectives.

The Data Manager will initially focus on the CRM platform and associated systems, processes, and data until completion of the implementation plan. The role will work in close collaboration with the CRM project team under the supervision of the Senior Marketing Manager.

The role is the guardian of data integrity and accessibility, enabling data-driven decision-making and optimized marketing strategies.

Acting on behalf of Data Owners, the Data Manager will ensure consistency of Marketing and Digital data usage across the firm and share best practices. Additionally, the role will be fostering continuous improvement in the department's data management practices.

The role is responsible for the Dynamics CRM data sets including contacts, companies, marketing activities, marketing lists. The platform will also soon hold opportunities, CVs, matters and experience.

The role represents the Marketing Technology team on the firm's cross-functional Data Council. The Data Manager will work closely with the SMEs to build knowledge, carry out preparatory work, and provide input. They will attend Data Council meetings and participate in working groups to ensure all viewpoints, impacts and concerns are considered.

The role and responsibilities include:

Data governance and quality oversight

• Data Integrity and Accuracy: Responsible for maintaining the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of data stored within the marketing tech stack, for example, Microsoft Dynamics and Vuture, ensuring that all data is reliable and up to date.
• Standards and Protocols: Oversee the definition, implementation, and enforcement of data standards, validation rules, and governance protocols across all marketing and digital platforms.
• Process Design and Improvement: Design new or revise existing global working practices to enhance marketing data management processes and support efficient data workflows.
• Collaboration with Data Engineering: Work closely with the Data Engineering team to monitor Marketing data in the Trusted Data Platform (TDP), respond to alerts, and ensure data quality and system reliability.
• Governance: Represents the Marketing function on the firm's cross-functional Data & Analytics Stewards Council.
• Outsourcing Management: Oversee the management of third-party Paragon outsource provision, including the development and implementation of how-to guides, team task documentation, and training to ensure consistent and effective outsourced operations.
• Best Practice Promotion: Promote best practices in marketing and Digital data usage and provide guidance on legal and regulatory compliance, ensuring that all data activities adhere to relevant laws and industry standards.
• Define and enforce standards for data collection, storage, and updates.
• Ensure compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR, consent management).
• Maintain data quality through cleaning, deduplication, and normalization.
• Ensure traceability and security of sensitive information.

Stakeholder engagement

• Liaise with the Martech and Digital managers to align on marketing data strategy, direction, and implementation, ensuring that data initiatives support broader marketing and business objectives.

Project oversight

• Manage data-related projects, such as data migration required for the replacement of the firm's experience management technology, as well as other new technology on the marketing technology roadmap.

CRM data

• Own and develop the Dynamics CRM Data Dictionary in line with new Dynamics CRM functionality and features.
• Implement and manage third-party data integrations with Dynamics CRM, designed to supplement company data.
• Data analysis, maintenance, and cleansing.
• Escalation Point: Serve as a key escalation point for complex data-related issues within Dynamics 365 and the marketing tech stack, collaborating with 3rd line support teams and external vendors (e.g., Peppermint, TTEC) to resolve issues efficiently.
• Define, manage and hands-on execute marketing data-related projects and data cleansing exercises for Dynamics CRM, collaborating with IT and external suppliers as required, such as:
  • Global CV data migration from multiple sources and legacy platforms, required for the replacement of the firm's CV management technology.
  • Dynamics CRM parent-child company hierarchy cleanse.
  • Mapping of Dynamics CRM Parent Company to 3e Related Client (3e is the financial platform).
  • Deduplication of various data sets including, but not limited to, contacts and companies.
  • Importing contact and company data for lateral hire partners.
  • Manages data testing related to data-related projects and cleansing exercises.
  • Design and execute data quality assessments to identify data anomalies, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies.
  • Manage the work of the data stewarding team, including defining and documenting processes/tasks, providing task briefings, advising on data queries raised, assessing capacity for new tasks.
  • Responsible for providing insights from Dynamics CRM and other data sources to marketing stakeholders to support data-driven decision-making.

Centralization and Structuring

• Create and manage reference frameworks (e.g., segmentation, campaign taxonomy).
• Manage the integration of data from multiple sources (website, social media, campaigns, events, lead tracking tools).

Website Analytics

• Help to manage data from tools like Google Analytics and Lead Forensics.
• Ensure integration of web analytics data with CRM and marketing automation platforms.

Social Media data

• Collect, integrate, and analyze engagement metrics from platforms (LinkedIn Analytics, employee advocacy and social listening tools).
• Monitor campaign performance and audience insights.
• Integrate social data into customer profiles for better segmentation.

Analytical and Decision Support - Reporting and insights

• Prepare reliable datasets for marketing and BI teams.
• Enable dashboard creation and KPI tracking.
• Collaborate with data analysts to generate actionable insights.
• Consult with marketing stakeholders to define reporting requirements. Manage design and development of Power BI reporting.
• Oversee the reporting roadmap.
• Line management, as required.

What you will have

• Strong understanding of data governance, data privacy, quality assurance, and compliance in a legal or professional services environment.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and integrated systems (HR, marketing, finance).
• Proficiency in data analytics and reporting tools, particularly Power BI.
• Project management skills, especially in the context of technology and data transformation initiatives.
• Ability to develop and document processes, train teams, and manage outsourced service providers.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with a focus on collaboration and strategic alignment.

What we can offer you

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embrace hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do, however, remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

If this role is not of interest we may have another suitable opportunity here for you at A&O Shearman! Visit our careers portal at A&O Shearman Careers and submit your CV to our Talent Network to be notified when the perfect opportunity becomes available.