Project Manager - Data Risk & Control (9 months FTC)

Description

Location: London

Hybrid working: All Starling colleagues spend a minimum of 10 days per month in the office with flexibility to work the rest from home.

Reporting to: Chief of Staff to the COO

Closing date: Monday 23rd March, 12pm

About Starling

At Starling, we are on a mission to provide people with a fairer, smarter, and more human alternative to traditional banks. We are building a leading digital bank, driven by fast technology, fair service, and honest values. Our vision is to create a banking industry that serves everyone, which we accomplish by developing best-in-class proprietary technology, offering an exceptional customer experience, and establishing a strong, sustainable business.

Our five core values – Listen, Keep It Simple, Do The Right Thing, Own It, and Aim for Greatness – are at the heart of everything we do, guiding our strategy and shaping our culture. We're a branchless, largely paperless bank, committed to responsible banking, sustainability, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

Hybrid working: All Starling colleagues spend a minimum of 10 days per month in the office with flexibility to work the rest from home.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a hands-on, delivery-focused Project Manager to lead two critical initiatives: the completion of the organisation’s Data Control Library and the delivery of a comprehensive Data Retention Programme. This role is accountable for translating data strategy and regulatory expectations into practical, executable outcomes across the business. You will work closely with senior stakeholders across technology, risk, compliance, and operations to ensure data is retained, managed, and securely deleted in line with legal, regulatory, and business requirements. Success in this role requires strong project delivery capability, deep understanding of the data lifecycle, and the ability to influence and mobilise teams without direct authority.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and deliver a structured, end-to-end Data Retention Programme, including the identification and remediation of over-retained data.
• Translate high-level data strategy and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable plans for operational teams.
• Work closely with the Data Protection Officer (DPO), Deputy CIO, and other senior stakeholders to clarify data ownership, accountability, and governance.
• Identify and support Data Owners across the organisation, ensuring they understand their GDPR and data retention obligations.
• Own the delivery of the Data Control Library, ensuring controls are validated, risk-mapped, clearly documented, and embedded into business-as-usual processes.
• Identify control gaps or failures, and partner with technology and business owners to develop Remediation Plans with clear timelines.
• Quantify and report on the Residual Risk remaining when controls are found to be ineffective or missing.
• Partner with Second Line of Defence (2LoD) teams to align on expectations, controls, and training requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective project governance.
• Drive delivery momentum, proactively resolving any blockers to ensure timelines are met.
• Ensure the business is equipped to manage data retention and controls independently once the programme concludes

Requirements

Behaviours & Competencies:

• Strong influencing skills, with the ability to secure engagement and commitment without formal authority.
• Outcome-focused with an ability to see the problems through to resolution with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and maintaining momentum through complex challenges.
• Able to translate between regulatory, technical, and operational perspectives.
• Confident presenting to senior leaders while also working “in the weeds” with data owners and delivery teams.
• Anticipates risks and issues early and acts decisively to address them.

Skills & Experience:

• Experience implementing or coordinating data retention schedules and data cleanup initiatives.
• Proven experience delivering complex, cross-functional programmes end-to-end.
• Strong command of structured project management methodologies and ability to apply them flexibly in practice.
• Practical understanding of the full data lifecycle and data governance concepts
• Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and convert them into simple, actionable business processes.
• Experience working in regulated environments (e.g. financial services, fintech, or similar).
• Experience in identifying and improving controls

Benefits

Why Join Starling?

• Make an Impact: Work on projects that directly shape the future of banking and improve the financial lives of our customers. Starling is technology-led, and you'll have the freedom to accomplish your goals in innovative ways.
• Culture of Excellence: Be part of a collaborative, empowered, and forward-thinking team. We encourage experimentation, ownership, and a relentless focus on "doing the right thing.”
• Growth and Development: We are committed to your professional growth, offering opportunities to learn new technologies, take on new challenges, and own interesting things from day one.
• A Bank That Cares: We're a Living Wage employer, committed to flexible working, and dedicated to creating a fair, open, and safe working environment with compassion and inclusion at its core.
• Comprehensive Benefits: We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Company-enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme (7% employer contribution)
• Private Medical Insurance with Vitality including mental health support and cancer care. Partner benefits include discounts with Waitrose, Mr&Mrs Smith and Peloton.
• 25 days holiday (plus take your public holiday allowance whenever works best for you)
• An extra day’s holiday for your birthday
• Life Insurance at 4x your salary.
• 16 hours of paid volunteering time a year.
• Ability to buy or sell annual leave.
• Generous family-friendly policies.
• Annual leave is increased with length of service, and you can choose to buy or sell up to five extra days off
• Incentivised refer a friend scheme
• Perkbox membership giving access to retail discounts, a wellness platform for physical and mental health, and weekly free and boosted perks
• Access to initiatives like Cycle to Work, Salary Sacrificed Gym partnerships and Electric Vehicle (EV) leasingOur Commitment to Equality

Starling Bank is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster diversity & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Starling Bank are considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. When you provide us with this information, you are doing so at your own consent, with full knowledge that we will process this personal data in accordance with our Privacy Notice. By submitting your application, you agree that Starling Bank will collect your personal data for recruiting and related purposes. Our Privacy Notice explains what personal information we will process, where we will process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over our use of your personal information.