Data Protection Manager - Oceania Data Office

Data Protection Manager – Oceania Data Office

The opportunity

Generative AI tools, personal AI agents, browser extensions, mobile devices, cloud storage and personal email have changed how information leaves an organisation. As our Data Protection Manager, you will lead Oceania’s delivery of the global Dataguard program, establishing a consistent baseline of people, process and technology controls that protects clients, employees and the firm from unauthorised data transfer. You will also support the Oceania Data Office in strengthening Data Management practices across the region.

This is a hands-on delivery and coordination role, not a policy-setting role. Global workstream leads design each control and technical teams deploy it; your job is to make Oceania ready and strengthen the supporting Data Management practices. You will bring Technology, Information Security, Risk, the Service Lines and the Data Office together ahead of each control wave, clarify data ownership and stewardship, surface local impacts and ownership gaps early, and make sure issues are resolved or escalated before rollout. The role reports to the Oceania Data Lead within the Office of the Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO).

This role can be performed from any of our EY offices across Australia. Our roles can potentially be adjusted to work flexibly with reduced hours. Please speak with us about potential options.

Your key responsibilities

• Establish and run the Oceania operating model for Dataguard, coordinating regional readiness for each global control wave. Workstreams span AI and personal AI agent controls, mobile, browser extensions, developer websites, cloud storage, personal email, leaver controls and software controls.

• Bring Technology, Information Security, Risk, the Service Lines and the Data Office together for each wave: identify local impacts, confirm local owners and approvers, and give the business enough notice and support to prepare.
• Make sure exceptions and unresolved dependencies are raised early and routed through the existing global approval and escalation paths, before rollout rather than after it.
• Give leadership an accurate and current view of readiness, adoption, compliance and residual exposure.
• Represent Oceania in the global Dataguard forums, carrying unresolved regional dependencies back into the global program so they shape how controls are designed.
• Leave each deployed control with a sustainable business-as-usual support and monitoring model, and a named owner.
• Support the Oceania Data Office to establish and maintain clear data ownership, stewardship, classification, quality, access and lifecycle practices across the region.
• Support Oceania and global Data Office initiatives and programs, including Data Management capability uplift, AI-ready data and the adoption of common data standards, frameworks and tools.

Skills and attributes for success

• Experience delivering and engaging the business on security, data protection, technology change, Data Management or compliance programs in a large and complex organisation, including practical exposure to data ownership, stewardship, classification, quality, access or lifecycle management.

• A working understanding of data loss prevention concepts and the common channels through which data moves, including AI tools, endpoints, browsers, cloud storage and email, with enough technical fluency to plan a control deployment alongside technology and security operations teams and discuss its impact credibly.
• Strong stakeholder, change and communication skills across business, technology, risk and leadership audiences, including the ability to influence teams who do not report to you.
• Sound judgement on when to work an issue locally and when to escalate it into the global program.
• Comfort working across time zones with global program teams and regional technology owners.
• Experience running a regional delivery and engagement rhythm for a program where the controls are designed and deployed by other teams.

Ideally, you’ll also have the skills and attributes below but don’t worry if you don’t tick all the boxes. We’re interested in your aptitude, attitude and willingness to learn.

• Experience landing a global program in a region, balancing global consistency against local reality.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Purview, endpoint management or comparable data protection and device tooling.
• Exposure to Responsible AI, data classification, privacy or regulatory obligations relating to data handling, and to data governance fundamentals such as ownership, stewardship, classification and access.
• Relevant certifications such as CIPP, CISM or CRISC, or a degree in a technology, data, cyber security or risk discipline.
• Exposure to AI-ready data and Data Management, including data ownership, stewardship, classification, quality, metadata, access and lifecycle practices, and familiarity with relevant data frameworks and tools.

What we offer you

At EY, we’ll fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. We’re proud to be recognised as the #1 WORK180 Endorsed Employer in the Top 101 Employers for Women 2026. Learn more.

• Career development: At EY, your career is yours to shape! We’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences ey.com/au/careerdevelopment
• Flexible work arrangements: Our flexible work policies empower you to balance your professional and personal life, fostering a culture of trust and autonomy.
• A comprehensive benefits package: From a yearly wellness incentive to access to an additional eight weeks of flex leave per year and family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave, we cater to your diverse needs to help you thrive both personally and professionally. www.ey.com/au/benefits
• Salary: We offer a competitive salary which is open to negotiation pending on skills and experience.

Acknowledgement of Country

EY acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which EY offices are located around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures, and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. Find out more about our vision for reconciliation at ey.com/en_au/careers/indigenous

Inclusiveness is core to who we are and how we work together, driving value for our people and for our business. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, cultures, sexual orientations, and gender identities and are committed to providing an equitable and barrier free recruitment experience for all. We encourage you to share any support and adjustments you need to be your best and participate equitably in our recruitment process. We understand sharing your needs with us can be daunting, so if you have questions before or during your application, we welcome you to get in touch at contactrecruitment@au.ey.com or +61 3 8650 7788 (option 2). Anything you tell us will be kept completely confidential.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY | Building a better working world 

Our preferred applicant will be required to undertake employment screening by EY or our external third-party provider. 

© 2026 Ernst & Young Australia. A member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited. All Rights Reserved.