As the Data Governance Lead, you will serve as the strategic and operational leader responsible for establishing and maturing the organization's data governance framework . You will define the "rules of the road" for the program's data assets, ensuring they are managed in a consistent, secure, and high-quality manner. This role is a critical link between business, security, and technology stakeholders, requiring you to lead through influence and build a culture where data is treated as a strategic asset. You will lead a team of governance and catalog specialists to implement policies, stand up a data stewardship program, and drive the adoption of the enterprise data catalog as the single source of truth for metadata.
Responsibilities:
- Develop, implement, and manage the enterprise-wide data governance strategy, framework, and policies
- Lead and mentor a team of data governance professionals and data catalog administrators
- Establish and facilitate a Data Stewardship Council, composed of data owners and stewards from across the organization, to drive accountability for data assets
- Oversee the strategy and operation of the enterprise data catalog (e.g., Collibra), ensuring it effectively supports data discovery, lineage, and governance objectives
- Define and enforce standards for data quality, data definitions, and metadata management; oversee processes for issue resolution and data validation
- Partner with legal, security, and compliance teams to ensure data governance policies align with regulatory and security requirements
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of the data governance program and report progress to senior leadership
- Champion data literacy and the value of data governance across the organization through training and communication initiatives
Must have:
- 8+ years of experience in data management, with at least 4+ years in a dedicated data governance role
- 3+ years of experience in a leadership or management capacity, leading teams and/or large-scale programs
- Deep expertise in designing and implementing data governance frameworks, policies, and standards
- Hands-on experience with enterprise data governance and cataloging tools such as Collibra, Alation, or Informatica Axon
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage senior stakeholders
- Strong understanding of metadata management, data quality, and data stewardship principles
- US Citizenship (No Dual Citizenship)
Nive to have:
- Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) or similar certification
- Experience implementing a data governance program
- In-depth knowledge of data security and compliance regulations relevant to the public sector
- Excellent communication and change management skills
Security Clearance:
- Active TS or TS/SCI clearance