Data Governance Specialist/Lead

DescriptionWe are looking for a Data Governance Specialist/Lead to shape and advance enterprise data governance for a financial services organization in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This position will establish practical standards that strengthen data quality, privacy, security, and regulatory alignment across critical information assets. The role blends strategic direction with hands-on execution, working closely with business, technology, risk, and compliance partners to create a scalable governance framework that supports trusted decision-making. Competitive salary with bonus!Responsibilities:• Develop and expand the company’s data governance framework, moving foundational practices into a more established and sustainable operating model.• Partner with stakeholders across business, technology, security, and compliance to define governance policies, data standards, and ownership expectations.• Administer and optimize governance-related platforms and tools that support metadata management, data lineage, and data quality monitoring.• Identify data issues that affect accuracy, consistency, or usability, and lead remediation efforts that improve confidence in enterprise reporting and analytics.• Establish processes that promote adherence to privacy, security, and regulatory obligations affecting financial data assets.• Drive governance initiatives that improve how data is classified, documented, controlled, and used throughout the organization.• Facilitate cross-functional discussions to resolve data management challenges, align priorities, and encourage adoption of governance best practices.• Provide leadership on data integrity efforts by defining measurable controls, monitoring outcomes, and recommending continuous improvements.Requirements• At least 5 years of experience in data governance, data operations, or a closely related data management function.• Demonstrated success leading governance programs or broader data transformation efforts within complex organizations.• Practical experience with tools used for metadata management, lineage tracking, and data quality oversight.• Strong understanding of data privacy, information security, and compliance expectations relevant to regulated environments.• Proficiency with Microsoft SQL and experience analyzing data to support governance decisions and issue resolution.• Familiarity with business intelligence, business analysis, and data architecture concepts, including technologies such as BusinessObjects and Erwin Data.• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders while influencing priorities across teams.• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including experience with data cleansing, IT audit considerations, and governance controls.Job typePerm