Senior Data Governance Analyst (Azure Purview + Data Engineering)

Senior Data Governance Analyst (Azure Purview + Data Engineering)

At Data Meaning, we are seeing rapid growth in enterprise data governance initiatives on Azure, with Microsoft Purview at the center. We're looking for a Senior Data Governance Consultant who can lead end-to-end Purview implementations, shape governance strategy, and partner directly with clients to turn data into a trusted, governed asset. This is not a support role — this is a client-facing leadership position where you will define how organizations manage, secure, operationalize, and engineer their data platforms.

What You'll Do:

• Lead Azure Purview Implementations
  • Architect and deliver end-to-end Microsoft Purview solutions across enterprise environments
  • Design and configure:
    • Data Map and scanning strategies
    • Metadata ingestion and classification frameworks
    • End-to-end data lineage (ADF, Databricks, Snowflake, Fabric)
  • Establish scalable patterns for cataloging, discovery, and governance automation
• Define Data Governance Strategy
  • Design and implement enterprise data governance operating models
  • Lead development of:
    • Business glossaries
    • Data ownership & stewardship frameworks
    • Data classification and sensitivity policies
  • Conduct governance maturity assessments and define transformation roadmaps
• Build & Integrate Data Pipelines
  • Design, develop, and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines using:
    • Azure Data Factory (ADF)
    • dbt (data build tool)
  • Build and orchestrate workflows in Databricks (Apache Spark)
  • Develop Alteryx workflows to enable self-service analytics and business-driven data prep
  • Ingest and manage structured and unstructured data in Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
  • Ensure governance is embedded directly into pipelines (lineage, quality, classification)
• Data Modeling & Platform Architecture
  • Architect and optimize data models in:
    • Snowflake
    • Databricks / Delta Lake
  • Apply modeling techniques:
    • Dimensional modeling
    • Data Vault
  • Collaborate with analytics teams to define semantic layers and business logic in dbt
  • Ensure performance, scalability, and cost efficiency across platforms
• Partner with Clients & Stakeholders
  • Lead client workshops to align business and technical stakeholders
  • Translate business needs into governance frameworks and data architecture solutions
  • Advise leadership on data risk, compliance, and best practices
  • Present solutions to both technical and executive audiences
• Enable Data Quality, Trust & Compliance
  • Define and implement data quality frameworks and rules
  • Establish:
    • Data lineage tracking
    • Metadata management standards
  • Support regulatory initiatives (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA) through:
    • Data classification
    • Access controls
    • Audit readiness
  • Ensure consistent, trusted, and governed data across platforms
• Engineering & Automation
  • Develop Python-based solutions for:
    • Workflow automation
    • API integrations
    • Data operations
  • Write and optimize complex SQL queries, views, and stored procedures
  • Monitor and optimize pipeline performance, including:
    • Logging
    • Alerting
    • Error handling
  • Troubleshoot and resolve data pipeline and platform issues
• Integrate Across the Azure Data Ecosystem
  • Align governance and engineering across:
    • Azure Data Factory (ADF)
    • Databricks / Unity Catalog
    • Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
    • Snowflake
  • Partner with engineering teams to embed governance into data pipelines and architecture
• Collaboration & Documentation
  • Work closely with:
    • Data analysts
    • Data scientists
    • BI engineers
  • Document:
    • Data pipelines
    • Data models
    • Governance policies
  • Contribute to data catalogs and internal knowledge repositories
  • Participate in code reviews and mentor junior team members

What We're Looking For Required Experience

• 7+ years in data, analytics, engineering, or data governance roles
• 3+ years hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview
• Proven experience leading data governance implementations or programs
• Strong understanding of:
  • Data cataloging, lineage, and metadata management
  • Data governance frameworks and operating models
• Experience in client-facing / consulting roles

Technical Expertise

• Deep experience with Microsoft Purview (Data Map, scanning, classification, lineage)
• Strong experience with:
  • Azure Data Factory (ADF)
  • Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
  • Snowflake
  • Databricks / Unity Catalog
• Experience with:
  • dbt for transformations and modeling
  • Alteryx (preferred)
• Strong SQL skills
• Working knowledge of Python for automation and data engineering
• Experience building and optimizing data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes

Governance & Business Skills

• Experience designing:
  • Data stewardship models
  • Business glossaries
  • Governance policies and standards
• Ability to bridge business and technical stakeholders
• Strong communication and workshop facilitation skills

Preferred

• Experience with additional governance tools (Colliba, Alation)
• Familiarity with:
  • CI/CD pipelines, Git, and DataOps practices
• Azure certifications (e.g., DP-203, Purview-related)
• Experience in regulated industries
• Familiarity with Microsoft Fabric

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• You can lead a Purview implementation from 0 → production
• You can define both:
  • Governance strategy
  • Data engineering architecture
• You are equally comfortable:
  • Running executive workshops