Director, Data Governance

Role Description

The Director of Data Governance will lead the design, implementation, and ongoing management of the enterprise data governance framework. This role sits within IT and serves as a critical bridge between technology and business stakeholders, ensuring data is trusted, well-managed, and aligned to organizational priorities. This leader will establish governance standards, drive alignment across the organization, and operationalize data ownership through strong engagement with business partners, data owners, and data stewards.

What You’ll Do

• Enterprise Data Governance Strategy
  • Define and lead the enterprise data governance strategy, framework, and operating model.
  • Establish policies, standards, and procedures for data quality, metadata, lineage, privacy, and lifecycle management.
  • Align governance initiatives with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and risk management priorities.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Governance Forums
  • Lead and facilitate data governance councils, working groups, and steering committees.
  • Partner closely with business leaders, data owners, and data stewards to drive accountability and decision-making.
  • Act as the primary point of coordination between IT and business functions on all governance matters.
  • Drive adoption of governance practices through structured communication and engagement.
• Data Ownership & Stewardship
  • Define and operationalize data ownership and stewardship models across domains.
  • Support and enable data stewards with tools, processes, and training.
  • Ensure clear accountability for data quality, definitions, and usage.
• Data Quality & Controls
  • Establish and monitor data quality frameworks, KPIs, and remediation processes.
  • Implement controls to ensure data accuracy, consistency, completeness, and integrity.
  • Partner with engineering and analytics teams to embed governance into data pipelines and platforms.
• Metadata, Catalog & Lineage
  • Oversee implementation and adoption of data catalog and metadata management tools.
  • Ensure business glossaries, data definitions, and lineage are documented and maintained.
  • Promote discoverability and transparency of enterprise data assets.
• Compliance & Risk Management
  • Ensure adherence to data-related regulatory requirements (e.g., privacy, security, retention).
  • Partner with Legal, Security, and Risk teams to mitigate data risks.
  • Support audit readiness and regulatory reporting.
• Change Management & Adoption
  • Drive widespread adoption of data governance practices across the organization.
  • Develop training, documentation, and communication plans.
  • Establish success metrics and continuously improve governance maturity.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or related fields.
• Proven experience building and scaling enterprise data governance programs.
• Strong understanding of data management disciplines (data quality, metadata, MDM, lineage, privacy).
• Experience leading initiatives across the organization and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with data governance or catalog tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Informatica, etc.).
• Strong facilitation skills with experience leading governance councils and executive forums.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value.
• Proven experience utilizing AI technologies to enhance decision-making, streamline workflows and processes, improve efficiency and drive business outcomes.

Requirements

• Strategic thinker with the ability to operationalize at scale.
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to drive alignment across various, and sometimes competing, business priorities.
• Change agent who can build adoption and embed new ways of working.
• Results-oriented with a focus on measurable outcomes.

Bonus Points

• Adoption and effectiveness of the enterprise data governance framework.
• Improved data quality and reduction in data-related issues.
• Clear ownership and accountability across critical data domains.
• Increased trust and usability of enterprise data assets.
• Engagement and effectiveness of governance forums and stakeholders.

Benefits

• Market leader in compensation and equity awards.
• Comprehensive physical and mental wellness programs.
• Competitive vacation and holidays for recharge.
• Paid parental and adoption leaves.
• Professional development opportunities for all employees regardless of level or role.
• Employee Networks, geographic neighborhood groups, and volunteer opportunities to build connections.
• Vibrant office culture with world class amenities.
• Great Place to Work Certified™ across the globe.