Data Governance Lead

Overview

To drive innovation and operational excellence through technology that enables teams to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences. The Business Systems department delivers software to drive business process optimization through automation, intuitive workflows, and data governance. Our goal is to serve our internal customers (operators & support departments) with solutions that empower them to maximize their performance and enhance the customer journey.

Position Summary

The Data Governance Lead is responsible for establishing and maturing RPM Living's enterprise data governance program, ensuring that data across the organization is trusted, well-defined, secure, and fit for use in reporting, analytics, and operational decision-making. Reporting to the SVP, Data & Analytics, this role partners closely with Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Product Management, and business stakeholders to define data ownership, standards, and quality expectations as the platform transitions to Microsoft Fabric. The Data Governance Lead will build the policies, processes, and stewardship model needed to sustain a trusted data environment at scale.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and maintain RPM Living's enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, and operating procedures for data ownership, quality, and lifecycle management.
• Establish and lead a data stewardship program, identifying data owners and stewards across business units and coordinating their governance responsibilities.
• Define data quality standards and metrics, and implement processes to monitor, report on, and remediate data quality issues across source systems and the Fabric medallion architecture (bronze/silver/gold).
• Own the enterprise data catalog and metadata management practice, ensuring business and technical definitions, lineage, and documentation are current and accessible.
• Administer and maintain the enterprise data governance platform (e.g., Microsoft Purview), including metadata ingestion, lineage configuration, data classification, and access policy setup.
• Partner with Data Engineering and Data Architecture to embed governance requirements into platform design, integration patterns, and pipeline development.
• Lead master data management (MDM) efforts for key business entities, resolving inconsistencies across systems such as Yardi, RealPage, UKG, and Salesforce.
• Define and manage data access and security policies in coordination with IT Security, including role-based access controls and data classification standards.
• Ensure organizational compliance with applicable data privacy and regulatory requirements as they pertain to resident, employee, and financial data.
• Establish and chair a cross-functional Data Governance Council to review policy, resolve data ownership conflicts, and prioritize governance initiatives.
• Define governance maturity milestones and KPIs, and report progress to Data & Analytics leadership.
• Develop training and change management materials to drive adoption of governance policies and standards across the organization.
• Support onboarding of new data sources and vendor/contractor engagements by ensuring governance requirements are incorporated from project inception.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Data Management, Computer Science, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• Five years of experience in data governance, data management, or data quality roles, ideally within a multi-system enterprise environment.
• Experience implementing or operating data governance frameworks and tools (e.g., Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Alation, or similar) preferred.
• Multifamily, real estate, or property management industry experience is a plus.
• Knowledge of data governance principles and frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK).
• Knowledge of SQL and data catalog/lineage tooling.
• Knowledge of the Microsoft Azure and Fabric ecosystem preferred.
• Knowledge of data privacy and regulatory considerations (e.g., state privacy laws, fair housing data handling) preferred.
• Skilled in data quality management, metadata management, and master data management practices.
• Skilled in stakeholder management, with the ability to influence and drive adoption across teams without direct authority.
• Skilled in analysis and problem-solving, with keen attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple governance initiatives concurrently in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally or in writing, with the ability to translate technical governance concepts for business audiences.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements:

• May be required to sit for extended periods of time
• May occasionally be required to lift or carry items such as files or office supplies weighing up to 15 pounds
• Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment
• Must be able to read documents, computer screens, and data
• Must be able to hear and understand verbal communications in person and over the phone or computer

Work Environment:

• This is a hybrid role, requiring the associate to work in one of our corporate or regional offices three or four days per week based on managers’ discretion.
• The office is an open setting which may include bright lights, constant noise, and distractions.

Company Information

Join RPM Living and experience exceptional benefits designed to enhance your life.

• Weekly pay for all associates working onsite at an apartment community
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage available for all full-time, regular associates
• Employer-paid employee assistance, mental health, and wellness programs
• Ancillary benefits including critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance
• 401(k) with robust company match
• Opportunities for professional development, career growth, and role-based learning plans
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
• Paid time off plus floating holidays and volunteer days
• Discounted Perks (Costco membership, movie tickets, health & wellness, entertainment & travel discounts)

Employment with RPM Living is contingent upon successful completion of a background check as local and federal state requires. A valid driver’s license is preferred; candidates without a license will be provided a liability waiver.

RPM Living participates in E-Verify. For more information, see the E-Verify Participation Poster and the Right to Work Poster.

RPM Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer.