Data Strategy and Governance Specialist

Data Strategy And Governance Specialist

The Data Strategy and Governance Specialist leads the development and operationalization of Trinity's enterprise data governance vision and strategy. This role defines how data is classified, managed across its lifecycle, secured, and used across the organization to improve decision-making and prepare Trinity for future capabilities such as analytics and responsible artificial intelligence (AI). As a newly established function, the Specialist will build foundational governance practices, develop and publish governance policies and standards, and, over time, grow internal capacity for data stewardship. The role will both establish the governance framework and actively work to implement it through pilots, recommendations, and validation of governance controls in core systems (in partnership with the Technology Operations and Security team), as well as provide hands-on support to data owners and stewards.

Within the first 12 months, the Specialist will deliver:

• An enterprise data governance framework (roles, decision rights, stewardship model, operating cadence)
• An enterprise inventory of key data domains and systems, including ownership, criticality, and a per-system catalog of core business entities (e.g., vendors, grantees, constituents, transactions), mapped to a business data glossary/data catalog.
• A data classification and lifecycle implementation plan aligned to Trinity's records retention direction (retention, archival, disposition)
• Data quality standards (definitions, rules, metrics) and a repeatable remediation process for priority domains
• A pragmatic AI and enterprise BI/analytics readiness roadmap grounded in trusted, well-classified data and ethical use
• Initial governance controls in priority systems defined, piloted, and validated in partnership with Technology Operations and Security team (for example, Microsoft 365/Purview retention labels, permissions models, and metadata standards), with documented playbooks that data owners and stewards can follow.

The annual salary range for this position is $169,400 to $194,400.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Stakeholder engagement and change management
• Governance strategy and operating model
• Operational implementation and enablement
• AI and analytics readiness

Measures of Success:

• Data owners proactively engaging with governance processes and seeking guidance on data decisions
• Documented improvement in data quality metrics for pilot domains
• Governance controls actively used (not just configured) in priority systems
• Positive feedback from stakeholders about the value and practicality of governance practices
• Clear evidence of behavior change, not just policy compliance
• A growing network of data stewards who understand their roles and are equipped to sustain governance practices

Knowledge, Skills, and Activities:

• Required
• Exceptional ability to build relationships and influence without formal authority across all levels of an organization
• Demonstrated skill in leading organizational change, particularly introducing new practices in environments without established governance
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences and adjust style based on stakeholder needs
• Strong facilitation skills and comfort navigating resistance, competing priorities, and organizational politics
• Patient, pragmatic approach to change that balances ideal-state vision with incremental progress
• Working knowledge of data governance frameworks, data lifecycle management, and stewardship principles
• Experience with data classification, retention policies, and cataloging/classification tools
• Hands-on experience with SharePoint/M365; familiarity with Microsoft Purview preferred
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify patterns in data quality issues
• Preferred
• Experience implementing governance in organizations undergoing significant change or digital transformation
• Background in nonprofit, higher education, or public sector organizations
• Familiarity with BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Knowledge of ethical AI principles and data privacy concepts.

Required and Preferred Education, Experience, and Credentials:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Management or Data Science, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in data governance, data policy, or enterprise information management

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.