Director, Master Data Strategy & Governance

Work Location: Chicago

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.


Want to make an impact?

Reporting directly to the VP, Data, Analytics & AI, the Director, Master Data Management (MDM) will serve as the cornerstone of Ferrara’s data foundation. As Ferrara accelerates its digital transformation agenda, this role will establish and lead the enterprise’s master data strategy, ensuring that our most critical data assets - customers, products, vendors, and materials - are accurate, consistent, and trusted across all business systems.

Successful candidates will have demonstrated success building MDM capabilities in complex, multi-ERP environments and will bring the business acumen to align data strategy with enterprise objectives. A background in CPG, food & beverage, or consumer goods is strongly preferred.

The Director, MDM is a pivotal role within Information Technology at Ferrara Candy Company. The scope of this position spans data governance, data quality, and the technical stewardship of master data across our ERP landscape (SAP S/4HANA), commercial platforms, and supply chain systems. The Director will work closely with the CIO, IT leadership, and cross-functional business partners to build a high-integrity data environment that enables analytics, AI/ML readiness, and operational excellence.

Ways you will make a difference

MDM Strategy & Governance

• Define and execute the enterprise Master Data Management strategy, roadmap, and operating model in alignment with IT and business strategy.
• Establish governance frameworks, data ownership accountability, and stewardship processes for all master data domains (product, customer, vendor, material, finance).
• Lead the MDM Center of Excellence, setting standards, policies, and processes for data definition, creation, maintenance, and archiving.
• Partner with the IT and functional leadership to position MDM as a strategic enabler of business value and digital transformation.

Data Quality & Integrity

• Define and operationalize data quality KPIs, including accuracy, completeness, consistency, and timeliness metrics across all master data domains.
• Implement automated data quality monitoring, cleansing workflows, and enrichment processes to maintain high-integrity datasets.
• Drive root cause analysis on systemic data quality issues and implement sustainable corrective action programs.
• Establish a single source of truth for critical master data entities, reducing duplication and ambiguity across business systems.

MDG applications and tools

• Own the SAP MDG platform, including data model, governance workflows, BRF+ rules, change request configuration, and integration with SAP S/4HANA to enable controlled creation, maintenance, and distribution of material, customer, vendor, and financial master data; lead implementation, enterprise adoption, and execution of the SAP MDG roadmap.
• Own master data strategy and execution within the SAP S/4HANA environment, including material master, vendor master, customer master, and financial master data.
• Collaborate with the IT applications and integration teams to ensure consistent master data flows across ERP, CRM, WMS, and analytics platforms.
• Govern master data processes during M&A integrations, ERP migrations, and other transformation initiatives, working closely with the IT PMO.

AI & Analytics Enablement

• Ensure master data readiness for AI/ML initiatives by establishing governance practices that support model training, inference, and deployment.
• Partner with data science and analytics teams to deliver well-governed, high-quality data products that accelerate business intelligence and decision-making.
• Drive data democratization efforts and promote data literacy across business units, enabling self-service analytics on trusted master data.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure master data practices comply with relevant regulatory frameworks (FDA, FSMA, GDPR, SOX) applicable to food manufacturing and CPG.
• Develop and maintain data privacy, retention, and security policies governing master data assets.
• Conduct regular audits of master data quality and governance adherence; remediate gaps in partnership with IT, Legal, and Compliance teams.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing MDM team, including data stewards, data analysts, and MDM solution architects.
• Foster a data-driven culture by championing MDM best practices and engaging business stakeholders as active participants in data governance.
• Serve as the primary liaison between IT and business functions (Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, Operations) on all master data matters.

Skills that will make you successful

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Data Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 10-15 years of progressive experience in data management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role responsible for enterprise MDM programs.
• Technical Skills: Hands-on expertise with SAP MDG, SAP S/4HANA master data objects, and at least one enterprise MDM platform (e.g., Informatica MDM, Stibo STEP, Semarchy, or equivalent). Familiarity with data integration, ETL/ELT patterns, and cloud data platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Governance & Frameworks: Strong command of data governance frameworks (DAMA-DMBOK, DCAM), data quality methodologies, and regulatory compliance requirements applicable to CPG or food manufacturing.
• Certifications: CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional), DAMA, SAP MDG certifications, or equivalent preferred.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing teams, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and lead organizational change.

Experiences that will support your success

• Experience in CPG, food & beverage, retail, or similarly complex, high-SKU-count industries with multi-channel commercial models.
• Track record of building MDM capabilities from the ground up or transforming legacy data management practices at scale.
• Proven success governing master data through ERP consolidations, SAP S/4HANA migrations, or M&A integrations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data concepts into clear business value narratives for executive audiences.
• Strong communicator with the ability to partner effectively across all levels of the organization, from data stewards to the C-suite.
• Experience with AI/ML data readiness, including feature engineering data pipelines and governance for model training datasets.
• Highly self-motivated with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Occasional travel required.

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at


Compensation

The salary range for this role is $141,216 - $197,702 annually.


EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

Nearest Major Market: Chicago