Associate Director, Data Governance and AI

At Optus, we don’t sit back and let the future happen to us - we’re out there making it. By expanding into new technology and relentlessly improving every day, we’re creating a better tomorrow for all Australians.

We believe in the strength of a vibrant, diverse and inclusive workforce where backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences of our people help us innovate and create strong connections with our customers.

The Associate Director, Data Governance and AI plays a pivotal role within the Networks’ Systems and Automation leadership team, leading initiatives in alignment with central governance teams. This role focuses on enhancing data quality, driving AI adoption, and ensuring compliance with Optus’ data and AI standards, principles, and best practices. Additionally, there is responsibility for the integration and application of AI technologies to optimise network operations, improve customer experience, and boost business efficiency.

The day to day

• Ensure the successful delivery of Optus Data Transformation within Networks, reducing risk through data governance enablers while improving data quality and usability for automation and AI implementation.
  • Identification of critical data elements to prioritise work and access.
  • Driving Networks data usability through an understanding of the use cases for Networks data, improving data quality and removing the barriers to using data effectively.
  • Understand where data is coming from and how it is used.
• Collaborate with Networks Architecture and central AI teams to champion AI adoption, ensuring implementation across planning, design, delivery, and operations to achieve TMF AN Level 4 maturity by FY27.
• Supervise Networks’ data governance, including data glossary, data flows, origination, and maintenance, ensuring compliance with Optus’ standards and legal, privacy, and risk requirements.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external business partners, including central data governance teams, IT, legal, and risk teams, to align strategies and initiatives with business priorities.
• Provide coaching and mentoring guidance and support to wider Networks teams, fostering a strong data governance, AI, and knowledge management culture across the organisation.

Why you are our next Associate Director

• Relevant qualifications and extensive hands on data experience, with deep knowledge of data management, governance, knowledge management, and AI principles, particularly in the Telco industry.
• Demonstrated ability managing data initiatives across business units, embedding change within large, complex organisations.
• Exposure to Agile and Waterfall methodologies, and working in Agile environments.
• Strong data analytics capabilities and advanced problem-solving skills to drive insights and automation.
• Outstanding communication skills tailored to different audiences, strong relationship-building and influencing abilities.
• Demonstrable experience in coaching, mentoring, and leading multidisciplinary teams through innovative change.

What’s in it for you?

• 3 days in the office, 2 days remote
• Inclusive paid parental leave, up to 14 weeks for the primary care giver
• All Optus employees have access to resources, webinars and support via the ‘Parents at Work portal’
• Own your own growth by accessing an extensive online and facilitator led learning catalogue
• Connect at work through our employee-led volunteer groups: Culture Connect, Elevate Women, Disability Network, Express Yourself (LGBTQIA+), United Veterans, Yarn Network, Wellbeing Network and Young Professionals.
• Vibrant campus life, variety of facilities including restaurants, cafes, gymnasium, GP, and post office
• Free Optus bus from Macquarie University Metro Station (every 6-8 minutes); morning and afternoon!

Keen to see what it’s really like to work at Optus? Search #OptusLife on LinkedIn to go behind the scenes!

At Optus, we are strengthened by others and that means valuing diversity and saying ‘yes’ to embracing individual differences. We are committed to ensuring that our application process provides an equal employment opportunity to all job seekers, including individuals from diverse gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, individuals with a disability, individuals identifying as being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who may have served in the armed forces or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. We also want to do our best to make our recruitment process inclusive. If you require any adjustments or accessibility support to participate fairly and equitably in the recruitment process, please email AccessibleRecruitment@optus.com.au or call 1800 309 170. We're here to help. When you contact us, please advise your preferred method of contact and we will be in touch within 48 hours.

For more information on Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at Optus, please visit https://www.optus.com.au/about/inclusion-diversity.