Data Governance Specialist

Job Overview:

We are seeking a Data Governance Specialist to manage and mitigate data-related risks, ensure compliance with privacy regulations, and safeguard data across the organization. This role combines expertise in data governance frameworks, risk management, IT security, and data engineering to implement robust data strategies that align with business and security objectives. 

A key mandate includes preparing the organization’s data landscape for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics initiatives by ensuring data is structured, classified, high-quality, and compliant. Reporting independently to the Head of Risk Management, the role requires close collaboration with business, technology, compliance, and innovation teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Data Strategy: Independently review the data strategy and monitor its implementation through defined measurable Key performance Indicators.
• Data Governance and Risk Frameworks: Develop, update and implement and enforce data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK, COBIT, GDPR), with a focus on risk mitigation for data privacy, quality, and compliance.
• Data Taxonomy: Define and maintain the data taxonomy, metadata standards, data lineage documentation, and data classification framework.
• Master Data Management (MDM): Oversee MDM solutions to ensure data accuracy, consistency, and accountability across systems, minimizing risk exposure.
• Data Privacy and Security: Manage compliance with global privacy laws (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), conduct Data Privacy Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and collaborate with IT security on data protection strategies.
• Risk and Compliance Management: Conduct risk assessments and business impact analyses (BIAs) to identify data-related risks and establish mitigation plans.
• IT Security and Data Access Controls: Work with IT teams to implement data access controls, encryption, and secure data storage to prevent unauthorized access and breaches.
• Data Lifecycle Management: Ensure proper data retention, usage, and deletion in line with governance policies to reduce risks.
• Reporting and Monitoring: Develop and track data governance KPIs and risk management reports for senior leadership.
• Data readiness for AI: ensure data assets are clean, consistent, well-classified, and structured to enable successful implementation of AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics initiatives. Identify and oversee remediation of data gaps, inconsistencies, and silos that could inhibit the deployment of AI models. Collaborate with AI/Innovation teams to define minimum data standards for AI model development and monitoring.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with IT, legal, compliance, and business teams to align data governance strategies with risk management goals.
• Data Quality Programs: Development and implement the Data Quality (DQ) Programs. Key activities are development of DQ rules in coordination with data owners, implementation and monitoring quality of data in DG Tool, discuss the results with respective stakeholders, conduct root cause analysis and perform remediation
• Data ownership programs: Define and maintain data ownership, stewardship, and custodianship roles across business units. Lead training and awareness initiatives to promote a data governance and data ethics culture.
• Initiatives: Define and lead data governance initiatives to achieve the data governance objectives of the
• Incident identification and management: Monitor incidents related to data quality, breaches, or ethical data use, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Reporting: Prepares periodic reports to Senior Management, Operations and Risk Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. Supports regulatory reporting requirements related to data governance, privacy, and AI usage, including documentation for inspections by regulatory authorities.

Required Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in data governance, data engineering, risk management, or IT security.
• Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK, COBIT) and data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR).
• Experience with MDM solutions, data quality management, and data security controls.
• Familiarity with risk assessments, data privacy impact assessments (DPIAs), and disaster recovery planning.
• Proficiency with data governance tools (e.g., Microsoft Purview) and IT security measures.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams across business and IT.
• Strong Knowledge of data modeling, data lineage, data classification frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications in data governance, risk management, or IT security (e.g., CISSP, CIPP, CDMP).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Experience with cloud-based data governance and data security tools.