Data Governance Manager

Position: Data Governance Manager
Location: San Antonio, TX/Tysons, VA (Onsite)

Project Manager for Data Management/Governance
8+ years of IT experience with at least 5+ years in leading data initiatives and programs
Data Project Manager to lead and deliver enterprise-scale data initiatives, with a strong focus on Data Management and Data Governance practices. The ideal candidate will be responsible not only for project delivery but also for establishing, implementing, and strengthening data governance frameworks and data management processes across the organization.

Required Skills & Qualifications
    8+ years of IT experience with proven track record of leading data programs and initiatives
    Strong, hands-on experience in Data Management and Data Governance (mandatory)
    Deep understanding of:
        Data quality, metadata management, lineage, and stewardship
        Data Warehousing concepts
        ETL/ELT tools (Informatica, Talend, DBT, etc.)
        Cloud platforms ( AWS / Azure/ Google Cloud Platform)
        Modern data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks)
    Strong understanding of data compliance, security, and regulatory requirements
    Excellent stakeholder communication and leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications
    Experience in DataOps and governance automation
    Exposure to AI-driven data governance or data quality frameworks
    Domain experience in Banking / Financial Services
    PMP / SAFe / Agile certifications

Key Responsibilities
Program & Project Leadership
    Lead end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of data initiatives aligned with business and data strategy
    Define program roadmaps, timelines, milestones, and governance structures
    Manage risks, dependencies, and ensure timely resolution of issues

Data Management & Governance (Core Responsibility)
    Drive the implementation and adoption of enterprise Data Management and Data Governance frameworks
    Establish and strengthen processes related to:
        Data quality management
        Metadata management
        Data lineage and traceability
        Data stewardship and ownership models
    Define and enforce data policies, standards, and controls across the organization
    Ensure alignment with regulatory, compliance, and audit requirements
    Promote a data-first culture and governance discipline across business and technology teams

Stakeholder Management
    Act as a bridge between business, data, and technology stakeholders
    Provide executive-level updates, dashboards, and governance reporting
    Collaborate with leadership to align data initiatives with organizational priorities

Team Leadership & Collaboration
    Lead cross-functional teams including data engineers, analysts, and governance specialists
    Drive accountability, collaboration, and performance across distributed teams
    Mentor teams on data governance best practices and project execution

Process Excellence & Governance
    Establish governance frameworks, KPIs, and reporting cadence for data initiatives
    Implement Agile/Scrum or hybrid delivery models where applicable
    Drive continuous improvement in data processes and delivery methodologies

Budget & Resource Management
    Manage program budgets, resource planning, and cost optimization
    Ensure effective utilization of resources across initiatives