Data Governance Specialist

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Kforce has a client that is seeking a Data Governance Specialist. This is a 12-month contract role in Downtown Houston, TX with a likelihood to extend longer. You must be onsite Mon-Thurs, and able to work remote Fridays.

Summary:
The Data Governance Specialist supports the development, execution, and ongoing improvement of the organization's data governance framework. This role works across business, technical, and compliance teams to help ensure data is high quality, protected, compliant, and used effectively, serving as a bridge between stakeholders while maturing governance processes, metadata, quality rules, lineage, and access practices.

Responsibilities:
* Support the development and maintenance of DG policies, standards, and procedures
* Contribute to designing scalable governance operating models (centralized/federated/hybrid)
* Participate in DG KPI tracking, assessments, and continuous improvement efforts
* Assist in defining DQ rules, metrics, and thresholds with business SMEs
* Help identify and document Critical Data Elements (CDEs)
* Coordinate DQ issue tracking, initial triage, and root cause analysis with engineering
* Maintain metadata standards and ensure consistent application across platforms
* Perform Atlan catalog updates (glossary terms, owners, classifications, tags)
* Contribute to lineage documentation, partner with engineering on automated lineage
* Support Data Owners and Stewards through metadata updates, documentation, and workflows
* Participate in stewardship committees and cross functional alignment discussions
* Assist in applying data retention, access, privacy, and risk control requirements
* Contribute to evidence gathering for audits and compliance reviews
* Apply data classification guidelines and verify metadata accuracy
* Support governance of master data domains and documentation
* Assist with reference data lifecycle management and alignment across systems

REQUIREMENTS:
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, MIS, Data Analytics, or related field
* 3-6 years of experience in data governance, metadata, DQ, analytics, or data management
* Experience with Atlan, Monte Carlo, or similar DG/DQ platforms preferred
* Strong foundational understanding of data quality, metadata, lineage, and compliance
* Solid SQL and BI skills (Power BI, Looker, Tableau)
* Strong communication and stakeholder coordination capability

The pay range is the lowest to highest compensation we reasonably in good faith believe we would pay at posting for this role. We may ultimately pay more or less than this range. Employee pay is based on factors like relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, location, performance, union contract and business needs. This range may be modified in the future.

We offer comprehensive benefits including medical/dental/vision insurance, HSA, FSA, 401(k), and life, disability & ADD insurance to eligible employees. Salaried personnel receive paid time off. Hourly employees are not eligible for paid time off unless required by law. Hourly employees on a Service Contract Act project are eligible for paid sick leave.

Note: Pay is not considered compensation until it is earned, vested and determinable. The amount and availability of any compensation remains in Kforce's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified in its discretion consistent with the law.

This job is not eligible for bonuses, incentives or commissions.

Kforce is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

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