Senior Business Subject Matter Expert

Seeking a Senior Business Subject Matter Expert (SME) supports and in executing the organization s Data Governance and Management strategy. This role bridges business needs and technical implementation, ensuring that data governance structures, processes, and education initiatives are effectively deployed across the agency. The SME brings deep experience in data architecture, stakeholder engagement, and public sector consulting to operationalize the CDO s vision.

Interview: Teams

Location: Columbus, OH

Posting: 790771

Work: Hybrid

Role and Experience

• Supports the CDO in executing the first-year Data Governance setup activities, including policy rollout, stakeholder engagement, and operational planning.
• Leads the development and execution of Statements of Work (SOWs) aligned with the CDO s strategic roadmap.
• Designs and implements the operational components of the Data Governance framework, including data classification, cataloging, stewardship models, and lifecycle management.
• Develops and delivers targeted education and onboarding sessions for data owners, custodians, stewards, and users to build data literacy and clarify roles.
• Collaborates with the CDO to define and document governance roles, responsibilities, and escalation paths.
• Provides technical and process guidance to ensure compliance with State of Ohio policies (e.g., IT-19 Data Governance, IT-13 Data Classification) and regulatory standards.
• Advises executive stakeholders on governance best practices and change management strategies to support cultural adoption of data accountability.
• Assists in identifying and documenting data-related risks, opportunities, and improvement areas to inform the CDO s strategic planning.
• Supports the CDO in evaluating and implementing new technologies and tools that enhance data governance and analytics capabilities
• Supports the identification and prioritization of data analytics use cases that align with agency goals and governance maturity.
• Job Duties and Responsibilities
• Support the CDO in reporting progress to executive leadership and refining the governance roadmap based on lessons learned.
• Translate the CDO s strategic goals into actionable implementation plans and deliverables.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews and surveys to assess current data practices and identify gaps in governance maturity.
• Develop and maintain a governance playbook, including SOPs, data classification schemas, and data cataloging guidelines.
• Coordinate with IT, legal, procurement, and business units to ensure governance processes are integrated into daily operations.
• Monitor and report on the progress of governance initiatives, providing updates and recommendations to the CDO and Data Governance Committee.
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions to promote a culture of data accountability and stewardship.
• Support the CDO in reviewing data-related procurements, technology assessments, and compliance audits.
• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK)
• and their application in public sector environments.
• Experience supporting executive leadership in strategic data initiatives.
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to engage
• both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with state-level IT policies and compliance requirements, particularly IT-19 and IT-13.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement scalable governance processes and tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.
• Experience with metadata management, data quality, and data cataloging tools is a plus.

Certification

• Certifications in data governance, project management, or enterprise architecture are a plus.
• 4-year college degree in computer science or a related field with advanced study preferred;