Manager, Data Stewardship

At Early Warning, we've powered and protected the U.S. financial system for over thirty years with cutting-edge solutions like Zelle , Paze, and so much more. As a trusted name in payments, we partner with thousands of institutions to increase access to financial services and protect transactions for hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses.

Positions located in Scottsdale, San Francisco, Chicago, or New York follow a hybrid work model to allow for a more collaborative working environment.

Candidates responding to this posting must independently possess the eligibility to work in the United States, for any employer, at the date of hire. This position is ineligible for employment Visa sponsorship.

The Manager, Data Stewardship leads a team responsible for ensuring that critical business data is well-defined, high-quality, and properly managed in alignment with enterprise data governance standards. This role combines hands on data management expertise with people leadership to guide and develop team members. The manager will partner closely with business operations and the Data Governance (DG) function, enabling the adoption of metadata and data quality management practices that support trusted, well-documented, and compliant data use across the firm.

Overall Purpose

The Manager, Data Stewardship leads a team responsible for ensuring that critical business data is well-defined, high-quality, and properly managed in alignment with enterprise data governance standards. This role combines hands on data management expertise with people leadership to guide and develop team members. The manager will partner closely with business operations and the Data Governance (DG) function, enabling the adoption of metadata and data quality management practices that support trusted, well-documented, and compliant data use across the firm.

Essential Functions

1. Metadata Management

• Oversees the daily activities of the data stewardship team, providing guidance, coaching, and workload prioritization to ensure productivity and professional growth.

• Maintains and enhances business metadata in the enterprise data catalog (e.g., glossary, data dictionaries, and lineage).

• Defines and documents business terms, data elements, and approved data definitions in partnership with Data Owners and SMEs.

• Collaborates with the Data Governance team to ensure alignment and traceability between business definitions, technical metadata, and lineage.

• Identifies and validates data sources and systems of record; validates ownership, stewardship, and usage context to support data governance objectives.

• Fosters a collaborative and accountable team environment focused on delivering high quality metadata management outcomes and continuous improvement.

2. Data Quality Management

• Develops and maintains business rules for data quality (e.g., completeness, accuracy, timeliness, validity, and consistency).

• Partners with the DG and Engineering teams to implement automated data quality monitoring and reporting processes.

• Analyzes data quality metrics and remediation results; escalates persistent/unresolved issues to Data Owners as needed.

• Provides direction and mentorship to team members responsible for data profiling, issue investigation, and remediation efforts.

3. Data Governance Execution

• Participates in Data Domain Councils to review and refine data standards, resolve data issues, and drive continuous improvement in governance practices.

• Serves as the primary liaison between the business and the DG team for assigned data domains, ensuring alignment on priorities, definitions, and expectations.

• Supports the rollout and adoption of new governance standards, policies, and tools by guiding teams in integrating them into operational processes and daily workflows.

• Contributes to pilot projects that asses data quality improvements and quantify business value achieved through enhanced data governance.

4. Risk and Compliance Alignment

• Ensures business-owned data adheres to firmwide data management and retention policies.

• Supports regulatory, audit, and control reviews related to metadata accuracy, lineage traceability, and data quality controls.

• Support the company's commitment to risk management and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of systems and data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education or experience typically obtained through completion of a bachelor's degree.

• 8+ years of experience in data management, business analysis, or related field within financial services or a regulated industry.

• Good leadership, communication (both written & verbal) and interpersonal skills are required to perform the function and the ability to effectively motivate team members.

• Strong understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK), metadata management, data lineage, data quality, and compliance.

• Familiarity with data governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, Alation) and cloud platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Azure, AWS).

• Knowledge of relevant regulations and data privacy/security standards.

• Ability to communicate complex data concepts in business-friendly language.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in financial services or a regulated environment.

• DCAM, CDMP or similar certification

• Experience managing all aspects of a high performing team

• Ability to present and communicate with senior level management on process and performance in a structured environment

Success Measures

• % of critical data elements documented with approved business definitions and lineage.

• % of defined data quality rules implemented and monitored.

• Reduction in recurring data quality issues over time.

• Engagement and adoption metrics from business teams (e.g., metadata updates, data issue closure rates).

The base pay scale for this position in:
Phoenix, AZ/ Chicago, IL in USD per year is: $104,000 - $130,000.
New York, NY/ San Francisco, CA in USD per year is: $125,000 - $156,000.
Additionally, candidates are eligible for a discretionary incentive plan and benefits.

This pay scale is subject to change and is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific candidate, which is always dependent on legitimate factors considered at the time of job offer. Early Warning Services takes into consideration a variety of factors when determining a competitive salary offer, including, but not limited to, the job scope, market rates and geographic location of a position, candidate's education, experience, training, and specialized skills or certification(s) in relation to the job requirements and compared with internal equity (peers). The business actively supports and reviews wage equity to ensure that pay decisions are not based on gender, race, national origin, or any other protected classes.

Some of the Ways We Prioritize Your Health and Happiness

• Healthcare Coverage - Competitive medical (PPO/HDHP), dental, and vision plans as well as company contributions to your Health Savings Account (HSA) or pre-tax savings through flexible spending accounts (FSA) for commuting, health & dependent care expenses.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Featuring a 100% Company Safe Harbor Match on your first 6% deferral immediately upon eligibility.
• Paid Time Off - Unlimited Time Off for Exempt (salaried) employees, as well as generous PTO for Non-Exempt (hourly) employees, plus 11 paid company holidays and a paid volunteer day.
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave
• Maven Family Planning - provides support through your Parenting journey including egg freezing, fertility, adoption, surrogacy, pregnancy, postpartum, early pediatrics, and returning to work.

And SO much more! We continue to enhance our program, so be sure to check our Benefits page here for the latest. Our team can share more during the interview process!

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Early Warning Services, LLC ("Early Warning") considers for employment, hires, retains and promotes qualified candidates on the basis of ability, potential, and valid qualifications without regard to race, religious creed, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, protected veteran or disability status or any factor prohibited by law, and as such affirms in policy and practice to support and promote equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws. The company also prohibits discrimination on other bases such as medical condition, marital status or any other factor that is irrelevant to the performance of our employees.