Business Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Required / Desired Skills

Skill

Required / Desired

Years of Experience

Consultant Experience

4-year college degree in computer science or a related field with advanced study preferred; certifications specific to the field of project management

Required

Total IT experience

Required

10

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.

Required

Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to gather and synthesize information from various sources

Required

Familiarity with state-level IT policies and compliance requirements, particularly IT-19 and IT-13.

Required

Familiarity with the organization's procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.

Required

Proficient in project management and the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.

Required

Keen attention to detail and the ability to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.

Required

Experience in writing and structuring contract documents, with a deep understanding of the procurement process in governmental entities.

Required

Strong understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK) and their application in public sector environments.

Required

Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to provide recommendations and support to the decision-making team.

Required

Familiarity with IT processes, technologies, and best practices, with the ability to translate them into clear and comprehensive SOPs

Required

Strong analytical and process improvement skills, with the ability to identify areas for optimization and streamlining.

Required

Job Description:

Summary - Senior Business Subject Matter Expert (SME1)

The Senior Business Subject Matter Expert (SME) supports the Chief Data Officer (CDO) 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.

Role Description

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.

Mandatory skills

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.