Senior Data Governance Specialist

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Kforce has an opportunity for a Senior Data Governance Specialist in Downtown Houston, TX. This is a year-long contract with opportunity to extend. This role sits onsite Mon-Thurs. with opportunity to work remotely on Fridays.

Summary:
The Senior Data Governance Specialist is responsible for establishing, driving, and maturing the enterprise data governance framework. This role ensures the organization's data is trustworthy, compliant, secure, and aligned to business strategy. The Senior Specialist provides cross pillar leadership across metadata, lineage, DQ, access governance, policies, MDM, compliance, and change management initiatives, working with senior business partners, technical teams, Legal/Security, and audit stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities:
* Develop and maintain the enterprise DG strategy, policies, standards, and processes
* Define and implement scalable operating models (centralized, federated, hybrid)
* Lead DG KPI development, maturity assessments, and continuous improvement cycles
* Define enterprise DQ dimensions, rules, controls, and remediation workflows
* Drive organization wide identification and governance of Critical Data Elements
* Oversee issue triage, RCA, and remediation with clear business/technical ownership
* Lead enterprise adoption of metadata standards and quality expectations
* Oversee Atlan catalog governance (domains, glossary, lineage, personas/policies)
* Partner with architecture and engineering to expand automated and governed manual lineage
* Establish and operationalize Data Owner, Steward, Custodian roles and accountability models
* Lead the Data Governance Council and steward communities; Ensure alignment on definitions, usage, and controls
* Ensure compliance with internal DG policies and external regulations (GDPR/CCPA/SOX/HIPAA depending on industry)
* Partner with Legal, Security, and Compliance to define and maintain privacy, access, retention, and risk controls

REQUIREMENTS:
* Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Management, MIS, or related field
* 7-10+ years of relevant experience in data governance, data management, analytics engineering, or data quality
* Hands on experience with Atlan and Monte Carlo or comparable platforms is strongly preferred
* Strong SQL + BI background, with experience in integrating catalog/observability data into dashboards
* Deep expertise in metadata, master data, data quality, lineage, and regulatory compliance
* Proven stakeholder leadership with ability to influence senior leaders across business, engineering, Legal, Security, and Compliance
* Excellent communication and ability to simplify complex data concepts

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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