Director of Data Strategy and Governance

A global enterprise is seeking a director of data strategy and governance to join its data and analytics organization within information technology. This role focuses on defining and advancing the enterprise data operating model and ensuring that architectural standards, execution frameworks, and governance practices enable scalable business value.

The director is responsible for translating enterprise data and analytics strategy into actionable technical governance, portfolio oversight, and architectural alignment. This position partners closely with cross‑functional governance bodies and business enablement teams to operationalize policies, risk requirements, and regulatory expectations through clear technical standards and execution guardrails.

In addition, the director leads a strategy and governance team and provides oversight across data engineering, applied artificial intelligence, and product stakeholders to ensure alignment, transparency, and value realization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing evolution of the data and analytics operating model, including execution standards, architectural guardrails, maturity roadmaps, and governance processes.
• Oversee data and analytics platform governance, including intake, prioritization, architecture alignment, technical fit, reuse, security alignment, and value realization.
• Partner with enterprise governance groups to translate policies, risk requirements, and regulatory expectations into actionable technical, architectural, and implementation standards.
• Manage the data and analytics portfolio with a focus on cross‑functional alignment, transparent delivery tracking, budget adherence, and prioritization based on business value.
• Drive cloud cost optimization, consumption transparency, unit economics, and oversight of vendors and contracts.
• Establish and maintain governance artifacts such as reference architectures, reusable design patterns, development standards, application programming interface and integration guidelines, and responsible artificial intelligence enablement practices.
• Provide leadership, performance management, and career development for the strategy and governance team.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable team culture that supports enterprise objectives and consistent execution.
• Perform additional duties aligned with data strategy and governance leadership as needed.

Required experience and skills

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, information systems, engineering, data management, or a related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• Ten or more years of experience in data strategy, enterprise architecture, technology governance, program governance, or analytics leadership.
• Demonstrated success leading technical governance frameworks, execution models, or architecture‑driven programs in large, global, or matrixed organizations.
• Experience working with or supporting enterprise governance bodies such as information security, legal, risk, data governance, or artificial intelligence governance groups.

Technical and professional skills

• Strong understanding of enterprise data architecture, platform governance, data lifecycle management, solution architecture patterns, and technical delivery practices.
• Familiarity with responsible artificial intelligence from a technical enablement perspective, including development standards, safety controls, observability, and engineering guardrails.
• Strong financial acumen, including cloud economics, financial operations, return on investment and net present value analysis, and vendor contract management.
• Proven ability to influence senior technology and business leaders and drive alignment across complex stakeholder groups.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10 to 20 percent.

Leadership and execution

• Strong organizational, planning, and project management skills with the ability to prioritize work for both individual contributors and teams.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with a track record of motivating teams and driving measurable outcomes.

FAQ

1. What are the core responsibilities of a Director of Data Strategy and Governance?
This role defines and leads the organization’s data strategy while establishing governance frameworks to ensure data quality, security, and compliance. It includes setting policies, standards, and processes for how data is managed and used across the enterprise. The director also aligns data initiatives with business goals to drive value and decision-making.

2. What does data governance involve in this position?
Data governance includes defining data ownership, stewardship, and accountability across teams. It also involves implementing policies for data quality, access control, privacy, and lifecycle management. The goal is to ensure data is accurate, secure, and consistently used.

3. How does this role collaborate with business and technical teams?
The director works with business leaders, data engineers, analysts, and compliance teams to align data practices with organizational needs. Collaboration ensures governance frameworks are practical and adopted across departments. Clear communication is key to driving alignment and accountability.

4. What tools and frameworks are commonly used in this role?
Tools may include data catalog platforms, metadata management systems, and governance tools. Frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK or industry-specific standards may guide governance practices. Data quality and lineage tools are also commonly used.

5. How is success measured in this role?
Success is measured by improvements in data quality, compliance, and accessibility. Metrics may include reduced data errors, increased data usage, and adherence to governance policies. Enabling better decision-making through trusted data is a key outcome.