Director of Data Governance

Iowa State University - Ames, IA

Full-time - Director

Remote - Ames, IA

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Data Governance at Iowa State University Foundation will play a pivotal role in shaping the vision and execution of data management strategies. This position is essential for the agile evolution of policies, procedures, and infrastructure necessary for optimal data governance within the foundation. The director will collaborate closely with business and technology leaders to establish robust data governance frameworks, implement data quality controls, and ensure that data is complete, accurate, and readily accessible to various business units. Key responsibilities include the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive data governance system that treats information as a vital enterprise asset. This involves developing policies to manage risks associated with data, supporting the acquisition of new data, integrating it with existing data points, and ensuring the quality and security of data. The director will also support the development of a data governance committee and its ongoing activities to advance its objectives. Additionally, the director will be responsible for developing a roadmap that addresses business data needs and overseeing the management of operational data assets necessary for reporting and advanced analytics. Collaboration with external partners will be crucial to develop infrastructure that facilitates easier access to data housed within their systems. The director will also be tasked with recommending solutions to keep pace with current trends, technologies, and best practices in data analytics and the industry at large. The role requires the development and implementation of a data inventory that catalogs current systems and data, prioritizing the needs of critical data. Furthermore, the director will assist in creating a business plan and budget for each fiscal year, monitoring progress on a quarterly basis to ensure that goals and budgetary constraints are met.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a data governance system that manages information as an enterprise asset.
• Develop policies to manage risks associated with data.
• Support the acquisition of new data and integration with existing data points.
• Ensure data quality and required security.
• Support data governance committee development and ongoing activities.
• Develop a roadmap for business data needs and oversee the management of operational data assets.
• Collaborate with external partners to develop infrastructure for easier access to data.
• Recommend solutions to stay abreast of current trends, technologies, and best practices in data analytics.
• Develop and implement a data inventory of current systems and data, prioritizing critical data needs.
• Assist in creating a business plan and budget each fiscal year and monitor quarterly progress.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or related field.
• 4 years of professional experience related to employment area, preferably in a data governance or data management role.
• Deep understanding of data governance programs and processes.
• Experience working across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
• Demonstrated strengths in master data management concepts (MDM).
• Experience with data management software.
• Familiarity with SQL or similar query languages.
• Strong project management and planning skills and experience.
• Well-developed decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze long-term projects and make decisions based on findings.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience working with AI technology in the big data space is preferred.
• Willingness to take initiative, be results-oriented, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Experience using Agile methodologies in project management is preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience working with AI technology in the big data space is preferred.
• Experience using Agile methodologies in project management is preferred.

Benefits

• Telecommuting is allowed.
• Potential for hybrid or full-time remote work.