Data Governance & Management Lead

Summary Overview

The Principal Data Governance & Management lead will play a crucial, senior-level role in defining, implementing, and enforcing the data governance framework and data privacy accountability framework across Palmetto.. This position requires a blend of deep technical understanding, strong analytical skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. The lead will be responsible for ensuring data quality, compliance, and effective data lifecycle management to support strategic decision-making and operational excellence.  As the DGM lead, you will collaborate with the Data & AI Office to elicit and analyze data privacy and management requirements to help build a first-class data governance and management practice. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and champion the enterprise data governance framework, policies, standards, and procedures in collaboration with executive leadership, Data & AI, Cybersecurity, and IT.
• Design end-to-end data governance and data management solutions that aligns with enterprise standard and regulatory expectations.
• Act as focal data steward and drive the implementation of data governance tooling and platforms (e.g., data catalogs, quality monitoring systems).
• Drive Data Loss Prevention (DLP) strategy and lead the implementation of DLP tooling
• Define and track key metrics (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and maturity of the data governance program
• Participate and contribute to AI, Information Risk Council (IRC) and IT Governance Council (ITGC) councils.
• Ensure compliance with global and regional data-related regulations (GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, etc) and internal policies.
• Partner with Legal, Core Systems, Engineering, and Cybersecurity teams to assess data risks and establish appropriate controls for data access, usage, and retention.
• Conduct regular audits of data governance compliance and report findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and manage the data retention and archival policies in line with regulatory requirements
• Develop and deliver training and awareness programs on data governance and privacy policies, roles, and responsibilities.

 

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in data management, data quality, business intelligence, or a related field, with at least 5 years focused specifically on data governance and policy implementation.
• Proven experience implementing and managing an enterprise data governance program.

Technical Skills

• Expert-level knowledge of data governance principles, data quality management, metadata management, and data lineage.
• Strong proficiency with data governance and DLP tools (TrustArc, Collibra, Alation, etc.).
• Knowledge of database technologies (SQL, NoSQL) and data warehousing concepts.
• Knowledge of cloud environments and data platform architectures (preferably AWS, GCP, Snowflake).
• Working knowledge of relevant data privacy and security regulations (specifically GDPR, CCPA).
• Experience with Agile methodologies.

Soft Skills

• Exceptional listener with strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex data governance concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and drive consensus among diverse stakeholder groups (IT, Business, Legal).
• Proven ability to lead projects, manage priorities, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience in a heavily regulated industry (e.g., Finance, Utilities, Energy).