Data Manager (m/f/d)

Job Description

The Data Manager is responsible for overseeing the collection, management, and analysis of organizational data to ensure accuracy, consistency, and security. This role bridges technical data management and business strategy — ensuring that data assets are properly maintained, integrated, and leveraged to drive insights and informed decision-making. The Data Manager collaborates closely with IT, finance, operations, and analytics teams to implement data governance standards, maintain data pipelines, and support strategic reporting initiatives.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Data Governance & Quality

• Establish and maintain data management policies, standards, and procedures.
• Ensure data accuracy, completeness, and consistency across systems.
• Implement and monitor data quality frameworks, validation rules, and audits.
• Define and maintain metadata and data dictionaries.

Data Integration & Infrastructure

• Oversee ETL/ELT processes between internal and external data sources.
• Manage data pipelines and data warehouses.
• Collaborate with IT to ensure data infrastructure supports analytics and scalability needs.
• Optimize data storage and retrieval performance.

Reporting & Analytics Enablement

• Support business intelligence teams in developing dashboards and performance reports.
• Partner with finance, operations, and commercial teams to align on reporting requirements.
• Ensure consistent data definitions and metrics across reporting tools.
• Facilitate data-driven decision-making across departments.

Data Security & Compliance

• Maintain compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, POPIA, or other local data laws).
• Manage user access controls and data privacy policies.
• Coordinate with IT security teams on data breach prevention and response.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a small data management or data analyst team.
• Act as the primary liaison between business users and technical teams.
• Drive a data-first culture through training and awareness initiatives.

YOUR EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in data management, analytics, or database administration.
• Strong SQL skills and experience with ETL/ELT tools (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Talend, Airflow, Prefect, Fivetran).
• Experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker.
• Familiarity with cloud data platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP).
• Understanding of data governance frameworks and master data management principles

Preferred

• Experience with financial or operational data systems (e.g., SAP, Xero, or ERP data).
• Knowledge of Python, R, or other data scripting languages.
• Project management or stakeholder management experience.

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate data insights into business actions.
• Leadership and team development skills.

Performance Indicators

• Data quality improvement (accuracy, completeness, timeliness).
• Reduction in data discrepancies or reporting errors.
• Timely delivery of data-driven insights and reports.
• Compliance with data governance and security standards.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and engagement with data systems.