Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Data Governance Lead will take the responsibility to establish and oversee comprehensive data governance frameworks that ensure the integrity, security, and accessibility of university data assets. This strategic role is critical to our mission of providing trusted insights by implementing policies, procedures, and standards that govern data throughout its lifecycle. Data Governance Lead will work closely with stakeholders across the university to establish data stewardship programs, ensure regulatory compliance, and build a culture of data responsibility that supports our real-time analytics, AI models, and dashboard services etc. This role offers the opportunity to advance MBZUAI development, drive innovation, and ensure scalability as we grow.
Key Responsibilities:
Data Governance Strategy & Framework Development:
- Develop and implement a university-wide data governance strategy aligned with institutional objectives and organizational mission.
- Establish comprehensive data governance frameworks, policies, and procedures that ensure data quality, security, and compliance.
- Create data governance operating models that define roles, responsibilities, and accountability across the university.
- Design and implement data classification schemes and sensitivity levels appropriate for academic and research environments.
- Develop data retention, archival, and disposal policies that balance operational needs with regulatory requirements.
Data Stewardship Program Leadership:
- Establish and lead a well-organized network of data stewards across academic and administrative departments.
- Create clear data ownership models that define accountability for data quality and management.
- Facilitate and maintain regular data stewardship meetings and governance committee activities.
- Provide continuous support and guidance to data stewards to fully take governance responsibilities.
Regulatory Compliance & Privacy Management:
- Ensure university-wide compliance with FERPA, GDPR, HIPAA, and other relevant data privacy regulations.
- Develop and maintain privacy impact assessment processes for new systems and data initiatives.
- Create and implement data breach response procedures and incident management protocols.
- Establish consent management frameworks for research data and student information etc.
- Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to interpret and implement evolving regulatory requirements.
Data Quality & Standards Management:
- Develop and implement data quality standards, metrics, and monitoring procedures.
- Establish master data management processes for critical university entities (students, faculty, courses, research projects).
- Create data validation rules and automated quality checks across university systems.
- Design and implement data profiling and quality assessment programs.
- Develop remediation processes for data quality issues and inconsistencies.
Policy Development & Communication:
- Draft, review, and maintain data governance policies, standards, and procedures.
- Create communication strategies to promote data governance awareness across the university.
- Develop training materials and conduct workshops on data governance best practices.
- Establish governance documentation repositories and knowledge management systems.
- Communicate governance requirements and updates to stakeholders at all levels.
Technology Governance & Integration:
- Collaborate with IT teams to implement technical controls that enforce governance policies.
- Evaluate and recommend data governance tools and technologies.
- Establish data lineage and metadata management programs that support transparency and accountability.
- Work with the Principal Data Architect to ensure governance requirements are embedded in data architecture.
- Oversee implementation of access controls and data security measures.
Risk Management & Audit Support:
- Conduct regular data governance risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
- Establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms for governance compliance.
- Support internal and external audits related to data management and privacy.
- Develop key performance indicators and metrics for data governance effectiveness.
- Create incident response procedures for governance violations and data security breaches.
Other Duties:
- Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Academic Qualification:
- Master’s degree in Information Management, Data Science, Public Administration, or related field.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- Minimum 7-10 years of experience in data governance, data management, or information governance roles.
- At least 3-5 years of leadership experience managing governance programs or cross-functional teams.
- Proven track record of successful data governance program implementation.
- Data Governance Frameworks: Deep understanding of DAMA-DMBOK, COBIT, or similar governance frameworks.
- Regulatory Compliance: Extensive knowledge of FERPA, GDPR, HIPAA, and other data privacy regulations.
- Data Management: Strong understanding of data architecture, data quality, and master data management principles.
- Technology Proficiency: Familiarity with data governance tools and metadata management systems.
- Leadership & Communication Skill:
- Exceptional leadership abilities with experience influencing and driving change across complex organizations.
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to explain governance concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to build consensus and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Strong presentation skills for executive-level reporting and university-wide communications.
- Language: Strong English proficiency at both technical and business parts, with fluency in additional languages as a plus.
Preferred
- Master’s degree in related fields.
- Certified Information Governance Professional (IGP) or similar governance certification.
- Experience in using Higher Education Reference Models (HERMs) and academic data standards in higher education or research institutions.
- Knowledge of research data management and compliance requirements.
- Familiarity with AI/ML governance and ethical AI frameworks.
- Experience with agile project management methodologies.
- Background in legal, compliance, or audit functions.
- Understanding of academic accreditation and institutional effectiveness requirements.
