Data Governance Specialist

About the role

The Data Governance Specialist will support the development and implementation of the university’s data governance framework, ensuring data is accurate, consistent, secure, and responsibly used throughout its lifecycle. This role works across academic and administrative units to embed standards, policies, and trustee/steward responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Design and develop the data governance framework, operating model, policies, standards, procedures and controls, and track progress against the roadmap.
• Translate governance principles into practical processes, operational procedures, workflows and controls in collaboration with data trustees, stewards and technical teams.
• Support identification, onboarding and coordination of data trustees and stewards, and facilitate the data steward network.
• Draft data quality rules, conduct profiling, maintain issue registers, and monitor resolution and preventive controls.
• Implement and administer data catalog, business glossary, metadata repository and lineage capabilities.
• Monitor implementation of actions, report governance performance indicators and prepare dashboards for senior management.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in information management, data management, information systems, computer science, analytics or related field; master’s degree desirable.
• At least five years of experience in data governance, data quality, metadata management or related disciplines within a complex organization.
• Proven experience developing and supporting data governance frameworks, standards, policies and trustee/steward roles.
• Strong communication, facilitation and documentation skills, with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Required skills

• Hands‑on experience with data governance and catalog platforms such as Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Informatica or Alation.
• Proficiency in SQL, Microsoft Excel and Power BI for data profiling and analysis.
• Knowledge of data governance principles, data quality, metadata, lineage, master and reference data, and related frameworks (e.g., DAMA DMBOK).
• Understanding of privacy, information security, data classification, retention and UAE regulatory requirements.