Senior Data Governance Officer

General Information

• Location: Discussable
• Start date: 1st of june
• Duration: 12 months, extension possible
• Hours per week: 40
• ZZP: Yes

Job Mission

As a Senior Data Governance Officer, you will take ownership of designing, implementing, and operationalizing enterprise-wide data governance frameworks in a complex, globally distributed environment. You will ensure that data is managed securely, ethically, and in full compliance with international regulations, while enabling the organization to become truly data-driven.

You will act as the central authority on data governance, bridging strategy, compliance, and execution. This role requires a strong combination of policy design, stakeholder alignment, and practical implementation, ensuring that governance principles are embedded into daily operations, data platforms, and decision-making processes.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, and controls
• Develop and execute governance roadmaps with clear milestones, KPIs, and measurable outcomes
• Define and maintain governance policies covering data classification, ownership, stewardship, quality, access, and lifecycle management
• Establish data governance structures, including roles such as Data Owners, Data Stewards, and Data Custodians
• Develop and manage RACI models and governance operating models across business and IT domains
• Define and enforce data classification and sensitivity labeling strategies across the organization
• Ensure compliance with global data protection regulations such as GDPR and other relevant frameworks
• Support privacy-by-design principles and contribute to Data Protection Impact Assessments
• Define and monitor data quality standards, metrics, and continuous improvement processes
• Implement and manage enterprise data cataloging and metadata management using tools such as Microsoft Purview
• Develop governance processes for data access, sharing, retention, and deletion
• Collaborate with security and compliance teams to enforce data security and privacy controls
• Lead stakeholder communication, training, and adoption of data governance practices
• Establish governance forums and decision-making bodies such as data governance councils 

Education and Experience

Must Have

• 5+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or data compliance roles
• Proven experience designing and implementing data governance frameworks in enterprise environments
• Strong understanding of data governance principles, policies, and best practices
• Experience with data privacy regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, or similar frameworks
• Experience in stakeholder management across business, IT, and leadership levels
• Strong understanding of data classification, sensitivity labeling, and access control concepts
• Experience with data quality frameworks, metrics, and monitoring processes
• Familiarity with data cataloging and governance tools such as Microsoft Purview
• Experience working in regulated or complex data environments
• Ability to translate governance strategy into operational processes and controls

Nice to Have

• Certifications in data governance, data management, or compliance
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric governance capabilities
• Experience in multinational or global organizations
• Experience in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, or public sector
• Experience in training, coaching, and driving adoption of governance practices
• Experience in project or program management
• Understanding of data mesh or decentralized governance models
• Experience with data protection frameworks for sensitive or high-risk data domains

Skills

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across all organizational levels
• Excellent communication skills, translating complex governance concepts into practical guidance
• Strategic thinking with the ability to align governance with business objectives
• Strong problem-solving capabilities in complex and regulated environments
• High level of ownership and accountability in policy development and implementation
• Attention to detail in governance frameworks, compliance, and documentation
• Ability to design and implement scalable and repeatable governance processes
• Strong collaboration skills across data, IT, security, and business teams
• Change management capabilities to drive adoption of governance practices
• Continuous learning mindset, staying up to date with data, AI, and regulatory developments
• Experience working in Agile or iterative environments

Tech Stack

• Microsoft Purview
• Microsoft Fabric
• Power BI
• Azure Data Services
• Data Catalog & Metadata Management tools
• Data Classification & Sensitivity Labeling tools
• Data Quality Monitoring tools
• Microsoft Entra ID
• Data Security & Compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA)