Data Governance Architect

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Data Governance Architect with 10+ years of experience in data governance, data product strategy, and enterprise data management. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with Alation , business glossaries, data lineage, data definitions, data contracts, and Gold-layer data assets.

This role will act as the bridge between business stakeholders and engineering teams, ensuring consistent data meaning, quality, governance, and business value across enterprise data products.

Key Responsibilities

• Own domain-level data definitions, business rules, and semantic accuracy across Gold-layer data assets.
• Serve as the authoritative point of contact between business stakeholders and engineering teams regarding data meaning, usage, and governance.
• Define and maintain data contracts, SLAs, and certified dataset criteria .
• Establish standards for promoting data assets across Medallion Architecture layers , including Gold and Platinum.
• Partner with catalog and data governance teams to establish data certification and governance standards.
• Use Alation to maintain business glossaries, data definitions, metadata, and data lineage documentation.
• Drive enterprise data product strategy , including business value, adoption, and platform direction.
• Lead C-level and executive discussions around data governance, data products, and strategic data initiatives.
• Create and deliver executive-ready presentations and communicate complex data concepts to senior stakeholders.
• Collaborate with data engineering, architecture, analytics, and business teams to ensure governed and trusted data products.
• Define governance frameworks and standards that improve data quality, discoverability, and usability.
• Support data governance policies, operating models, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Skills

• Data Governance
• Alation
• Data Product Strategy
• Data Catalog & Metadata Management
• Business Glossary
• Data Lineage
• Data Definitions & Business Rules
• Data Contracts & SLAs
• Data Quality & Certification
• Medallion Architecture / Gold Layer
• Executive Stakeholder Management
• Strong Communication & Presentation Skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with enterprise data governance platforms, particularly Alation .
• Experience defining and managing enterprise data products.
• Experience working directly with C-level executives and senior business stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of modern data platforms and data architecture.
• Experience establishing governance standards for certified and trusted datasets.

Key Soft Skills

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong executive presence.
• Ability to translate business requirements into data governance strategies.
• Strong stakeholder management and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work hands-on and independently.