A Data Governance Manager is a professional who manages and ensures the quality, integrity, and security of an organization's data assets. They are responsible for developing and implementing data governance frameworks, policies, and procedures to promote data transparency, compliance, and effective data management practices. In this blog post, we will describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Data Governance Managers.

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Main Responsibilities of a Data Governance Manager

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Data Governance Manager:

Advise

Advise on data to be used for reporting.

Analyze

Analyze data audit result trends to recommend new or revise existing audits.

Certify

Certify reports before rolling them to production.

Collaborate with

• Collaborate with cross functional teams.

• Collaborate with data architects to align data governance with data architecture principles.

• Collaborate with IT teams to ensure data governance principles are embedded in system development processes.

• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to address data governance legal and regulatory requirements.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and prioritize data governance requirements.

Communicate

Communicate data governance progress and achievements to executive stakeholders.

Conduct

• Conduct data profiling and data lineage analysis.

• Conduct data proxy governance routines.

• Conduct data risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies.

Coordinate

• Coordinate and respond to data inquiries from audit, MRM, and regulators.

• Coordinate data governance activities with other organizational governance frameworks.

• Coordinate FLU, GRA Users, and technology teams to deliver on GRA Users requirement.

• Coordinate the production of databases, performance reports for senior mgt.

Create

Create and maintain a data governance infrastructure.

Define

• Define and maintain data standards and guidelines.

• Define data use requirements and guide the organization on proper use.

• Define the data to ensure appropriate curation and use of the data.

Design

Design and implement data quality assessment and improvement processes.

Develop

• Develop and deliver data governance training programs and workshops.

• Develop and implement data governance strategies and frameworks.

• Develop and maintain data classification and data lifecycle management policies.

• Develop and manage data governance metrics and performance indicators.

• Develop and own a comprehensive root cause analysis process for exceptions and data integrity issues.

• Develop, coach, mentor and lead team members for sustained individual and team performance.

• Develop data governance roadmaps and long-term strategies.

• Develop expertise and provide leadership for the item data governance tool set.

• Develop, maintain and automate the data audit lifecycle process for customer's real estate tools.

• Develop the skills and capabilities of the team to ensure continued high levels of service.

Direct

Direct data governance cross functional team and IT regarding data governance and data quality tools.

Document

Document training material for onboarding staff members and Item Subject Matter Experts (SME's).

Drive

Drive data governance change management initiatives.

Enable

Enable, mentor and coach colleagues in Data Governance capabilities and technologies.

Ensure

• Ensure compliance and data security.

• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and data protection policies.

• Ensure on-going data quality and monitor / report data incidents.

• Ensure that data quality standards are met as it relates to Item data in Peet's system(s).

Establish

• Establish and enforce data governance policies and procedures.

• Establish data governance communication and awareness programs.

• Establish data ownership and accountability across the organization.

• Establish data quality controls monitoring across key data flows and business processes.

Facilitate

Facilitate data governance committees and working groups.

Follow

Follow, maintain and improve all documentation and procedures for report design and production.

Foster

Foster a data-driven culture within the organization.

Identify

• Identify additional required audits and areas for data integrity improvement.

• Identify and resolve data governance issues and conflicts.

• Identify data quality issues.

Implement

Implement data governance best practices and industry standards.

Initiate

Initiate continuous improvement initiatives to increase quality of data integrity initiatives.

Lead

• Lead in collaboration with business and IT to design and build master item data record in PIM system.

• Lead the operationalization of data governance practices for conceptual data model.

Manage

• Manage and own the data audit intake process for new and existing data streams / sources.

• Manage and report on data defects across consumer products.

• Manage Client stakeholder relationships.

• Manage expectations and build relationships across all levels of the organization.

• Manage teams and / or work efforts at a Client site or within Accenture.

• Manage the needs of stakeholders and the Accenture delivery team to meet agreed scope and timelines.

Metadata

Metadata and reference data governance practices.

Monitor

• Monitor and evaluate data governance initiatives and make recommendations for improvements.

• Monitor and manage data quality using customer feedback, concerns, questions.

Optimize

Optimize workflows and communications.

Oversee

• Oversee the creation of reports, charts and summaries using statistical facts and figures.

• Oversee the implementation of data governance tools and technologies.

Participate in

Participate in data-related projects and initiatives as a subject matter expert.

Perform

• Perform data analysis and generate report prototypes as needed.

• Perform research and discovery to identify upstream data sources that can satisfy business needs.

Promote

Promote data literacy and educate employees on the value of data governance.

Provide

• Provide business requirements to data providers or consumers on a timely basis.

• Provide clear and effective line management for the governance resources.

• Provide guidance and support to data stewards and data custodians.

• Provide leadership for developing and operating data governance decisioning framework.

Set-up

Set-up and facilitate meetings with team of SME's to review item data related work and tasks.

Shape

Shape assets to accelerate sales & delivery.

Sponsor

Sponsor teamwork and encourage collaboration.

Stay

Stay updated with emerging trends and developments in data governance practices.

Supervise

Supervise and develop a team of data analysts.

Support

• Support Data Governance Consulting Activities.

• Support or manage wider governance initiatives or projects, as required.

Understand

• Understand and support the vision, mission and aims of the company.

• Understand liquidity data lineage end-to-end.

Work with

• Work with data owner / stewards.

• Work with domain / business stakeholders to resolve identified data integrity issues.

• Work with Client teams to explain data trends and anomalies.

• Work with other stakeholders to remediate issues.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Data Governance Manager:

1. Proficiency in data governance frameworks and methodologies.

2. Knowledge of data management principles and practices.

3. Familiarity with data quality assessment and improvement techniques.

4. Experience with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and data protection strategies.

5. Understanding of data architecture and data modeling concepts.

6. Expertise in data profiling and data lineage analysis tools.

7. Knowledge of data classification and data lifecycle management practices.

8. Proficiency in data governance tools and technologies (e.g., Collibra, Informatica).

9. Understanding of metadata management and data cataloging.

10. Experience with data governance metrics and performance measurement.

11. Familiarity with data integration and data migration strategies.

12. Knowledge of master data management (MDM) principles and practices.

13. Proficiency in data security and access control mechanisms.

14. Understanding of data governance in cloud environments.

15. Knowledge of data analytics and business intelligence concepts.

16. Experience with data governance in specific industries (e.g., healthcare, finance).

17. Familiarity with data governance in big data and machine learning environments.

18. Proficiency in data visualization and reporting tools.

19. Knowledge of data-related technologies such as SQL, Hadoop, and NoSQL databases.

20. Understanding of data governance in the context of enterprise architecture.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Data Governance Manager:

1. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.

2. Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.

3. Effective leadership and project management skills.

4. Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills.

5. Ability to influence and drive change within an organization.

6. Attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy.

7. Adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced and evolving data landscape.

8. Excellent organizational and time management skills.

9. Strong presentation and data storytelling capabilities.

10. Ability to educate and train individuals with varying levels of data literacy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a Data Governance Manager plays a vital role in ensuring the effective management and governance of an organization's data assets. They possess a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of data governance principles. By fulfilling their responsibilities and possessing the required hard and soft skills, Data Governance Managers contribute to maintaining data integrity, promoting data transparency, and enabling organizations to derive value from their data assets.