Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Data Steward
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A data steward is a professional who is responsible for managing, maintaining, and governing an organization's data assets. They develop and monitor data management policies and procedures, develop data governance processes, and validate data quality and integrity. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Data Stewards.
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Main Responsibilities of Data Steward
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Data Steward:
Address
Address, troubleshoot and escalate bottleneck situations.
Adhere to
Adhere to highest standards of ethics and integrity.
Align
Align action plan with agreed priorities and expectations based on business demand.
Align on action plans with clear accountability (RACI).
Analyze
Analyze data quality for specific teams and across the organization, reporting on findings.
Apply
Apply newly-verified data elements to database records in a software system.
Assess
Assess general data quality and identifies data issues.
Assist
Assist and accelerate data transformation within the strategic data projects.
Assist the team and other stakeholders with complex data issues.
Build
Build and foster effective external relationships and influence strategic direction.
Build cross functional relations internally and externally to drive data centricity.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with Data Owners to identify Key Data Elements using a SIPOC approach.
Collaborate with internal and external partners in data provisioning and governance strategies.
Collaborate with the Master Data Expert for implementation.
Collect
Collect, document and maintain technical, business and compliance metadata.
Communicate
Communicate with confidence and negotiates skillfully with internal and external groups.
Complete
Complete metadata and data quality tasks.
Complete the matching of Merit and SAP product master data.
Conduct
Conduct internal and external research projects.
Contribute to
Contribute to foster a data-driven culture into the Group.
Contribute to the Data Academy program dedicated to training, best practices and tips and tricks.
Contribute to the development of overall Data Management roadmap.
Control
Control and management of data access requests.
Coordinate
Coordinate with internal partners to design and implement client hierarchies.
Create
Create a climate in which team members strive to excel.
Create common vocabularies and cross-reference rules to map features across multiple data sources.
Create data quality transformations that repair defects in data.
Create processes along with access controls to monitor adherence.
Create project initiatives including onboarding new applications within Access Manager.
Create reporting around data governance progress for key stakeholders and management.
Create strategic capability roadmaps and execution plans.
Define
Define, build and maintain Master Data Management (MDM) approach.
Define data policy in alignment with business and QA.
Define Data Standards and business rules to ensure adherence.
Define strategic technical solutions with business and technology partners.
Define success in terms of the whole team.
Deliver
Deliver thought leadership for responses and compliance with same.
Detect
Detect redundant client data in CRM and data provider data.
Determine
Determine data criticality in the context of identified business processes.
Develop
Develop a deep understanding of the Enterprise Data Governance program and policies.
Develop and follow governance processes and work-flows to ensure data integrity, quality and recency.
Develop and manage business relationships with leaders across the organization.
Develop business requirements by researching / analyzing and documenting business data requirements.
Develop capacity forecasts based on utilization of the database environment, including storage.
Develop, facilitate and deliver training on implemented processes and procedures.
Develop front-end dashboards that meet financial reporting or analytic requirements of actuaries.
Develop global / enterprise focused data definitions, business rules and standards for Master Data.
Develop manual data extraction methods from key operational sources.
Develop, monitor and enforce data management policies, procedures, and standards.
Develop standardized reporting and performs customized analyses to inform business decisions.
Develop strategies to ensure continued data quality.
Drive
Drive for optimization / excellence.
Drive innovative approaches in making process more effective , efficient and engaging.
Drive Master Data initiatives and projects.
Drive master data initiatives and projects with functional business.
Drive business to deliver data stewardship / customer facing reporting services across the region.
Drive the development and evolution of data quality monitoring and reporting capabilities.
Educate
Educate users on master data processes and business rules.
Encourage
Encourage participation and involvement by all team members.
Engage
Engage in continuous personal growth and knowledge gathering.
Engage with business stakeholders to ensure ongoing evolution and maintenance of data quality rules.
Ensure
Ensure accuracy and quality of data.
Ensure all colleagues and contractors are Pfizer compliant.
Ensure data is compliant with defined standards, policies and quality requirements.
Ensure global master data integrity and quality across processes and business groups.
Ensure high quality standards are applied to the data sets accurately.
Ensure quality of master data through documentation, metrics, and ongoing maintenance.
Ensure seamless flow & consumption of master data across various systems and functions.
Ensure strong ongoing communication of CRUD process status and issues to key sponsors & leaders.
Ensure sufficient data quality is maintained so the data can effectively support the business.
Ensure that information meets customer needs.
Ensure that requests are approved.
Establish
Establish and maintain robust data profiling and reconciliation processes to ensure data usage.
Establish a strong culture of commitment and ownership within the team.
Establish metrics to monitor and identify areas for continuous improvement in the Master Data Hub.
Establish reporting to demonstrate effectiveness of program activities.
Execute
Execute data management operational and data quality controls throughout the data lifecycle.
Execute on remediation activities to close gaps or findings.
Execute on TDI Data Strategy and deliverables in alignment with Data Policy, Standards and Strategy.
Facilitate
Facilitate the documentation and approval of data quality guidelines and targets.
Facilitate the HCP / patient data stewardship for Pfizer commercial organization.
Focus on
Focus on accuracy and quality of work.
Forecast
Forecast and plan resource requirements for projects across Data Stewardship.
Foster
Foster a data-oriented culture.
Foster collaboration and cultivate innovation.
Foster Collaboration and Teamwork.
Gain
Gain trust and support of peers and encourages collaboration.
Help
Help develop business cases, manage project to time and cost objectives.
Help with data navigation & promotes stewardship.
Hold
Hold team / project members accountable for their work.
Identify
Identify and monitor risks effectively to manage risks within the team.
Identify data-related risks and monitor effectively to mitigate them.
Identify needs for innovation or operational support.
Identify and manage risks, raising issues as necessary.
Identify and monitor the quality of critical data elements.
Identify opportunities for improvement and incorporate it into the data strategy.
Identify, publish, monitor, and authorize trusted data sources with support from the Data Owner.
Identify the appropriate clinical data sources (internal and external).
Improve
Improve data accuracy to optimize business outcomes.
Improve quality, consistency, and compliance across BUs and countries.
Influence
Influence the development of said data policy.
Interpret
Interpret requests and determine appropriate course of action.
Investigate
Investigate data anomalies and discrepancies.
Investigate data quality case management and root cause analysis.
Keep abreast of
Keep abreast of global personal data and privacy legislation (proposed and effective).
Lead
Lead a team of Data Stewards, providing guidance and mentoring.
Lead data initiatives and analysis, building cross-team relationships.
Lead global and regional SFA projects.
Lead, motivate and build positive working relationships with internal and external partners.
Lead Segment Data Council meetings to manage and resolve data issues.
Lead the delivery of robust, standardized customer data for all commercial solutions.
Lead with Integrity and Respect.
Leverage
Leverage data analytics to identify critical data elements and data quality opportunities.
Leverage new technology to improve team and business performance.
Leverage relevant quantitative and qualitative information to improve processes.
Listen
Listen and resolve issues quickly or escalate them to others if necessary.
Maintain
Maintain and routinely report on KPIs to measure adoption and implementation.
Maintain consistency with enterprise data governance strategies.
Maintain detailed and up to date process documents for your area of knowledge.
Maintain focus of continuous improvement for existing data.
Manage
Manage data quality to effectively provide business decision support.
Manage data work activities requiring coordination across multiple areas.
Manage demand while adhering to service level agreements.
Manage his / her budget to ensure service delivery commitment and financial expectations are met.
Manage multiple priorities given aggressive timelines.
Manage relationships with senior stakeholders (Sr. director and above) across the organization.
Manage risk and regulatory compliance effectively, and.
Manage the support inbox for questions to the team.
Meet
Meet and maintain daily performance goals for speed and accuracy.
Mentor
Mentor and help direct junior Data Stewards and teammates.
Monitor
Monitor and enforce adherence to data management policies and procedures.
Monitor data, analyze reports and tracks specific activity to ensure records are synchronized.
Offer
Offer, evaluate and implement recommendations to enhance workflow and increase efficiency.
Oversee
Oversee the implementation of rules for data capture / creation / change / deletion.
Own
Own training for applications and data capabilities.
Perform
Perform ad-hoc analysis and financial reporting, as required.
Perform Change Control process which includes.
Perform data profiling using TD tooling and ad hoc system query languages to validate data analysis.
Perform other activities and special projects as directed by work stream Information Steward.
Perform system searches for data accuracy to identify duplicate requests.
Profile
Profile data to identify gaps / problems and recommend viable options to resolve.
Propose
Propose policy changes and / or new policies to the Data Governance Council.
Protect
Protect the interests of the organization.
Provide
Provide guidance to and / or may lead / co-lead moderately complex projects.
Provide insight into how and where teams can use data to help in day-to-day decision-making.
Provide quality rating management through data profiling and data lineage.
Provide specialized data governance / management advice and support to teams, management, leadership.
Provide stewardship of incoming data supporting Global data initiatives.
Provide strategy, oversight, and evaluation of Sales Force Automation.
Provide thought leadership and align the work of the team to the overall strategy of Data Governance.
Publish
Publish quarterly actuarial financial reporting dashboards using QlikView Management Console.
Recommend
Recommend process improvements to enhance overall data quality.
Research
Research and determine firm classifications according to predefined process.
Research and validate company info.
Research the Internet in the healthcare domain.
Review
Review and analyze reports of master data to ensure timely receipt of updates.
Serve
Serve as the first point of contact for data sets for commercial applications.
Set
Set data standards and guidelines.
Share
Share best practices in data use.
Solicit
Solicit field input via focus groups or other feedback mechanisms, where applicable.
Streamline
Streamline and scale systems across markets and BUs with central support.
Support
Support and maintain documentation of data dictionary, process, business rules and standards.
Support assessment and audit activities.
Support Day-to-Day Data Stewardship Operations.
Support manual data insertion processes into internal database environments.
Support organization's data governance objectives.
Support the Data Owners in collecting, documenting and maintaining data lineage.
Support the Data Owner with the validation of data entered in information systems, as needed.
Support the implementation of processes to maintain high quality data assets.
Support the Master Data Management tool and principles adoption.
Train
Train process participants in data definition, data remediation and CRUD processes.
Train data stewards and creates effective stewardship processes.
Understand
Understand financial instruments and the front-to-back lifecycle process.
Understand, remediate and implement changes in various forums on behalf of LOB.
Understand the role and responsibilities and continuously works to bring improvement and innovation.
Understand the root cause and recommend corrective measures.
Understand trends, identify issues and opportunities and recommend action to management.
Use
Use sound decision making capabilities including problem solving approaches, decision frameworks.
Validate
Validate data quality, integrity, accuracy and consistency.
Work with
Work efficiently in a team setting.
Work in a safe manner collaborating as a team member to achieve all outcomes.
Work in a typical bank setting.
Work with internal and external clients to define business need for standard CORE offerings.
Work with internal team members to determine mapping between client data sets.
Work with user groups as necessary to drive improvements to data quality, processes and procedures.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Data Steward:
Data Quality
Business
Cataloging
Approval
DGC
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Data Steward:
Written and oral communication skills
Analytical ability
Problem-solving attitude
Attention to detail
Interpersonal skills
Collaborative
Leadership
Decision-making
Flexible
Organizational capacity
Presentation
Work independently with little direction
Conceptual
Creative
Accuracy focus
Facilitate and resolve conflicts
Function in a high volume setting with tight deadlines
Multi-task
Organizational awareness
Team player