Program Manager, Data Governance and Stewardship

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Program Manager, Data Governance and Stewardship based in the United States. This role will lead the development and ongoing evolution of data governance and stewardship practices across a complex, data-intensive organization. You will establish practical frameworks, policies, standards, controls, and accountability models that promote trustworthy and responsible data use. The position works closely with Data Strategy, Technology, Security, Legal, Compliance, and business stakeholders to strengthen data quality and governance. You will help improve data lineage, metadata, documentation, lifecycle management, and stewardship across critical data assets. The role also supports privacy, security, regulatory, client, analytics, automation, and AI-related data requirements. Success requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with the ability to influence stakeholders across functions. This is an opportunity to shape scalable data practices while promoting data literacy, accountability, and continuous improvement. Develop, document, maintain, and continuously improve data governance policies, standards, procedures, controls, and operating practices covering data collection, classification, storage, access, use, retention, and retirement. Establish clear data ownership, stewardship, accountability, decision rights, and quality responsibilities across business and functional teams. Partner with data owners, stewards, technical teams, and business stakeholders to implement governance standards, resolve data issues, and promote consistent adoption. Define data quality standards, rules, monitoring mechanisms, and remediation processes for critical data assets, while identifying root causes of errors, gaps, and inconsistencies. Maintain data lineage, catalogs, business glossaries, metadata, and supporting documentation to improve data traceability, understanding, accessibility, and lifecycle governance. Monitor adherence to data governance and quality standards, develop metrics and reporting, and communicate risks, findings, and remediation requirements to relevant stakeholders. Partner with Security, Legal, Compliance, Technology, Analytics, and AI teams to translate privacy, security, regulatory, contractual, and client requirements into practical governance controls. Support responsible data use across analytics, automation, machine learning, and AI applications by ensuring appropriate governance, privacy, security, quality, and documentation practices. Serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert on data governance, stewardship, data quality, and lifecycle management. Promote data literacy through clear guidance, documentation, training, and stakeholder engagement. Continuously refine governance practices as regulations, client expectations, business priorities, and technology evolve. Foster a collaborative, respectful, and solution-oriented environment while managing multiple priorities and maintaining strong follow-through. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Data Management, Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience. 5–8 years of professional experience in data governance, data stewardship, data management, data quality, or a closely related discipline. Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or maintaining data governance frameworks, policies, standards, controls, and stewardship programs. Experience establishing practices related to data quality, classification, access, retention, privacy, security, and data lifecycle management. Working knowledge of data privacy, regulatory, security, and compliance requirements, particularly within regulated or data-intensive environments. Experience with data catalogs, metadata management, data lineage, data quality tools, business glossaries, o