program manager (Data governance &MDM)

ONLY APPLY IF HAVING RELEAVENT EXPERIENCE

Position: Program Manager – Data Governance and MDM Program

Location: UAE (Dubai) / India

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reporting To: Director of Data Governance

About the Role:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Manager to lead and oversee the Data Governance Program for a large banking organization. This individual will be responsible for ensuring the successful execution of data governance initiatives, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, promoting data quality, and fostering a culture of data stewardship across the organization. As a strategic thinker with exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills, the Program Manager will align cross-functional teams to drive the adoption of governance frameworks and enable the success of this program.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Data Governance strategy aligned with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Act as a liaison between senior leadership, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to ensure program alignment and success.
• Drive organizational change to establish a culture of data governance and stewardship.
• Focus on program risk identification, timely reporting, and devising action to address risks.
• Conduct cost-benefit analysis and provide justification for investments in data governance initiatives.

Planning and Project Management:

• Oversee project planning, scheduling, and tracking, ensuring that resources are allocated appropriately.
• Prioritize work and plan resources in line with the program’s objectives.
• Identify, report, and mitigate risks throughout the program lifecycle.
• Ensure timely status reporting to key stakeholders.

Governance Framework Implementation:

• Establish and manage a robust Data Governance framework, including policies, standards, roles, and responsibilities.
• Implement data cataloging, metadata management, and data lineage tools to enhance data visibility and accessibility.
• Oversee the creation of workflows and processes to ensure adherence to governance policies.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Report to CXO-level executives with regular program status updates, risk management, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with business units, IT teams, and compliance officers to identify governance priorities and resolve data-related challenges.
• Facilitate Data Governance Council meetings, ensuring effective decision-making.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for auditors regarding data governance-related queries.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure adherence to industry regulations and banking-specific compliance requirements.
• Identify and mitigate data risks related to usage, sharing, and security.

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Develop KPIs and metrics to measure the effectiveness of the Data Governance Program.
• Provide regular updates to executive leadership on program status, risks, and outcomes.
• Prepare and present audit and compliance reports as required.

Team Leadership and Mentorship:

• Lead cross-functional teams including data stewards, analysts, and governance professionals.
• Provide training and mentoring to promote awareness and understanding of data governance practices.

Technical Expertise:

• Strong understanding of data engineering principles, data pipelines, storage solutions, data quality, and data security.
• Familiarity with data governance tools like Informatica IDMC, MDM, Collibra, Alation, as well as cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Experience with data governance frameworks and solutions that ensure data integrity and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Management, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• 14+ years of experience in program management, with at least 6+ years focused on data governance, MDM, and data management within the banking or financial services sector.
• Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, BCBS 239, AML/KYC).
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale, cross-functional programs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Certification in program or project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) or data governance (e.g., DGSP, CDMP) is a plus.