Data Governance Specialist

We are looking for a Data Governance Specialist to play a key role in defining, implementing and maintaining a pragmatic Data Governance framework within a large and complex organization.

The position combines Data Governance, Data Quality, Data Management, Data Protection and Regulatory Compliance, with a particular focus on the governance and protection of critical data.

You will work closely with Data, IT, Cybersecurity, Architecture, Legal/Privacy and Business stakeholders to ensure that data is properly governed, protected, documented and accessible.

The role has two main areas of focus, with data governance and protection of critical data being the priority.

Key Responsibilities

1. Ensure compliance with NIS2 requirements relating to the management and protection of critical data

Working closely with the DPO, the CISO, the Enterprise Architecture, the Document Management Office, as well as the relevant business and IT teams, the Data Governance Specialist participates in defining and implementing the necessary governance mechanisms.

Phase 1: Governance and identification of critical data

• Inventory, map and classify critical data as well as their flows and dependencies.
• Define data management policies, standards and procedures.

Phase 2: Data Protection

• Define the protection requirements for critical data according to their classification level.
• Ensure the implementation of security, backup and recovery measures.

Phase 3: Access Management

• Define and enforce data access rules according to business needs and the principle of least privilege.
• Ensure control and review of access to critical data.

Phase 4: Awareness and Adoption

• Train and raise awareness among employees regarding good practices in data management and protection.
• Support the adoption of data governance and drive change.

1. Deploying data governance principles in business and data initiatives

In collaboration with the business teams and the Data & Analytics department, the Data Governance Specialist ensures the integration of good governance practices into the projects of the Data roadmap.

They support the Data Governance Officer within the D&A team by ensuring:

• Ensure the quality, discoverability, accessibility and documentation of data.
• Define and maintain governance roles, responsibilities and processes.
• Ensure mastery of master data (MDM), data lineage and data modeling.
• Contribute to the selection, deployment and adoption of data governance tools.

• Significant experience in data governance and data quality (+7 years).
• Excellent understanding of data governance frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK).
• Strong documentation and presentation skills.
• In-depth understanding of data methodologies and technologies in order to collaborate effectively with Data Management and IT teams.
• Practical experience with data governance and metadata management tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, Ovaledge,…).
• Ability to learn quickly and demonstrate autonomy
• Ability to establish an internal network to align different actors, with negotiation skills.
• Excellent communication skills, able to explain complex methodologies in simple terms and solid knowledge of change management.
• Excellent leadership skills to successfully complete these various tasks
• Proficiency in French and/or Dutch; proficiency in English is an asset.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of NIS2 regulations
• Knowledge of standards and regulations (ISO/IEC 38505, ISO 8000, GDPR,…)
• Knowledge of data modeling (UML)
• Knowledge of data flow modeling (Archimate)
• Professional experience in regulated sectors (finance, health, public sector).