Data Governance Specialist | State Client Exp

Position: Data Governance Specialist
Location: Sacramento, CA – Remote
Duration: 12+ Months
Experience: 5+ Years

Job Description

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Data Governance Specialist to support enterprise-wide data governance initiatives, technology modernization projects, and enterprise data management strategies within a complex public sector environment.

The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in developing and implementing data governance frameworks, improving data quality, establishing policies and standards, and ensuring compliance with applicable security and regulatory requirements. The candidate will collaborate with business stakeholders, IT leadership, and technical teams to support data-driven decision-making, technology modernization, procurement planning, and enterprise data solution implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Data Governance Strategy & Framework Development

• Develop, implement, and maintain enterprise data governance strategies, frameworks, policies, standards, and procedures.

• Establish governance processes to ensure data accuracy, consistency, integrity, security, and regulatory compliance.

• Collaborate with business leaders, IT management, data owners, and data stewards to align governance initiatives with organizational objectives.

• Assess existing data management practices and recommend improvements.

• Support enterprise data strategy development for large-scale government organizations.

Data Quality, Security & Compliance

• Establish and maintain data quality standards, monitoring processes, and governance controls.

• Identify data quality issues and implement solutions to improve data accuracy, completeness, consistency, and reliability.

• Ensure alignment with information security requirements, regulatory standards, and organizational policies.

• Develop procedures for the secure and effective management of sensitive organizational data.

• Define data quality metrics, monitoring mechanisms, and reporting processes.

Technology Modernization & Project Readiness

• Conduct project readiness assessments for data monitoring systems and enterprise technology implementations.

• Evaluate organizational readiness, business processes, technical requirements, and implementation risks.

• Support modernization initiatives involving data collection, reporting systems, and enterprise data management solutions.

• Identify operational gaps, implementation dependencies, and process improvement opportunities.

• Recommend technology solutions aligned with enterprise data governance objectives.

Procurement Strategy & Solution Evaluation

• Develop procurement strategies for technology modernization and enterprise data management initiatives.

• Assist in preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), system requirements, and procurement documentation.

• Define functional, technical, and data governance requirements in collaboration with business and technical stakeholders.

• Support vendor evaluations, solution assessments, and technology selection activities.

• Evaluate proposed solutions against business requirements, governance standards, and organizational objectives.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Documentation

• Collaborate with IT leadership, business stakeholders, technical teams, and external consultants.

• Develop and maintain documentation covering data governance frameworks, policies, procedures, standards, and business processes.

• Facilitate stakeholder discussions to define governance priorities, roles, responsibilities, and implementation objectives.

• Develop training materials and provide guidance on data governance principles and best practices.

• Promote organizational adoption of governance processes and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of data governance experience within the last 7 years, including developing, implementing, and managing enterprise data governance practices.

• Demonstrated experience conducting project readiness assessments for data monitoring system implementations within California public sector agencies, law enforcement organizations, or military departments.

• Proven experience developing procurement strategies for technology modernization initiatives involving data collection and reporting systems for U.S. state government entities.

• Experience designing and implementing enterprise data strategies and governance frameworks for large U.S. state government organizations.

• Strong understanding of data governance policies, standards, procedures, and controls related to data quality, security, and regulatory compliance.

• Experience collaborating with business stakeholders, IT leadership, and technical teams on enterprise data management initiatives.

• Strong analytical, documentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with technology evaluation, vendor selection, and procurement for enterprise IT solutions within state government organizations.

• Current Certified Data Governance Professional (CDGP) certification.

• Current Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP) certification.

• Additional certifications in data governance, data management, or information technology.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related technical field.

• Advanced degree in Data Analytics, Information Technology Management, or a related discipline.