Data Governance Analyst (26-27)

Data Governance Analyst

Mission:

The Data Governance Analyst executes and maintains core components of IDEA’s data governance program, ensuring that data definitions, metadata, and quality monitoring processes are accurate, consistent, and usable across the organization. Reporting to the Director of Data Governance, this role owns day-to-day governance workflows, including business glossary management, data catalog maintenance, and data quality monitoring, while contributing to continuous improvement of governance processes.

This role is ideal for a detail-oriented analyst with growing technical skills who can operate independently within defined governance frameworks and is motivated by improving trust in data used to support educational outcomes across multiple states.
 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Individual contributor role with no direct supervisory responsibilities. 

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:    

Minimal travel (5-10%), primarily for team collaboration or training. 

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

• Own routine updates to IDEA’s business glossary, ensuring definitions are accurate, clearly written, and consistently formatted.
• Draft and maintain data definitions and business rules based on input from subject matter experts, escalating ambiguities or conflicts as needed. 
• Coordinate and support governance working sessions; capture decisions and distribute clear documentation. 
• Maintain authoritative governance documentation, templates, and reference materials to ensure they remain current and accessible. 
• Maintain high-quality metadata in the data catalog, including asset descriptions, ownership, classifications, and tags. 
• Review catalog entries for completeness and accuracy, proactively identifying gaps or inconsistencies. 
• Process catalog access requests and manage asset lifecycle updates following established governance procedures. 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor basic catalog usage metrics and recommend improvements to templates or documentation based on adoption patterns.
• Archive deprecated assets in accordance with retention and governance standards
• Monitor data quality dashboards and indicators on a regular cadence.
• Execute predefined SQL-based data quality checks and interpret results independently.
• Investigate routine data quality issues, document findings, and escalate systemic or high-impact concerns.
• Maintain clear, well-documented issue logs and compile regular data quality status summaries.
• Manage governance coordination workflows, including scheduling meetings, preparing materials, tracking action items, and following up on commitments.
• Maintain governance content on internal collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint), ensuring accuracy and version control.
• Respond to routine governance inquiries and direct stakeholders to appropriate resources or next steps.
• Support compliance documentation needs related to data access, approvals, and audits.
• Support data stewardship forums and onboarding activities through logistics, materials preparation, and follow-up communication.
• Maintain steward contact lists, participation records, and activity tracking.
• Assist in developing and updating stewardship training materials and reference guides.
  
   

Knowledge and Skills – Competencies

• Make Strategic Decisions:This team member uses data, feedback, and insights to inform thoughtful decision-making, while considering the impact on their direct reports and team. They communicate decisions with clear rationale and begin to connect their choices to broader team objectives. 

• Manage Work and Teams:This team member sets clear, measurable goals and regularly reflects on progress, adjusting actions as needed. They prioritize work aligned with their goals using a task management system and consistently meet deadlines through effective time management. 

• Grow Self and Others:This team member regularly offers affirming and adjusting feedback, maintaining a positive balance that reinforces growth and motivation. They provide transparent, candid performance insights and offer consistent coaching and development aligned with individual goals, supporting both direct reports and cross-functional partners. 

• Build a Culture of Trust: This team member proactively builds strong personal and professional relationships with individual stakeholders and regularly seeks feedback to improve their work experience. They create a supportive environment where others feel safe to take risks and learn from mistakes without fear of retribution.  

• Communicate Deliberately: This team member communicates thoughtfully by anticipating potential misunderstandings and providing necessary context to ensure clarity. They leverage structured communication channels to address challenges, ask meaningful questions, and guide conversations toward solutions, while actively listening to the concerns of others. 

Additional Skills:

• Working knowledge of basic SQL (SELECT, WHERE, JOIN) with ability to run and interpret validation queries.
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills for tracking, analysis, and reporting.
• Understanding of how data is structured and used within analytics or reporting environments.
• Comfort learning new tools and platforms with documentation and training.
• Strong written communication skills with high standards for clarity and consistency.
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple sources into clear, usable documentation.
• Experience organizing shared documentation and maintaining version control.
• Organized, dependable, and able to manage multiple tasks across parallel workflows.
• Comfortable working independently in a remote environment while maintaining regular communication.
• Service-oriented mindset when supporting data users and stewards.
• Curious about how data supports organizational decision-making.
   

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in data, analytics, reporting, compliance, operations, or information management roles.
• Experience working with data in a professional setting (reports, spreadsheets, databases, research, or analytics tools)
• Demonstrated ability to produce clear, accurate documentation.
• Comfort learning new systems and following defined operational processes.
   

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Coursework or hands-on experience using SQL for data analysis or validation.
• Experience supporting governance, compliance, analytics, or data operations initiatives.
• Familiarity with education, public sector, or regulated data environments.
• Background in information management, metadata, or library science.
   

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods working on a computer and in virtual meetings
• Ability to travel domestically via car and air travel
• Flexibility for occasional evening meetings to accommodate distributed stakeholders

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $74,700 and $87,100, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity.This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA 

At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values