Data Governance Specialist

Data Governance Specialist

Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE)

Georgia State University

The Data Governance Specialist is a hands-on role responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of the university's data governance program. This position coordinates data stewardship activities and maintains core governance assets, including data dictionaries, business glossaries, metadata, and the institutional data catalog.

This role contributes as a member of the data governance team within the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) and partners closely with data stewards, system owners, and stakeholders across the university. The office is located at GSU's downtown Atlanta campus.

The position's work schedule is in-office five days per week.

WHAT MAKES OIE A GREAT PLACE?

• A knowledge-sharing organization that works collaboratively with diverse partners.

• Professional development opportunity and mentorship

• A rapidly growing center within an academic setting

HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Serve as a point of contact for data governance requests, working directly with data stewards, system owners, and stakeholders to understand needs and coordinate appropriate action

• Develop and maintain core governance artifacts, including data dictionaries, business glossaries, metadata, and the institutional data catalog

• Coordinate data stewardship activities, including steward onboarding, working group facilitation, and support for the Data Excellence Collaborative

• Support the development, review, and maintenance of data governance policies, standards, and procedures

• Facilitate governance committees and working groups, including scheduling, agenda preparation, documentation, and tracking of action items

• Conduct data quality assessments and support remediation in partnership with data stewards and system owners

• Maintain the systems inventory, business capability mapping, and conceptual and logical data models

• Develop communications, training, and change management materials to advance data literacy and governance adoption

• Participate in the university-wide data community and represent the office in cross-functional initiatives

• Other duties, as assigned

Minimum Hiring Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree & two years or related experience or a combination of education & related experience.

Preferred Hiring Qualifications:

A quality candidate will possess a combination of the following:

• Knowledge of data governance frameworks, principles, and practices, such as those described in the DAMA-DMBOK
• Experience coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, committees, or working groups
• Familiarity with metadata management, data cataloging, and business glossary development
• An understanding of data quality concepts and assessment methods
• Knowledge of data privacy and compliance considerations (e.g., FERPA, GLBA, GDPR)
• Knowledge of typical university business processes, particularly those impacting the management of institutional data
• The ability to work with information from multiple systems and navigate integrated data environments
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• A service-oriented mindset when working with stakeholders across the university
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to translate between technical and business audiences
• Experience developing documentation, standards, and process materials
• A commitment to data accuracy, documentation, and sustainability
• Experience using standard business software tools, including the Microsoft Office Suite

In addition to meeting the minimum hiring standards, preference may be given to those who meet a combination of the following criteria:

• Master's degree and two years of relevant experience
• Professional certification in data management or governance, such as the CDMP or DGSP
• Experience with data governance or cataloging platforms, such as Microsoft Purview, Collibra, Atlan, Open Metadata, DataGalaxy, or Collate
• Experience in higher education or another regulated environment
• Experience supporting AI governance, privacy, or compliance programs
• Experience facilitating committees, working groups, or stakeholder engagement initiatives