Data Governance Lead Jobs
Data Governance Lead jobs are open across financial services, healthcare, technology, and retail, from mid-level specialist to director, with specializations in data quality, metadata management, and regulatory compliance. Find a role that fits from the openings below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 366+ Data Governance Lead jobs
Minimum:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, analytics, information systems, computer science, engineering, or any other data-related field. Master's Degree preferred.
- 5+ years of direct experience relating to creation and execution of formal data governance and/or data management programs.
- Program management experience, with partners across a diverse, global set of business units.
- Consistent record of understanding business challenges and strategies and connecting those to data and capabilities.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Working knowledge of current and upcoming data governance, data management and data product techniques and trends.
- Ability to work with white space to design and complete solutions to solve sophisticated challenges. Must have a positive, collaborative leadership style with colleague and customer first attitude
Preferred:
- Certification as a Data Management Professional (CDMP) or other similar data management certification preferred.
- Certifications and experience working within the Collibra Data Intelligence Platform, MANTA, or other similar Data Governance tools preferred.
- Incident management and reporting, risk/data risk management, data breach management, data classification and handling, data quality monitoring and improvement, and data governance/compliance management experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of SQL & Python or other programming language preferred.
- Dashboard build experience using Power BI / Tableau or similar tools will be a huge plus. Prior experience with Agile or SAFe project methodologies preferred.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
Minimum:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, analytics, information systems, computer science, engineering, or any other data-related field. Master's Degree preferred.
- 5+ years of direct experience relating to creation and execution of formal data governance and/or data management programs.
- Program management experience, with partners across a diverse, global set of business units.
- Consistent record of understanding business challenges and strategies and connecting those to data and capabilities.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Working knowledge of current and upcoming data governance, data management and data product techniques and trends.
- Ability to work with white space to design and complete solutions to solve sophisticated challenges. Must have a positive, collaborative leadership style with colleague and customer first attitude
Preferred:
- Certification as a Data Management Professional (CDMP) or other similar data management certification preferred.
- Certifications and experience working within the Collibra Data Intelligence Platform, MANTA, or other similar Data Governance tools preferred.
- Incident management and reporting, risk/data risk management, data breach management, data classification and handling, data quality monitoring and improvement, and data governance/compliance management experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of SQL & Python or other programming language preferred.
- Dashboard build experience using Power BI / Tableau or similar tools will be a huge plus. Prior experience with Agile or SAFe project methodologies preferred.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.
Data Governance Lead Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Data Governance Lead JobsData Governance Lead Job Market
Who's Hiring
- JBS INTERNATIONAL15
- Northwest Bank9
- JPMorganChase8
- Information Technology Senior Management Forum8
- Intuit6
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software11
- Banking & Financial Services9
- Investment & Asset Management4
- Consulting & Professional Services4
- Insurance3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data governance lead jobs.
- 5 or more years of experience in data governance, data management, or a related data discipline
- Hands-on experience with data catalog or governance platforms such as Collibra, Alation, or Informatica Axon
- Demonstrated ability to develop and enforce data policies, standards, and stewardship frameworks
- Strong understanding of regulatory compliance requirements including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, or SOX
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders including data owners, IT, legal, and compliance teams
- Preferred: CDMP, DCAM, or equivalent data management certification from DAMA International
Tips for Your Data Governance Lead Job Search
Quantify your data governance impact
Hiring managers want outcomes, not duties. Rewrite your resume bullets to show measurable results: policies you authored, datasets you cataloged, or audit findings your program resolved. Concrete numbers and scope make your experience stand out against candidates who list tools alone.
Highlight your framework and tooling depth
Job postings for data governance leads almost always ask for hands-on experience with specific platforms like Collibra, Alation, or Informatica. Name the tools you've configured, not just the ones you've used, and tie each to a governance outcome like data lineage or classification.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists data governance lead openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target openings by regulatory context
Data governance lead roles in healthcare are shaped by HIPAA requirements, while financial services roles center on SOX or BCBS 239. Filter your job search by industry and tailor your application to show you understand the regulatory obligations that govern data in that specific sector.
Prepare a governance portfolio or case study
Interviewers often ask candidates to walk through a governance program they built or improved. Prepare a concise case study covering the problem, the policies or controls you introduced, the stakeholders involved, and how you measured success. This separates experienced leads from generalists.
Negotiate scope, not just compensation
Before accepting an offer, clarify whether the role owns enterprise-wide governance or a single domain, reports into IT or the CDO, and has budget authority for tooling. These structural details affect your ability to do the job and your growth path far more than title alone.
Data Governance Lead Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most data governance leads?
The companies hiring the most data governance leads right now include JBS INTERNATIONAL, Northwest Bank, and JPMorganChase, with the largest share of openings in California, Virginia, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is consistently strong in financial services, large health systems, and enterprise technology companies scaling their data programs.
How many data governance lead jobs are remote?
About 69% of data governance lead openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on policy, documentation, and cross-functional coordination rather than on-site infrastructure. Roles focused on data catalog administration, stewardship program management, and compliance reporting tend to have the highest remote availability.
How do you become a data governance lead?
Start by building hands-on experience as a data analyst, data engineer, or data steward so you understand how data flows through an organization and where quality breaks down. From there, develop expertise in a governance platform such as Collibra or Alation, contribute to policy or standards development on your team, and pursue a DAMA CDMP or similar certification. Most leads move into the role after demonstrating they can drive cross-functional alignment on data definitions, ownership, and quality standards.
Can you get hired as a data governance lead without direct governance experience?
Yes, if you reframe adjacent experience effectively. Employers often hire candidates who have enforced data quality rules as an analyst, built data dictionaries as a BI developer, or managed compliance audits in a legal or risk role. Emphasize any work involving data standards, data ownership, or regulatory reporting, and show you understand what a governance framework is designed to solve rather than claiming tool expertise you do not have.
What does the data governance lead interview process look like?
Most processes run three to four rounds. An initial screen with a recruiter or HR contact covers background and expectations. A technical or functional interview goes deep on your governance framework knowledge, tool experience, and how you handle data quality or compliance challenges. A stakeholder or panel round tests how you communicate policy to non-technical audiences and manage disagreement between data owners. Some employers close with a take-home case study asking you to design or critique a governance structure.
Where can I find and apply to data governance lead jobs?
You can find and apply to data governance lead jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 366+ Data Governance Lead Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Data Governance Lead Jobs