Data Governance Manager

Data Governance Manager

Ignite Digital is seeking an experienced Data Governance Manager to lead and mature a Navy-aligned enterprise data governance program in the Norfolk, VA area. The candidate will oversee a team of data governance professionals, shape governance strategy, and collaborate with senior leadership to define priorities, establish standards, and monitor compliance across mission systems.

The ideal candidate brings deep data-governance expertise, strong leadership skills, and experience driving organizational adoption of governance frameworks in complex federal environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the Navy's enterprise data governance program.
• Partner with senior management to define governance priorities, objectives, and implementation roadmaps.
• Develop and oversee enterprise-wide governance frameworks, policies, standards, and stewardship models.
• Drive organizational alignment on data ownership, quality expectations, metadata standards, and governance processes.

Team Management

• Manage and mentor a team of data governance analysts and specialists.
• Assign responsibilities, oversee performance, and ensure delivery of governance initiatives.
• Build a high-performing culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and consistent operational excellence.

Governance Operations & Compliance

• Monitor compliance with data governance policies, standards, and procedures across systems and functional areas.
• Report on data governance performance, risks, and maturity metrics to senior leadership.
• Oversee documentation of business rules, data definitions, metadata structures, lineage, and quality indicators.
• Ensure consistent stewardship engagement and adherence to governance workflows.

Data Quality & Metadata Oversight

• Lead identification and remediation of data quality issues; establish KPIs and quality monitoring procedures.
• Support implementation of metadata management tools, business glossaries, and enterprise data catalogs.
• Collaborate with data owners and stewards to enforce governance standards and ensure high-quality mission data.

Training, Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide guidance and best practices to stakeholders, data owners, and stewards.
• Lead governance training, reinforcement, and communication campaigns.
• Support and facilitate governance councils, working groups, and decision-making forums.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in Data Governance, including leadership or managerial responsibilities.
• Expert-level knowledge of data governance frameworks, policy development, data quality management, and metadata practices.
• Proven leadership skills, including team management and project oversight.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities across business, technical, and executive audiences.
• Excellent communication, problemsolving, and organizational skills.
• Experience supporting governance in regulated or federally aligned environments preferred.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Additional certifications in data governance, data management, or analytics preferred.

Security Clearance:

• Active DoW SECRET clearance required.

Salary: $120k+ to align with education and experience.