Data Governance Manager - University of Idaho

Another Source • Moscow, ID

4d • $95,000

About The Position

The University of Idaho is seeking a Data Governance Manager to establish and mature its enterprise-wide data governance program. The role will shape the policies, frameworks, partnerships, and practices that guide how institutional data is managed, protected, and used across the university. Reporting directly to the Chief Data and AI Officer, the manager will work with executive leadership, technology teams, academic departments, and administrative partners in a decentralized university environment. The position supports the university’s data modernization, institutional decision-making, research capabilities, and responsible AI initiatives.

The role leads development and evolution of data governance frameworks, policies, standards, and processes; establishes structures for data ownership and stewardship; facilitates collaboration and consensus among stakeholders; advances data literacy; and strengthens data quality, metadata management, accessibility, and trust. It also supports compliance, privacy, security, appropriate access, responsible information sharing, and governance practices for analytics and emerging technologies.

The position is based in Moscow, Idaho, with relocation assistance available. The posting describes the opportunity as remote but also calls it an onsite opportunity; for remote work, the preferred schedule is in the Pacific Coast time zone. This is a full-time, fiscal-year appointment. The position is open until filled. Visa sponsorship is not available, and final candidates must successfully complete a criminal background check.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in information management, business, public administration, computer science, or a closely related field, plus at least three years of professional experience in data governance, data management, information management, or a related field; alternatively, at least seven years of relevant professional experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated success facilitating cross-functional teams, building relationships, and developing consensus among stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Experience developing or implementing policies, governance frameworks, or standards within a complex organizational environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and nontechnical audiences and translate complex concepts into actionable solutions.

Nice To Haves

• Five or more years of experience in data governance, enterprise data management, or institutional data strategy.
• Graduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Professional certification in data governance or data management, such as CDMP, DAMA-related credentials, or similar.
• Experience working in higher education, including understanding shared governance, decentralized decision-making, and sensitive institutional data.
• Familiarity with higher-education regulatory frameworks, including FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA, or federal grant compliance.
• Experience with enterprise data catalogs, metadata management, data quality frameworks, and related tools.
• Knowledge of cloud-based data platforms and lakehouse architectures, particularly Databricks and Unity Catalog.
• Familiarity with enterprise resource planning systems and data structures in student, human resources, or finance environments, particularly Banner/Ellucian.
• Experience establishing governance committees, facilitating working groups, or building data stewardship programs, including steward recruitment, training, and engagement.
• Understanding of AI governance frameworks and how data governance supports machine learning, analytics, and responsible AI use cases.
• Higher education experience is a plus but is not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and ongoing evolution of the university’s enterprise data governance framework, policies, standards, and processes.
• Establish structures for data ownership, stewardship, accountability, and decision-making across institutional data domains.
• Translate governance principles into practical, sustainable processes across academic, administrative, and research environments.
• Partner with the Chief Data and AI Officer to advance and communicate the university’s institutional data strategy.
• Facilitate the Data Governance Committee and associated working groups.
• Build relationships with academic leaders, institutional research, IT, compliance, legal counsel, and administrative teams to strengthen alignment and shared accountability.
• Help stakeholders navigate competing priorities, build consensus, and move governance initiatives from discussion to implementation.
• Champion data literacy and governance education for university employees.
• Oversee the enterprise data catalog and help establish consistent metadata management standards.
• Advance data quality practices to improve the accuracy, consistency, accessibility, and reliability of institutional information.
• Partner with technical teams and data stewards to identify improvements to data management processes and systems.
• Support governance practices that enable reliable analytics, research, and institutional reporting.
• Collaborate with IT, legal, compliance, and academic partners to align governance practices with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Help establish policies and processes for appropriate data access, privacy, security, and responsible information sharing.
• Contribute to the university’s approach to AI governance and responsible use of institutional data in analytics and emerging technologies.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance is available.
• The posting directs candidates to the University of Idaho employee benefits information but does not specify particular benefit offerings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager