Director, Data Governance

Colliers International • Vancouver, BC

105d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Data Governance reports directly into the Global Head of Data & AI will build, launch, and run our Colliers’ global data governance program, This role will ensure that critical Colliers’ data such as properties, assets, leases, tenants, transactions, market research, client data, etc. is trusted, consistent, compliant, and ready to use across regions and service lines. The Director will operate at the intersection of business, data, technology, and risk, enabling the firm to scale analytics, AI, and digital products globally while respecting local market and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in data governance, data management, analytics, or related enterprise data roles.
• Proven experience building and launching a data governance program from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of modern data architectures (cloud data platforms, modern BI and analytics, AI/ML pipelines).
• Experience operating in a global, matrixed organization with regional regulatory complexity.
• Deep knowledge of data governance concepts, frameworks, and best practices (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK).
• Experience in commercial real estate, professional services, or adjacent data-intensive industries supporting similar use cases.
• Hands-on experience with native cloud data governance, catalog, and quality tools in combination of industry standard governance tools that can support our goals (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Informatica, Purview).
• Familiarity with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform, Azure).
• Ability to translate complex technical and regulatory concepts into clear business language.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a global Colliers’ data governance framework, covering core real estate data domains such as properties, clients, transactions, and enterprise.
• Define enterprise standards for our core data concepts (e.g., property identifiers, asset hierarchies, client hierarchies, geographies, market definitions, transaction attributes and classifications).
• Establish governance ownership and accountability for service lines and regions
• Balance global consistency with local market needs, regulatory requirements, and data nuances unique to regional/local practices.
• Operationalize governance through workflows, tooling, metrics, and recurring forums.
• Chair or support data governance councils and working groups at global and regional levels.
• Define and track KPIs for data quality, adoption, issue resolution, and policy compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement of governance practices as the data and AI landscape evolves.
• Partner with our data and product teams to ensure our data is fit-for-purpose for BI, analytics, product development, and AI/ML use cases.
• Enable trusted data foundations for core data assets at Colliers’
• Embed governance controls (lineage, quality checks, approvals) directly into our data pipelines, analytics products, and workflows.
• Lead enterprise data quality strategy, including standards, issue management, root cause analysis, and remediation.
• Ensure our data practices comply with global and regional regulations, including data privacy, data residency, and client confidentiality requirements.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance to support audits, client due diligence, and regulatory inquiries related to data, and analytics.
• Act as the primary leader for data governance globally.
• Influence senior leaders and business stakeholders to adopt governance standards and ways of working.
• Develop training, communications, and change-management plans to drive adoption.
• Build and lead a small, high-impact governance team over time.

Benefits

• Innovative projects: Work on cutting-edge initiatives that shape our communities, drive our growth, and make a tangible impact.
• Career growth: Advance your career and achieve your goals with industry-leading training and development programs.
• Competitive benefits & compensation: Enjoy a comprehensive and flexible benefits package along with competitive compensation that rewards your contributions and supports your well-being.
• Collaborative culture: Join our enterprising team where innovation thrives, collaboration is key, and our people are empowered to be their authentic selves and do their best work.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Our robust North American Diversity & Inclusion Program features eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), where you can connect, learn, and contribute to a diverse and supportive community.
• Global network: Join a global team of 24,000 professionals across 70 countries, where you'll expand your network and learn from experts in a dynamic international community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed