Director of Data Governance

James Madison University•Harrisonburg, VA

About The Position

The office of Planning, Analytics, and Institutional Research seeks a collaborative and visionary Director of Data Governance to lead institution‑wide data stewardship efforts within PAIR. The director will work with campus partners to guide the development and implementation of data governance policies for the university, strengthen data quality practices, and cultivate a campus culture that values responsible and informed data use. This position reports to the Executive Director of PAIR. The office of Planning, Analytics, and Institutional Research (PAIR) provides accurate data and actionable insights to support strategic, evidence‑informed decision‑making across James Madison University. The office coordinates university‑level strategic planning, manages institutional survey administration and analysis, partners with areas across campus to conduct research and analysis to support institutional decision-making, and manages official institutional reporting to state and federal agencies.

Requirements

Master’s degree in information science, data management, higher education administration, analytics, or a related field.
Experience designing and delivering training, preferably on data or technology topics.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and cross‑campus collaboration skills.
Demonstrated experience in data governance, data management, data stewardship, institutional research, or analytics within an ERP system.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in higher education.
Prior leadership of governance committees, councils, or data‑related working groups.
Experience leading cross-functional projects, preferably around data-related topics.
Familiarity with data privacy regulations, data security standards, and compliance practices.
Demonstrated openness to change, preferably through an awareness and enthusiasm of change management practices and principles.

Responsibilities

Lead the Data Governance Council, establishing priorities and coordinating institution‑wide governance activities.
Develop and implement strategic data governance frameworks aligned with university goals.
Partner with Information Technology to create, refine, and maintain policies related to data quality, data definitions, metadata, classification, and lifecycle management.
Support compliance with institutional data policies and risk‑mitigation practices.
Oversee and expand a university‑wide Data Community of Practice, promoting shared learning for data stewards, analysts, and other data professionals.
Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among academic and administrative units.
Design, coordinate, and deliver data literacy initiatives that empower faculty and staff to understand, interpret, and apply data responsibly.
Collaborate with PAIR colleagues and campus partners to develop training materials, resources, and reporting tools that support data‑informed decision‑making across campus.
Serve as a consultant to campus partners on data governance, stewardship, and responsible data practices.
Provide insight and support for high‑impact data projects across the university.