Director of Data Management

Foundation Software•Strongsville, OH

About The Position

The Director of Data Management serves as the strategic lead for our data governance, analytics engineering, and AI readiness. Reporting to the CIO/CTO, this role is responsible for building a scalable, high-trust data landscape that supports actionable, governed insights. We are looking for a leader with expertise in the Microsoft data stack and a proven track record of aligning technical data management with executive-level business objectives that drive high-velocity decision-making at every level of the business. This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H1-B visa.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Minimum 7+ years in Data Management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or Director-level role.
Solid business acumen understanding how businesses operate and how different levers create different business outcomes.
Ability to align data strategy with business objectives.
Strong understanding of data governance and data quality principles.
Ability to develop and implement data policies and procedures.
Experience with data analytics and data warehouse platforms (Microsoft Azure/Fabric, Power BI preferred).
Experience with SQL or python (or other languages).
Possess an understanding of implementing version control, automated testing, and deployment pipelines.
Experience managing data projects and overseeing data-related initiatives.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence at all levels of the organization, including at the executive level.
Ability to develop and deliver informative value presentations at all levels of the organization.
Familiarity with data management frameworks (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK, CMMI, etc.).
Experience in cost-optimization of hybrid data spend.
An understanding of data lifecycle management and metadata practices.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the organization's data management and governance strategy and champion a data-driven culture partnering with senior leadership.
Establish and monitor data quality initiatives across data systems and departments while being supported by department data and process leaders.
Collaborate with the executive team and AI committee to understand data needs to support AI initiatives internally and externally.
Understand business objectives and collaborate with the business to translate questions into data requirements which ensure actionable business intelligence and advanced analytics.
Drive the strategic evolution of the organization's data infrastructure by collaborating with IT to design and implement a scalable, integrated data architecture that anticipates and meets growing business demands.
Serve as an escalation point for complex and high-level data issues and provide guidance to assist with the resolution of issues.
Hire, manage and mentor a team of data analysts and other data professionals translating their professional growth into measurable strategic value for the organization.
Establish and maintain data policies, standards, and best practices based on data management and governance frameworks by embedding them in new or existing business processes.
Advocate for data literacy across the organization through training and education.
Partner closely with appropriate stakeholders and business leaders to ensure success in driving cross-functional work across departments.