Executive Director of Data Strategy

RaceTrac•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Executive Director of Data Strategy serves as the enterprise's senior authority on data vision, strategy, and value realization. This executive defines and drives the long-term data direction for the organization, leads cross-functional alignment at the C-suite level, and is accountable for enterprise-wide data outcomes—including revenue growth, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and superior customer experiences. The Executive Director shapes enterprise investment decisions, champions data as a strategic asset, and builds the organizational capability needed to compete in a data-driven marketplace.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise data management, governance, and analytics, with at least 8 years in a senior data leadership role overseeing cross-functional programs at scale.
Deep expertise in enterprise data governance frameworks, data quality best practices, and regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) with executive-level accountability for risk and controls.
Executive-level experience with enterprise data platforms, cloud technologies, and large-scale data integration; ability to set architectural direction and evaluate strategic technology investments.
Demonstrated ability to align and influence C-suite executives, board members, and cross-functional enterprise leaders on data strategy, governance, and investment priorities.
Exceptional executive communication, presence, and leadership skills; proven track record of building and scaling high-performing data organizations (50+ person teams preferred).
Experience with enterprise BI and analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Looker) and fluency with modern enterprise-scale data architectures and tooling.
Deep knowledge of distributed data strategies, cloud and storage technologies, and modern enterprise data architectures (data lakehouse, data mesh, data fabric).
Ability to translate complex data and technical concepts for non-technical executive audiences; exceptional written and verbal communication across all organizational levels.
Executive judgment, discretion, and presence; credibility with C-suite leaders across business, technology, and finance; ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and drive alignment.
Proven ability to build, lead, and scale enterprise data and analytics organizations; track record of successfully championing data as a strategic enterprise asset to diverse executive and board-level audiences.
Demonstrated experience defining, tracking, and presenting enterprise-level data performance metrics and business health indicators to the C-suite and board of directors.
Extensive experience designing, governing, and maturing enterprise data governance programs—including privacy, Master Data Management, access and decision rights, and data integrity standards—at enterprise scale.
Experience managing strategic third-party data vendor relationships, including enterprise-level procurement, contract negotiation, and ongoing partnership governance.

Responsibilities

Define and own a multi-year enterprise data strategy aligned to long-term business objectives; lead the investment thesis, portfolio prioritization, and enterprise funding model for the organization's data agenda.
Architect and govern the enterprise data operating model (centralized/Hub-and-Spoke/Federated) with clear executive ownership (RACI), enterprise-wide standards, and sustained investment mechanisms; present strategy and measured outcomes to senior leadership.
Establish and govern enterprise-wide data governance frameworks—policies, standards, and controls—spanning privacy, security, data lineage, quality, retention, and AI risk; own executive accountability for regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
Lead enterprise data stewardship, issue management, and risk remediation programs with measurable SLAs, executive-level reporting, and sustained defect reduction across the organization.
Set the vision and executive accountability for the enterprise data product portfolio; ensure alignment between data product roadmaps and enterprise business strategy.
Partner at the VP/C-suite level to define enterprise data product requirements, success metrics, and adoption frameworks that drive measurable business value at scale.
Champion enterprise data literacy and self-service analytics programs, driving cultural transformation and capability development across all business units and functions.
Build and own the enterprise business case framework for data investments; set and report ROI targets—revenue uplift, cost avoidance, risk reduction, and cycle-time improvement—with direct C-suite accountability.
Lead executive portfolio reviews with Finance, BU presidents, and the C-suite; make strategic rebalancing and investment decisions based on enterprise outcomes and shifting priorities.
Set strategic direction for enterprise data architecture in partnership with the CTO/CIO; govern platform roadmaps across data lakehouse/warehouse, MDM, catalog, governance tools, semantic layers, and AI/ML platforms.
Establish enterprise data standards, canonical data models, and interoperability requirements across all business domains—finance, customer, product, operations, and HR.
Own the enterprise framework for responsible AI and data readiness—including governance controls, PII handling, data provenance, and model monitoring standards—ensuring compliance across all ML/GenAI initiatives.
Drive the executive prioritization and incubation of high-value analytics/AI use cases, ensuring strategic alignment, organizational readiness, and clear accountability for delivery and outcomes.
Serve as the primary executive voice for data strategy in board presentations, C-suite alignment sessions, and external stakeholder engagements; align incentives and investment commitments with enterprise business unit leaders.
Drive enterprise change management for data transformation initiatives; develop executive communication strategies for governance changes, new platform capabilities, and cultural enablement milestones; represent the organization in external data forums and strategic vendor partnerships.