Metadata / Data Cataloging Senior Analyst

Guidehouse•Tysons, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role leads and executes enterprise metadata baselining and catalog operationalization, with deep hands-on responsibility for configuring and using data catalog platforms to deliver measurable improvements in data discoverability, metadata quality, governance workflows, lineage, and semantic search. The position drives implementation-level outcomes by establishing catalog operating models, configuring metadata schemas and stewardship workflows, integrating technical metadata harvesting, and improving search relevance through semantic enrichment (e.g., taxonomy/ontology alignment, synonyms, knowledge-graph relationships, and catalog curation practices). Additionally, this role leads hands-on evaluation and selection of catalog solutions (AoA) and supports pilots that prove capabilities such as semantic search, catalog population, and lineage visualization, producing evidence-based findings and decision-quality recommendations aligned to client priorities.

Requirements

US Citizenship required
Must be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DoD “PUBLIC TRUST”. Candidates with an ACTIVE SECRET CLEARANCE OR PUBLIC TRUST or suitability are preferred.
8+ years of experience in data governance, metadata management, and/or enterprise data cataloging in complex environments (federal/regulated preferred).
Bachelor’s degree obtained.
Ability to meet the project’s client security and access requirements.
Demonstrated, hands-on experience delivering enterprise metadata baselines and operationalizing catalog workflows (intake, normalization, validation, publishing and stewardship sustainment).
Hands-on proficiency with one or more leading catalog/metadata platforms (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Microsoft Purview, Informatica Axon/EDC), including configuration of workflows / templates and support for integration/harvesting concepts.
Working knowledge of metadata standards and structuring approaches (e.g., ISO/IEC 11179, DCAT-US) and practical application of schema categories (technical, business, operational, security).
Demonstrated experience implementing or enabling semantic search / enhanced discovery in a catalog context (semantic tagging, glossary alignment, taxonomy/ontology, synonym management, and measurable relevance improvements).
Working proficiency with SQL and comfort with APIs/integration patterns sufficient to partner with engineering and interpret technical artifacts.
Delivery leadership experience in structured delivery (Agile preferred), including ownership of workstream plans, risks/issues, and stakeholder-ready documentation.
Tool certification/training (required): Vendor-provided certification or formal training credential in at least one enterprise data catalog product (Collibra / Alation / Purview / Informatica or comparable), with ability to demonstrate applied use in delivery.
Strong client-facing communication skills: ability to lead interviews/workshops, resolve definition disputes, and translate technical metadata into business-consumable forms.

Nice To Haves

Led or co-led AoA / procurement support for catalog selection (criteria, weighting, demo scripts, evidence logs, scoring model, recommendation).
Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Data/Information Management, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).
Experience implementing or tuning catalog search/discovery features (facets, ranking signals, curated collections, certified datasets, knowledge-graph relationships, usage analytics).
Familiarity with federated cataloging patterns and metadata exchange concepts (synchronization, reconciliation checks, refresh cadence, versioning/auditability).
Experience in regulated environments (healthcare preferred) and with metadata classification concepts related to PHI/PII/CUI and audit-oriented documentation.
Relevant credentials (e.g., DAMA/CDMP) or formal training in data governance, metadata management, taxonomy/ontology, or information architecture.
Experience building interim metadata workflows in SharePoint/PowerApps/Power Automate or similar low-code tools used for capture/validation.

Responsibilities

Lead structured metadata intake, normalization, and enterprise baselining, including conducting interviews and ensuring data readiness for ingestion and ongoing maintenance.
Configure and operationalize catalog capabilities, including structures, operating patterns, metadata templates, certification workflows, stewardship roles, and change control.
Define and operationalize metadata quality controls and establish an evidence trail for governance reporting.
Partner with engineering teams to implement integration patterns for ingestion/harvesting, lineage capture, and role-based access.
Lead and execute semantic search enablement across the catalog by implementing and curating taxonomy/ontology alignment, business glossary harmonization, synonym mapping, and semantic tagging protocols.
Measure search quality and support evaluation and demonstration of semantic search and discovery maturity.
Lead structured evaluations of catalog solutions (AoA) including demo scripting, evidence capture, gap analysis, and comparative scoring inputs.
Produce decision-quality artifacts and facilitate stakeholder workshops to converge on priorities for catalog selection.
Lead governance and lifecycle pilots, focusing on federated stewardship readiness and data product lifecycle workflows.
Support catalog population sequencing and lineage validation approaches.
Own workplan execution for the metadata/catalog workstream, including milestone management, RAID tracking, and stakeholder coordination.
Coach junior analysts on intake standards and catalog hygiene.
Prepare and deliver status reporting and executive-ready readouts focused on outcomes like coverage, quality, adoption, and time-to-discover.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend