Data Strategy and Governance Specialist

Position Summary:

The Data Strategy and Governance Specialist leads the development and operationalization of Trinity’s enterprise data governance vision and strategy. This role defines how data is classified, managed across its lifecycle, secured, and used across the organization to improve decision-making and prepare Trinity for future capabilities such as analytics and responsible artificial intelligence (AI). As a newly established function, the Specialist will build foundational governance practices, develop and publish governance policies and standards, and, over time, grow internal capacity for data stewardship. The role will both establish the governance framework and actively work to implement it through pilots, recommendations, and validation of governance controls in core systems (in partnership with the Technology Operations and Security team), as well as provide hands-on support to data owners and stewards.

Within the first 12 months, the Specialist will deliver:

• An enterprise data governance framework (roles, decision rights, stewardship model, operating cadence)
• An enterprise inventory of key data domains and systems, including ownership, criticality, and a per-system catalog of core business entities (e.g., vendors, grantees, constituents, transactions), mapped to a business data glossary/data catalog.
• A data classification and lifecycle implementation plan aligned to Trinity’s records retention direction (retention, archival, disposition)
• Data quality standards (definitions, rules, metrics) and a repeatable remediation process for priority domains
• A pragmatic AI and enterprise BI/analytics readiness roadmap grounded in trusted, well-classified data and ethical use
• Initial governance controls in priority systems defined, piloted, and validated in partnership with Technology Operations and Security team (for example, Microsoft 365/Purview retention labels, permissions models, and metadata standards), with documented playbooks that data owners and stewards can follow.

The annual salary range for this position is $169,400 to $194,400.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Stakeholder engagement and change management

• Build trusted relationships with data owners, department leaders, and end users across Trinity to understand their data challenges and demonstrate how governance creates value for their work
• Translate technical governance concepts into practical benefits that resonate with non-technical audiences
• Facilitate cross-functional conversations that surface data issues, resolve conflicts, and build shared understanding of governance goals
• Design and deliver training, documentation, and hands-on support that meets people where they are and builds confidence in new practices
• Identify and cultivate early adopters who can serve as governance champions within their departments
• Monitor adoption of governance practices and adjust approach based on what's working and what's creating friction

Governance strategy and operating model

• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve Trinity’s enterprise Data Governance Strategy and Policy and associated frameworks.
• Define governance roles and ways of working (data owners, data stewards, decision rights, governance forums) to build internal stewardship capacity over time.
• Collaborate with departments to understand data needs and translate them into actionable governance and enablement strategies.
• Define standards for data quality, usage, privacy, and compliance across key data domains.
• Monitor adherence to governance policies by defining metrics, an audit cadence, and remediation processes.

Operational implementation and enablement

• Maintain an enterprise inventory of data domains and systems where Trinity data resides; assess data quality; define and enforce standards for data quality, usage, privacy, and compliance.
• Own data lifecycle management practices (creation, storage, retention, archival, disposition) across systems.
• Collaborate with Legal and program/business units to ensure governance policies and practices support applicable regulatory and contractual requirements and institutional standards.
• Identify and document data quality issues and partner with departments to resolve inconsistencies through standard definitions and governance controls.
• Promote awareness and adoption of governance standards through documentation, training, and engagement.
• Partner with technical teams to configure and operationalize governance controls in SharePoint/Microsoft 365/Purview (permissions models, retention labels, metadata standards, audit processes).
• Participate in the evaluation and implementation of data platforms and governance technologies.
• Contribute to data architecture planning efforts that support consistency, security, and long-term scalability.
• Support the rollout of governed data tools, dashboards, and reporting standards that drive decision-making and transparency.

AI and analytics readiness

• Develop and maintain an AI and enterprise BI/analytics readiness roadmap grounded in trusted, well‑classified data and ethical use, including governed datasets and shared definitions/metrics to enable consistent dashboards and self-service reporting, in coordination with the Director of Enterprise Applications, CIO, and key stakeholders.
• Partner with analytics teams and business stakeholders to prioritize data domains for AI/analytics use cases and confirm the governance controls required before those use cases move forward.

Measures of Success:

Within the first year, success in this role will be demonstrated by:

• Data owners proactively engaging with governance processes and seeking guidance on data decisions
• Documented improvement in data quality metrics for pilot domains
• Governance controls actively used (not just configured) in priority systems
• Positive feedback from stakeholders about the value and practicality of governance practices
• Clear evidence of behavior change, not just policy compliance
• A growing network of data stewards who understand their roles and are equipped to sustain governance practices

Knowledge, Skills, and Activities:

Required

• Exceptional ability to build relationships and influence without formal authority across all levels of an organization
• Demonstrated skill in leading organizational change, particularly introducing new practices in environments without established governance
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences and adjust style based on stakeholder needs
• Strong facilitation skills and comfort navigating resistance, competing priorities, and organizational politics
• Patient, pragmatic approach to change that balances ideal-state vision with incremental progress
• Working knowledge of data governance frameworks, data lifecycle management, and stewardship principles
• Experience with data classification, retention policies, and cataloging/classification tools
• Hands-on experience with SharePoint/M365; familiarity with Microsoft Purview preferred
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify patterns in data quality issues

Preferred

• Experience implementing governance in organizations undergoing significant change or digital transformation
• Background in nonprofit, higher education, or public sector organizations
• Familiarity with BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Knowledge of ethical AI principles and data privacy concepts.

Required and Preferred Education, Experience, and Credentials:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Management or Data Science, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of professional experience in data governance, data policy, or enterprise information management