Data Governance Specialist

Data Governance Specialist

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong understanding of data governance, data management, and data quality concepts.
• Familiarity with data governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, Alation) and data management platforms.
• Knowledge of databases, data integration, data warehousing, and metadata management.
• Understanding of regulatory standards and frameworks (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Experience with data classification and data stewardship practices.
• High proficiency in business analysis tools (e.g., Microsoft Visio, JIRA, Confluence).
• Knowledge of system development methodologies (Agile, Scrum).
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development, implementation, and ongoing management of WaFd’s data governance program.
• Help establish data as a strategic organizational asset by promoting integrity, privacy, and compliance across the enterprise.
• Support the enforcement of data governance policies, standards, and procedures to ensure proper data management and protection.
• Ensure that data governance practices align with relevant industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, FFIEC).
• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to support audits and risk assessments, ensuring ongoing adherence to data privacy and security requirements.
• Facilitate data governance committees, working groups, and cross-functional collaboration among stakeholders across departments.
• Partner with teams to promote consistent and effective data management practices throughout the organization.
• Promote data literacy by educating data stewards on the importance and interconnectivity of data across the organization.
• Develop and deliver training on data-related roles and responsibilities, including preparation of training materials and support for new process adoption.
• Work with business units to define and document data definitions, metadata, lineage, and business rules for key data elements.
• Support data classification processes to identify and protect sensitive information.
• Create and maintain documentation and procedures necessary to enforce standards, communicate best practices, define roles and responsibilities, and sustain ongoing operations.
• Promote effective documentation best practices internally and externally.
• Adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain awareness of security threats, laws, and policy for data privacy and protection; take steps to protect organizational data from accidental or unauthorized damage, modification, or disclosure; assist with security and access management.
• Maintain a collaborative mindset and perform other duties as assigned in support of the team.
• Adhere to bank policies and procedures designed to comply with federal regulations, including but not limited to the Bank Secrecy Act, USA Patriot Act and OFAC regulations.
• Complete and pass all assigned eLearning courses.
• Avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest and maintain client privacy and confidentiality at all times.

Preferred Qualifications

• Data Governance certifications (e.g., Certified Information Management Professional (CIMP), Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), or Data Governance and Stewardship Professional (DGSP)) are often preferred.
• Knowledge of data privacy certifications (e.g., Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)) may be beneficial.
• Experience in the finance/banking industry with knowledge of related data standards and regulations.
• Familiarity with Agile or Scrum methodologies and experience working in Agile teams.