Job Title: Consultant – Data Thought Leader (Data Governance & Strategy)
Location: Rosemead, CA (Onsite)
Interview Mode: Video
Role Description:
We are seeking a visionary and experienced Data Thought Leader to join our Enterprise Data Governance and Data Center of Excellence (CoE). This senior-level role will serve as a strategic advisor to executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams, driving enterprise-wide transformation to establish data as a core business asset. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in data governance, quality, architecture, and analytics, along with strong leadership to influence enterprise data strategy, operating models, and cultural adoption of data-driven practices.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Data Leadership
- Serve as the strategic voice of data, aligning governance, analytics, architecture, and engineering with enterprise transformation initiatives (e.g., ERP Modernization, AMI 2.0).
- Translate executive vision into multi-year data strategy roadmaps, prioritizing governance maturity, data quality, regulatory compliance, and platform evolution.
- Represent the data function in executive steering committees, shaping funding decisions, prioritization, and organizational alignment.
Governance & Operating Model Design
- Design and evolve the Data Governance Operating Model, including Data Owner CoE, Data Steward Network, and governance councils.
- Define enterprise-wide data policies, standards, and role accountabilities leveraging frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK2, DCAM, NIST RMF.
- Drive execution of critical data elements (CDEs), stewardship workflows, metadata architecture, and issue escalation processes.
Architecture & Tooling Strategy
- Provide architectural oversight for integration of governance with platforms such as SAP MDG/S4HANA, Collibra, Alation, Business Glossaries, and Master Data Hubs.
- Recommend and evaluate data tooling ecosystems including data quality, lineage, reference data, and audit trail capabilities.
Organizational Enablement & Change Management
- Lead cultural change initiatives to embed data ownership, literacy, and stewardship from frontline teams to executives.
- Co-develop organizational change management strategies: messaging frameworks, stakeholder mapping, campaigns, and executive coaching.
- Facilitate workshops, maturity model assessments, and leadership briefings.
Mentorship & Knowledge Transfer
- Mentor and coach internal data governance and analytics leaders, ensuring sustainability of data strategy and governance practices.
- Establish knowledge-sharing platforms across IT, business, risk, compliance, and operations.
Required Qualifications:
- 15+ years of progressive leadership in data strategy, governance, analytics, or information management.
- Recognized authority in DAMA-DMBOK, CDOIQ, DCAM, or equivalent frameworks.
- Strong expertise in enterprise platforms (SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, Snowflake, GCP, Azure) and data integration models.
- Experience in highly regulated industries (Utilities, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare).
- Exceptional executive presence, communication, and ability to influence at all organizational levels.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience standing up or maturing a Data CoE or Chief Data Office (CDO) function.
- Certifications such as CDMP, DGSP, CIPP/US, TOGAF.
- Hands-on familiarity with data privacy regulations (CPRA, CCPA, NERC, FERC).
- Boardroom consulting experience with Big 4 or top-tier consulting firms.
