Senior Data Governance

Why This Role Matters

At Data Meaning, we are seeing rapid growth in enterprise data governance initiatives on Azure, with Microsoft Purview at the center.

We’re looking for a Senior Data Governance Consultant who can lead end-to-end Purview implementations, shape governance strategy, and partner directly with clients to turn data into a trusted, governed asset.

This is not a support role — this is a client-facing leadership position where you will define how organizations manage, secure, operationalize, and engineer their data platforms.

What You’ll Do:

Lead Azure Purview Implementations

• Architect and deliver end-to-end Microsoft Purview solutions across enterprise environments
• Design and configure:
• Data Map and scanning strategies
• Metadata ingestion and classification frameworks
• End-to-end data lineage (ADF, Databricks, Snowflake, Fabric)
• Establish scalable patterns for cataloging, discovery, and governance automation

Define Data Governance Strategy

• Design and implement enterprise data governance operating models
• Lead development of:
• Business glossaries
• Data ownership & stewardship frameworks
• Data classification and sensitivity policies
• Conduct governance maturity assessments and define transformation roadmaps

Build & Integrate Data Pipelines

• Design, develop, and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines using:
• Azure Data Factory (ADF)
• dbt (data build tool)
• Build and orchestrate workflows in Databricks (Apache Spark)
• Develop Alteryx workflows to enable self-service analytics and business-driven data prep
• Ingest and manage structured and unstructured data in Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
• Ensure governance is embedded directly into pipelines (lineage, quality, classification)

Data Modeling & Platform Architecture

• Architect and optimize data models in:
• Snowflake
• Databricks / Delta Lake
• Apply modeling techniques:
• Dimensional modeling
• Data Vault
• Collaborate with analytics teams to define semantic layers and business logic in dbt
• Ensure performance, scalability, and cost efficiency across platforms

Partner with Clients & Stakeholders

• Lead client workshops to align business and technical stakeholders
• Translate business needs into governance frameworks and data architecture solutions
• Advise leadership on data risk, compliance, and best practices
• Present solutions to both technical and executive audiences

Enable Data Quality, Trust & Compliance

• Define and implement data quality frameworks and rules
• Establish:
• Data lineage tracking
• Metadata management standards
• Support regulatory initiatives (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA) through:
• Data classification
• Access controls
• Audit readiness
• Ensure consistent, trusted, and governed data across platforms

Engineering & Automation

• Develop Python-based solutions for:
• Workflow automation
• API integrations
• Data operations
• Write and optimize complex SQL queries, views, and stored procedures
• Monitor and optimize pipeline performance, including:
• Logging
• Alerting
• Error handling
• Troubleshoot and resolve data pipeline and platform issues

Integrate Across the Azure Data Ecosystem

• Align governance and engineering across:
• Azure Data Factory (ADF)
• Databricks / Unity Catalog
• Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
• Snowflake
• Partner with engineering teams to embed governance into data pipelines and architecture

Collaboration & Documentation

• Work closely with:
• Data analysts
• Data scientists
• BI engineers
• Document:
• Data pipelines
• Data models
• Governance policies
• Contribute to data catalogs and internal knowledge repositories
• Participate in code reviews and mentor junior team members

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

• 7 years in data, analytics, engineering, or data governance roles
• 3 years hands-on experience with Microsoft Purview
• Proven experience leading data governance implementations or programs
• Strong understanding of:
• Data cataloging, lineage, and metadata management
• Data governance frameworks and operating models
• Experience in client-facing / consulting roles

Technical Expertise

• Deep experience with Microsoft Purview (Data Map, scanning, classification, lineage)
• Strong experience with:
• Azure Data Factory (ADF)
• Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
• Snowflake
• Databricks / Unity Catalog
• Experience with:
• dbt for transformations and modeling
• Alteryx (preferred)
• Strong SQL skills
• Working knowledge of Python for automation and data engineering
• Experience building and optimizing data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes

Governance & Business Skills

• Experience designing:
• Data stewardship models
• Business glossaries
• Governance policies and standards
• Ability to bridge business and technical stakeholders
• Strong communication and workshop facilitation skills

Preferred

• Experience with additional governance tools (Collibra, Alation)
• Familiarity with:
• CI/CD pipelines, Git, and DataOps practices
• Azure certifications (e.g., DP-203, Purview-related)
• Experience in regulated industries
• Familiarity with Microsoft Fabric

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• You can lead a Purview implementation from 0 → production
• You can define both:
• Governance strategy
• Data engineering architecture
• You are equally comfortable:
• Running executive workshops
• Designing scalable data pipelines
• You help clients move from data chaos → governed, production-grade data platforms

Why Join Data Meaning

• Work on high-impact, enterprise Azure data transformations
• Be part of a fast-growing governance practice
• Collaborate across data engineering, analytics, and AI teams
• Opportunity to shape both governance and modern data platform capabilities