What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Management Leader position at Search Services?
ABOUT OUR CLIENT
Our Client is a leading private equity firm driving growth and operational excellence across a diverse portfolio of companies. With a focus on digital transformation and value creation, the firm is committed to leveraging data as a strategic asset. This role offers the opportunity to lead data strategy at scale, influencing both portfolio company performance and overall investment outcomes.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Data Management Leader will be responsible for shaping and executing enterprise-level data architecture, governance, and management strategies across portfolio companies. This is a high-impact, hybrid role that blends strategic vision with hands-on execution. Reporting to senior leadership, the position requires both technical depth and executive presence to implement robust data frameworks, optimize architecture, and enable data-driven decision-making. The ideal candidate brings a "doer" mentality and the ability to create measurable business value through data.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Define and execute a data management strategy aligned with portfolio growth and firm-wide objectives
- Lead cross-functional initiatives with data engineers, analysts, IT stakeholders, and business leaders
- Act as an advisor to portfolio companies on the adoption of modern data practices
- Define and implement scalable and secure data platforms aligned with best practices
- Oversee the development of big data solutions using tools such as Azure Synapse and Azure Databricks
- Manage structured and semi-structured datasets using Azure Data Lake, Avro, Parquet, and Delta tables
- Ensure efficient ingestion, curation, and integration processes across data environments
- Establish and enforce data governance frameworks using Microsoft Purview or Unity Catalog
- Develop KPIs to monitor data quality, ingestion, and consumption
- Implement secure self-service data access models for portfolio companies
- Lead the design and maintenance of ELT/ETL pipelines with Azure Data Factory, Databricks, or similar tools
- Manage an onshore/offshore team of data engineers, providing mentorship and conducting code reviews
- Oversee integration of external datasets, including public sources such as Enverus, IHS, and TGS
- Support visualization and insights through Power BI, Spotfire, and Plotly
QUALIFICATIONS
- Ten or more years of experience in data management, architecture, or engineering for leadership roles; at least five years for senior-level roles
- Proven experience implementing scalable big data platforms with Azure Synapse, Databricks, or similar tools
- Strong expertise in data modeling, governance, and tools such as Microsoft Purview or Unity Catalog
- Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and experience with REST APIs for data integration
- Hands-on experience with Azure Data Lake, Azure DevOps, and CI/CD pipelines
- Ability to manage structured and semi-structured datasets using modern file formats (Avro, Parquet)
LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION
- Experience managing distributed teams across onshore and offshore environments
- Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate technical solutions into business outcomes
- Proactive, results-driven, and execution-focused mindset
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Industry experience in energy, including exploration and production or energy transition and decarbonization
- Familiarity with MDM practices and external industry data sources
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field
WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE
- Deliver scalable, secure, and impactful data solutions across a private equity portfolio
- Build a culture of data-driven decision-making across portfolio companies
- Establish yourself as a trusted leader in data strategy, creating measurable value through innovation and execution