Senior Data Governance Specialist - DAMA / DMBOK Framework

Role Overview :

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Governance Specialist with strong expertise in data governance, data management frameworks (DAMA), and insurance domain knowledge.

The candidate will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-wide data governance strategies, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and driving data quality initiatives to support business decision-making in the insurance Responsibilities :

• Define and implement data governance frameworks, policies, and standards in alignment with DAMA principles.
• Lead data governance initiatives across insurance operations, underwriting, claims, policy administration, and regulatory reporting.
• Establish and monitor data quality, metadata management, lineage, and stewardship programs.
• Partner with business and technology teams to ensure data ownership, accountability, and compliance.
• Drive adoption of data governance best practices and ensure alignment with corporate and regulatory requirements (e.g., POPIA, GDPR, Solvency II where applicable).
• Act as a subject matter expert for data management practices in the insurance sector.
• Facilitate data governance councils, working groups, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Develop and maintain data glossaries, business rules, and reference data management standards.
• Provide guidance on master data management (MDM), data integration, and data lifecycle Skills & Qualifications :
• 12+ years of professional experience in Data Governance, Data Management, or Enterprise Data roles.
• Strong expertise in DAMA-DMBOK framework and data management disciplines.
• Proven experience in the insurance domain (life, commercial, or general insurance).
• Deep understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements impacting insurance data (e.g., POPIA, GDPR).
• Hands-on experience with data governance tools (Collibra, Informatica Axon, Alation, or similar).
• Strong knowledge of metadata management, data lineage, data quality, and stewardship practices.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior executives.
• Professional certifications (preferred) : CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional), DAMA :
• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Information Management, Data Science, or a related field.

(ref : hirist.tech)