DATA MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

The Data Management Specialist is responsible for managing, expanding and optimizing our enterprise data architecture and the operationalizing of Guardian Data Governance policies and procedures to support the organization in its Data Mastery journey.

DATA MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

GUARDIAN GROUP

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The Data Management Analyst is responsible for managing, expanding and optimizing our enterprise data architecture and the operationalizing of Guardian Data Governance policies and procedures to support the organization in its Data Mastery journey. It involves developing and implementing data standards, guaranteeing metadata is captured correctly, and creating methods for monitoring and reporting any data incidents. The position is responsible for monitoring personnel to ensure data governance procedures are being followed. He/ she also directs the changes, interfaces, user access controls, and operations for systems that house and impact Data Integrity.
The position will support Data Stewards, Business Analysts, Software Developers and Database Administrators on data initiatives, analyze and oversee these strategies designed to enhance data reliability and minimize redundancies and will ensure optimal data delivery architecture is consistent throughout data projects.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.   Data Governance
•   Advise management on data policy, evolving industry practice, and emerging opportunities
•   Set operational standards and measurement indicators for data collection, hosting, storage, use, and deletion, at the operational level, in-line with mission, applicable law, and strategy
•   Operationalization of the Data Governance policies and procedures
•   Execute audits periodically and assist business/technical data stewards in complying with Data Governance policies and procedures
•   Maintaining/updating/refreshing data governance procedures and standards
•   Works closely with enterprise data champions (Business Analysts, Data Stewards, Data Custodians etc.) to implement and adopt data policies and processes

2.   Data Management
•   Maintain data architecture standards across all the business’s databases 
•   Assemble large, complex data sets that meet functional/non-functional business requirements
•   Oversee the mapping of data sources, data movement, interfaces, and analytics, with the goal of ensuring data quality
•   Creating relevant KPIs and Metrics for performance of operations
•   Evaluating business processes, anticipating requirements, uncovering areas for improvement, and developing and implementing solutions
•   Stay abreast of new products in the data management market, conducting research on emerging trends and developments that could support the business
•   Identify and tag critical data sources (CDRs), data classification and security around the downstream usage of this data 
o   Data definition
o   Production
o   Usage 
o   Retention
o   Archiving
o   Disposal
•   Assists with ensuring data is available, reliable, consistent, accessible, secure, and timely
•   Coordinate the collection, collation, and analysis of data, data cleaning, and validation and visualization
•   Ensure that project management and software development practices include the steps, activities, and deliverables required to achieve high quality data
•   Ensure that data strategies and architectures are in regulatory compliance

3.   Conduct Data integrity reviews on systems and downstream data consumption
•   Identify and develop data quality measures and practices to improve how the Group collects, uses and manages data
•   Analyze Data Errors and fraud to determine and address their root cause
•   Review systems changes, and projects implemented to ensure that they used appropriate Data sharing and protection mechanisms
•   Implement and oversee systems and controls to Review and validate changes to sensitive and private data
•   Perform data profiling on a regular basis and generate data quality statistics. The results of these audits to be communicated to Data Owner & Data Stewards, and where necessary to be reported at the Data Governance Council level.
•   Proactively analyzes and evaluates the business’s databases to identify and recommend improvements and optimization
•   Work with Data Custodians to develop and enforce methods and validation mechanisms for ensuring data quality, and accuracy at the point of entry
•   Work with stakeholders to assist with data-related technical issues and support their data infrastructure needs

4.   Maintenance of the Group Data Architecture and corresponding data standards
•   Define and maintain a Target State Data Architecture and roadmap
•   Govern the changes to the Data Architecture
•   Vet and recommend requested changes and exceptions to Data Architecture to the Design Authority
•   Research and develop standard that support the Data Architecture
•   Conduct research and establish a cadre of tools, systems, and vendors that can support the Data Architecture

5.   Data Warehouse
•   Coordinate and work with other technical staff to develop database architectures, coding standards, and quality assurance policies and procedures 
•   Conduct research and make recommendations on data warehouse services, protocols, and standards in support of development & operation efforts
•   Create models for new data warehouse development and/or changes to existing data stores
•   Identify data discrepancies and data quality issues, and work to ensure data consistency and integrity
•   Diagnose and resolve data warehouse access and performance issues
•   Perform cost estimates for data migration between development, test, and production systems, and plan and coordinate these migrations
•   Develop, implement, and maintain change control and testing processes for modifications to data systems

6.   To perform any other job-related duties as assigned by the Manager.

EDUCATION:

•   First Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related field from a recognized tertiary educational institution.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

•   A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Data Management or similar role
•   Practical and operational understanding of Data Governance
•   Research and technical development skills to keep abreast of advancements in Data Management Best Practices
•   Advanced working SQL knowledge and experience working with relational databases, query authoring (SQL) as well as working familiarity with a variety of databases.
•   Experience building and optimizing data pipelines, architectures and data sets.
•   Experience with data preparation methods, including data profiling, data quality, data transformation
•   Experience performing root cause analysis on internal and external data and processes to answer specific business questions and identify opportunities for improvement.
•   Experience working with large and complex data sets as well as experience analyzing volumes of data
•   Experience working in internet technologies e.g. SaaS, IaaS and PaaS

PERSONALITY:

The Data Management Specialist must be a logical, methodical and highly self- motivated individual with a keen attention to detail. He/ she must be able to communicate effectively with internal/external stakeholders and be comfortable working on new and unchartered data projects. Emotional intelligence and Critical Thinking skills must be inherent. The incumbent must be able to plan effectively and remain calm in situations of uncertainty. He / She must possess unquestioned integrity and be able to work with confidential information.  He/ She must be able to efficiently perform in a fast-paced environment while continuously striving to learn and improve on new systems and ideas.