Director of Data Strategy & Governance

JOB SUMMARY:

This position provides overall vision, leadership, and direction for Southern Company’s enterprise customer data and analytics organization. The role defines and executes a systemwide customer data strategy, ensuring data is trusted, accessible, and effectively leveraged to drive decision-making across the electric operating companies.

The Director leads enterprise data capabilities, including the Data Management Hub and Data Science teams, and is accountable for data governance, data quality, and the prioritization of customer data initiatives across the system. He/she works closely with the OpCo data and business teams to enable them with high-quality, well-governed data, building data literacy, and delivering insights that drive measurable improvements in customer experience, and operational performance.

He/she will partner closely with Technology organizations to align business needs with cloud data platforms frameworks and infrastructure needs. This role ensures customer data is structured, governed, and positioned to support both current analytics needs and future AI capabilities, strengthening data foundations, improving accessibility, and maintaining alignment with enterprise standards.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

• A bachelor’s degree in Data Analytics, Business, Engineering, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related field is required.
• A master’s degree in a related field and relevant industry certifications are preferred.
• 7+ years of experience managing data and analytics within an organization required
• 7+ years of managerial experience with experience managing leaders highly required
• Preferred experience with Databricks, Azure, or any other cloud data platforms
• Broad knowledge of and experience with internal company data & data systems and external data & data sources.
• Strategic understanding of data infrastructure, including on-prem and cloud data storage, retrieval, governance, reporting and cataloging.
• Experience operating in an agile project management environment.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills with experience influencing highly technical and executive audiences; the ability to simplify complex subjects and articulate value and risk in clear business terms.
• Proven ability to lead and manage day-to-day operations of a data and analytics organization, ensuring effective oversight, prioritization of work, and alignment to enterprise objectives
• Proven ability to manage and optimize budget aligned to strategic priorities
• Consult at all levels with business leaders concerning their organizational goals, needs and strategies.
• Ability to think holistically and develop innovative and effective business strategies.
• Experience managing and prioritizing multiple, competing initiatives involving internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategy development and deployment with a focus on change management and data literacy transformation.
• Proven ability to develop influential partnerships and operate effectively across complex internal and external environments with senior leaders and strategic stakeholders
• Experience effectively leveraging vendors, consultants, and suppliers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop employees as future leaders.
• Proven ability to attract top talent and build high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to connect the dots in highly cross-functional environments and apply sound business judgment.
• Understanding of advanced analytical methodologies in applied statistics, research, and forecasting preferred.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Enterprise-wide leadership for acceleration of and collaboration on Southern Company’s data strategy across the customer organizations.
• Successfully lead an organization that identifies, aggregates, analyzes, develops, and deploys customer data to drive comprehensive data and analytics initiatives of Southern Company.
• Partner with Data and Analytics leaders within the OpCos including engagement with System Customer Council, OneCX, and OneCX subcommittees. 
• Identify solutions for data enablement, including prioritization of data elements, data storage, retrieval, governance, and cataloging.
• Lead the awareness and utilization of Southern Company’s Cloud Data Platform (CDP) for internal data science teams and 3rd-party partners.
• Drive data enablement for external partners of Southern Company and its operating companies through the Energy Information Exchange (EIX) and future state data sharing platforms.
• Drive efficient engagements and processes with operating company data science teams.
• Lead system-wide customer-related data and analytics efforts that drive value to the business
• Communicate technical information and complex data to non-technical audiences in a logical and concise manner.
• Establish external relationships to share and drive best practices in the data & analytics space (e.g., Engage VC, TechStars, EIP, etc.).
• Stay abreast of electric utility industry trends and emerging technologies and develop connections with other leaders within the data and analytics community.
• Attract, develop, and manage a highly effective, diverse workforce of highly skilled, technical employees and leaders.
• Accelerate data literacy within Southern Company by inspiring teams to be data-informed as they tackle 21st-century energy challenges alongside our customers.