Manager Data Governance

Southern New Hampshire University is a team of innovators. World changers. Individuals who believe in progress with purpose. Since 1932, our people-centered strategy has defined us — and helped us grow a team that now serves over 180,000 learners worldwide.

Our mission to transform lives is made possible by talented people who bring diverse industry experience, backgrounds and skills to the university. And today, we're ready to expand our reach. All we need is you.

Make an impact — from near or far

At SNHU, you'll have the option to work remotely in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

We ask that our remote employees have access to a reliable internet connection and a dedicated, properly equipped workspace that is free of distractions. Employees must reside in, and work from, one of the above approved states.

The opportunity

The Manager of Data Governance leads the daily operations and ongoing maturation of SNHU’s federated enterprise data governance program. With foundational components already established, this role focuses on driving adoption, socialization, education, and consistent execution of data governance practices across the institution. The role establishes and maintains data governance structures, supports stewardship activities, advances data quality and metadata practices, and helps ensure data policies and standards are understood, applied, and sustained across business and technology domains.

This position is not intended to duplicate existing data governance, legal, compliance, privacy, security, or technical data management responsibilities. Instead, the Manager of Data Governance serves as the coordinating and operational role that connects those functions, facilitates decision-making, documents responsibilities, and ensures that data governance practices are translated into repeatable processes, clear guidance, and measurable adoption across the university.

The role requires strong relationship-building, facilitation, and change-management skills to influence stakeholders across organizational boundaries. The Manager of Data Governance may coordinate work performed by internal contributors, data stewards, data trustees, business subject matter experts, technical teams, and external partners, but final approval for legal, regulatory, privacy, security, or enterprise policy decisions remains with the appropriate accountable function or governance body.

What you'll do:

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the federated enterprise data governance program, ensuring alignment with established frameworks, policies, standards, and institutional priorities.
• Lead data governance structures such as the Data Governance Council, stewardship working groups, and cross-functional forums; facilitate discussion, clarify decisions needed, document outcomes, and route approvals to the appropriate accountable leaders or governance bodies.
• Define, maintain, and socialize data governance roles and responsibilities, including Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Trustees, Data Custodians, business subject matter experts, and technical partners.
• Partner with Legal, Privacy, Information Security, Compliance, business leaders, and ITS teams to ensure data governance policies and standards appropriately reflect legal, regulatory, risk, security, and operational requirements.
• Support the development, maintenance, implementation, and adoption of data governance policies, standards, procedures, and guidance materials; recommend updates and coordinate required review and approval processes.
• Lead program socialization and adoption through communication plans, stakeholder engagement, targeted outreach, training, education, and practical guidance for data stewards, data owners, and university staff.
• Embed data governance practices into data products, integrations, analytics, reporting, AI/ML enablement, and operational workflows in partnership with business and technical delivery teams.
• Partner with business and technical teams to advance data quality rules, metadata management, lineage, stewardship responsibilities, and data issue resolution processes.
• Facilitate resolution of cross-domain data issues by identifying accountable parties, clarifying impacts, documenting decisions, and escalating unresolved items through the appropriate governance path.
• Maintain program documentation, including role definitions, decision records, process workflows, issue-management procedures, stewardship artifacts, data governance standards, and adoption materials.
• Monitor data governance program performance, adoption, data quality trends, issue resolution, and stakeholder engagement; identify gaps or barriers and recommend improvements to mature the program.
• Coordinate with external vendors, consultants, and internal contributors to support data governance initiatives, ensuring work is aligned to SNHU standards, documented expectations, and approved program priorities.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships across the organization to promote shared responsibility for data governance and consistent use of trusted institutional data.
• Attendance, punctuality, and reliability are essential functions of this role.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned. Job responsibilities can change at any time, with or without notice.
• Scope of work: Owns the operating model for the enterprise data governance program, including stewardship coordination, program adoption, data quality and metadata practices, issue resolution workflows, standards documentation, training, and governance forum operations.
• Approval authority: Recommends data governance policies, standards, procedures, definitions, and program changes; facilitates review and consensus; and routes items for approval to the appropriate Data Governance Council, accountable business owner, Legal, Privacy, Information Security, Compliance, ITS leadership, or other designated approval body.
• Independent authority: Has discretion to manage data governance program operations, prioritize approved program activities, convene stakeholders, maintain artifacts, define working group agendas, document decisions, and escalate unresolved issues within established governance processes.
• Legal, privacy, security, and compliance partnership: Collaborates with those teams to ensure data governance practices align with laws, regulations, contractual obligations, privacy expectations, security requirements, and university policy; this role does not replace those teams’ approval authority or subject matter accountability.
• Business and technical team partnership: Works with business data owners, data stewards, Data Services, analytics, reporting, integrations, architecture, and platform teams to translate data governance expectations into practical workflows, definitions, controls, quality rules, and adoption practices.
• Non-duplication of existing roles: Complements existing data governance contributors by providing dedicated program management, facilitation, documentation, adoption, and operating discipline across the federated model; accountable business, legal, compliance, privacy, security, and technical owners retain their respective decision rights.
• Uses approved Artificial Intelligence tools and emerging technologies responsibly in alignment with SNHU guidance as part of regular role responsibilities.

What we're looking for:

• 8+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or related disciplines; 3+ years of leadership or program management experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Data Management, Business, or a related field
• Equivalent experience in lieu of degree acceptable:     X Yes   No
• Demonstrated experience implementing or operating data governance frameworks across multiple business domains, preferably in a federated or decentralized model.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, facilitation, communication, and change-management skills.
• Experience developing and delivering training, education, guidance materials, or adoption plans for business and technical audiences.
• Ability to interpret data policies and standards and translate them into practical guidance, workflows, and operating practices for stakeholders.
• Experience with data governance tools.
• Familiarity with enterprise data quality, metadata, and compliance frameworks.

We believe real innovation comes from inclusion - where different experiences, perspectives and talents are celebrated. So if you're wondering whether SNHU is right for you, take the leap and apply. You might be just the person we're looking for.

Compensation

Exceptional benefits (because you’re exceptional)

You’re the whole package. Your benefits should be, too. As a full-time employee at SNHU, you’ll get:

• High-quality, low-deductible medical insurance

• Low to no-cost dental and vision plans

• 5 weeks of paid time off (plus almost a dozen paid holidays)

• Employer-funded retirement

• Free tuition program

• Parental leave

• Mental health and wellbeing resources