Project Manager- Data Governance - Apollo Technology Solutions LLC

Job Title: Project Manager- Data Governance
Location: Des Moines, IA-Hybrid
Duration: 12 Months
Note:

• This is a hybrid position where the contractor will be onsite in Des Moines a minimum of 2 days a week. Only local regional candidates.

Job Description:
The client is seeking a Project Manager responsible for overseeing the establishment, improvement, monitoring, and training on the data governance initiative for the client.

• The Data Governance Coordinator will work with stakeholders across the Department to ensure data is collected, stored, shared and reported in a manner consistent with the needs of the organization.
• The candidate will lead the establishment and implementation of a Department-wide data governance program, including policies and processes covering data access and use, data security, metadata management, privacy, and more.
• The Coordinator will also seek out program, process, and technological improvements that will (1) foster improved data quality and appropriate use of data; (2) eliminate redundancies; and (3) reduce the data reporting burden through the use of better data collection and data use processes, supports and tools.
• The position requires strong communication, facilitation and project management skills; experience with data use and policies within an education and/or government agency; as well as an understanding of IT concepts and systems.

Key Responsibilities:

• Chair and lead the work of the Department's Data Governance Committee.
• Facilitate meetings and working groups with technical and non-technical stakeholders to identify data challenges, consult with experts, and determine appropriate solutions.
• Oversee the creation, implementation, and enforcement of agency-wide data governance policies and processes, including: defining and implementing changes to the agency's data collections, data requests, and data releases.
• Plan and facilitate necessary meetings, including preparing the agenda, leading discussions, and tracking and following up on action items.
• Create and maintain a critical data issues log that identifies problems that impede data quality and use. Identify Department staff who will be accountable for resolving each issue.
• Convene working groups of data stewards to address or resolve data governance needs within the Department.
• Facilitate collaboration between program areas and technology regarding data quality.
• Serve as a liaison between the Data Governance Committee and Department leadership, including escalating issues for resolution and submitting recommendations for approval.
• Track and oversee data sharing agreements.
• Serve as the primary contact for Department personnel regarding data governance, quality, and compliance issues.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in education, data science, research, statistics or three years experience in research/data management or related fields is required.
• 2+ years of experience working with data governance, policy development, and/or reporting with a history of some formal training (or additional years of experience)
• Evidence of effective organizational communication, including meeting facilitation and consensus building and knowledge of the types of approaches required to do such work
• Experience using and communicating about data to technical and non-technical audiences and navigating data quality and/or governance issues.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills. Ability to work with cross-functional groups, coordinate work activities across all levels of staff within the agency, and build internal/external relationships.
• Experience in change management or process development.
• Strong facilitation skills, including familiarity with facilitation techniques, tools, and best practices.
• Project management experience.
• Strong organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to do detailed and accurate work, work independently and adhere to organizational deadlines.
• Proficient in authoring, editing and presenting high quality, wellorganized technical or business documents
• Strong interpersonal, problem solving and critical thinking skills, including the ability to mediate multiple perspectives and come to a resolution. Desirable Qualifications
• Certification in project management (e.g., PMP)
• Previous experience chairing effective/functional committees.
• Training or mentoring experience.

Keys for consideration: We encourage vendors to screen candidates who can demonstrate these specific competencies and experiences in their application materials.
Candidates must be able to clearly speak to the following:

• Experience with data, data governance, and related policies, as well as compliance and reporting, is a prerequisite for this position.
• Candidates should possess substantial experience and training in leading projects, showcasing abilities in meeting facilitation and the adeptness to achieve consensus among team members.
• Prospective candidates must have solid experience in project management, with a history of successfully leading or managing diverse types of projects.
• Applicants are expected to have demonstrated complex organizational communication skills, including the ability to build consensus, in at least two professional scenarios.
• Details of the stakeholder roles and positions in these situations should be highlighted.
• The role requires experience in working with IT systems, staff, and collaborative teams, demonstrating a strong ability to operate within the technological domain.

Required Skills:

• Bachelors degree in education, data science, research, statistics or three years experience in research/data management or related fields is required.
• Ability to work with cross functional groups, coordinate work activities across all levels of staff, and build internal/external relationships.
• Strong facilitation skills, including familiarity with facilitation techniques, tools, and best practices.
• Experience working with data governance, policy development, and/or reporting with a history of some formal training (or additional year
• Experience using technology/systems for data collection, transformation, storage, and/or compliance
• Experience using and communicating about data to technical and non-technical audiences and navigating data quality and/or governance issues.
• Prior work experience in data governance.