Data Governance Program Manager, Customer Master Data - Viby

Arla Foods; Denmark; On-site; DKK 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla Foods seeks a Data Governance Program Manager to embed strong customer master data governance across markets and functions. You will lead the Data Steward team and partner with Sales, Finance, IT, and Operations to establish standards, controls, and data quality routines that enable trusted customer data.

You will shape governance across markets, drive sustainable change, and report to senior stakeholders with clear priorities and sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Implemented data governance in practice across large organisations.
• Deep experience with master data, data governance, data quality, and stewardship models.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and develop Data Stewards teams.
• Curiosity about human-assisted agents in master data initiatives.
• Experience leading temporary project teams across countries and functions.
• Ability to communicate complex topics clearly to business and IT stakeholders.
• Driven by real-world impact for customers and colleagues and sustainable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Implement and embed customer data governance across markets, functions, and systems.
• Lead and develop the Data Steward team with clear priorities and ways of working.
• Provide direction to the program organisation and ensure lasting governance outcomes.
• Manage Data Owner/Data Steward roles, decision forums, escalation paths, and operating routines.
• Define and roll out customer data standards, rules, controls, and lifecycle governance.
• Improve data quality with KPIs and dashboards to enable proactive prevention.
• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Supply Chain, IT, and markets.

Skills

Data governance

Data quality

Leadership

MDM/MDG tools

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Tools

MDM/MDG tools

Job description

At Arla, we believe that good data is a service - to our customers, our colleagues, and ultimately to the farmers who own our business. When customer data works well, everything else works better orders flow, deliveries arrive on time, invoices are right the first time, and colleagues can focus on creating value instead of fixing issues.

That’s why we are looking for a Data Governance Program Manager to help implement and embed strong customer master data governance across Arla.

How You Will Make An Impact

As Data Governance Program Manager, you will be responsible for turning governance ambition into everyday practice. You will establish clear ownership, decision forums, standards, controls, and data quality routines that ensure customer data is created, maintained, and used consistently across markets, systems, and functions.

This is a leadership role with both governance and people responsibility. You will become people manager for the Data Steward team and provide direction to the temporary project organisation supporting the Customer Master Data transformation, ensuring the team has clear priorities, strong ways of working, and the right support to deliver sustainable change.

Your work will be visible and felt

• For customers Reduce order blocks, delivery issues, and invoice rejections by getting customer data right the first time
• For colleagues Simplify ways of working with clear ownership, governed processes, and automated controls - less manual fixing
• For the business Build trusted customer data and measurable quality that support growth, analytics, and AI

In this role, you will shape how customer data governance is implemented and sustained. Your impact will be seen in clearer ownership, stronger stewardship, trusted data, simpler processes, and customer journeys that create lasting value. With strong sponsorship and senior stakeholder support, you will have the mandate to lead, prioritise, and build the capabilities needed for long-term success.

Your core responsibilities will include

• Implement and embed customer data governance across markets, functions, and systems
• Lead and develop the Data Steward team, creating clarity on priorities, accountabilities, and ways of working
• Provide direction to the temporary program organisation and ensure delivery is anchored in lasting governance outcomes
• Run customer data governance with Data Owner/Data Steward roles, decision forums, escalation paths, and operating routines
• Define and roll out customer data standards, business rules, controls, and lifecycle governance
• Improve data quality using KPIs and dashboards, shifting from reactive fixes to proactive prevention
• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Customer Service, Supply Chain, IT, and teams across markets

What Will Make You Successful

• Has implemented data governance in practice, not only managed plans or projects
• Brings strong experience with master data, data governance, data quality, stewardship models, and MDM/MDG tools
• Can lead, motivate, and develop a team of Data Stewards while building a strong culture of accountability and collaboration
• Is curious to explore how human assisted agents can support our master data initiatives
• Is comfortable leading temporary project teams and cross-functional initiatives across countries and functions
• Brings clarity and structure to complex topics and can explain them simply to both business and IT stakeholders
• Cares about real-world impact for customers and colleagues and is motivated by creating sustainable improvements

Why join Arla

At Arla, you will be part of a farmer‑owned cooperative with strong values and a long‑term view. You will have the opportunity to shape how customer data works across Europe and beyond in a role with strong impact, clear sponsorship, and a meaningful purpose.

We believe that diverse perspectives make us stronger and warmly encourage applications from candidates with different backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

For additional information, please contact Head of Data Excellence, Søren Trillingsgaard, at [e-mail].

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with natural, sustainable nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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