Data Governance Specialist

Smarttech247; Ireland; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group pension

Health insurance

Flexible working

Meeting Free Friday afternoons

Job summary

Smarttech247 seeks a Data Governance Specialist to guide governance initiatives for clients, designing and maintaining governance frameworks and data quality practices while ensuring GDPR compliance. You will engage with clients and internal teams to translate complex governance concepts into practical recommendations.

A DPO-as-a-Service background is advantageous, and you will contribute to advisory activities and governance tooling discussions across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Data Management or a related discipline.
• 2–3 years’ experience in data governance, data management, GRC, information security governance or a related field.
• Practical understanding of data governance principles, including data quality, data lifecycle and data classification.
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Experience developing, implementing or maintaining governance policies, procedures or controls.
• Experience conducting assessments, identifying risks or gaps, and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk and compliance concepts, with experience applying relevant frameworks or industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Data governance and data management across client projects.
• Data classification and protection: experience with DLP, data classification, DLM, etc.
• Risk and compliance: assess data-related risks and support GDPR compliance.
• Policy implementation: translate governance requirements into practical policies, controls and processes.
• Data quality and integrity: ensure data is accurate, consistent, secure, available and fit for purpose.
• Risk/problem assessment: identify root causes, define problems and recommend solutions.
• Client/stakeholder engagement: work with clients or internal stakeholders to understand requirements and explain recommendations.
• Advisory/consulting: translate complex governance requirements into clear, practical recommendations.
• Governance tooling: exposure to data catalogues, metadata management systems or other governance platforms would be beneficial.

Skills

Data governance

GDPR knowledge

Client engagement

Governance tooling

DPO as a Service experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Data Management or a related discipline

Tools

Data catalogues

Metadata management systems

Job description

Smarttech247 is seeking a highly motivated and customer-oriented Data Governance Specialist to join our team. As a Data Governance Specialist, you will play a crucial role in providing data governance solutions and support to our clients. You will work closely with clients to understand their data governance needs and provide guidance and recommendations to enhance their data management practices. Your strong communication skills and technical expertise will be instrumental in building trusted relationships with our customers.

Location: Reporting to Cork office (HQ), but open to applications within the Republic of Ireland

Travel: Ad-hoc for customer related face to face meetings

Days and hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm

1) Company Group Pension Scheme (mandatory from day 1 of employment), 3% ER, 3% EE contribution

2) Health Insurance - this is Benefit in Kind

3) Flexible working based on tenure and Meeting Free Friday afternoons

Please note: We are not seeking support from recruitment agencies for this role and kindly ask that agencies refrain from contacting us. Thank you for your understanding.

How the hiring process works:

If your skills and experience align with our expectations, a member of our Talent team will reach out via email to begin an initial screening. This stage allows us to understand your experience and expectations while giving you the opportunity to learn more about the role and our company. If successful, we will outline the full interview process, which may include a combination of remote and on-site interviews. Depending on the role, a task or presentation may also be part of the process. Throughout, we aim to ensure a positive and transparent candidate experience, keeping you informed at each stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Data governance and data management: developing, implementing and maintaining data governance frameworks, policies and procedures.
• Data classification and protection: experience with areas such as DLP, data classification, DLM etc.
• Risk and compliance: assessing data-related risks and supporting compliance with regulations and industry standards, particularly GDPR.
• Policy implementation: translating governance requirements into practical policies, controls and processes.
• Data quality and integrity: ensuring data is accurate, consistent, secure, available and fit for purpose.
• Risk/problem assessment: identifying root causes, defining problems and recommending appropriate solutions.
• Client/stakeholder engagement: working with clients or internal stakeholders to understand requirements and explain recommendations.
• Advisory/consulting: being able to take complex technical or governance requirements and turn them into clear, practical recommendations.
• Governance tooling: exposure to data catalogues, metadata management systems or other data management/governance platforms would be beneficial.

What we're looking for:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex data governance challenges.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence working directly with clients.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to translate complex technical and governance concepts into clear, practical recommendations.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards of data quality and integrity.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with internal teams and clients.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and client engagements.
• A continuous learning mindset, with an interest in evolving data governance, data protection and regulatory requirements.

Must have skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, Data Management or a related discipline.
• DPO as a Service experience.
• 2–3 years’ experience in data governance, data management, GRC, information security governance or a related field.
• Practical understanding of data governance principles, including data quality, data lifecycle and data classification.
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Experience developing, implementing or maintaining governance policies, procedures or controls.
• Experience conducting assessments, identifying risks or gaps, and providing recommendations for improvement.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk and compliance concepts, with experience applying relevant frameworks or industry standards.

Diversity & Inclusion Mission Statement

At Smarttech247, our mission is to keep our customers secure. Cybersecurity is a complex industry, therefore, in order to tackle its challenges and continue to innovate, we believe that a diverse workforce contributes to greater collective intelligence and ultimately, makes a stronger team – qualities that are needed in our fight against cybercrime.

Smarttech247 is proud to be committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.