Associate Director, Data Migration and Modernization

Guidehouse; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mobility Stipend

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral Program

Corporate Sponsored Events & Community

Job summary

Guidehouse is seeking an experienced data modernization leader in McLean, VA to own end-to-end migration workstreams, define rationalization criteria, and guide execution across complex source systems and cloud platforms.

Responsibilities include steering executive decisions, coordinating with HR and security teams, and delivering a repeatable operating model for broader rollout. A Public Trust clearance is required and 8+ years of leadership in data programs is expected.

Qualifications

• Must obtain and maintain a Federal or DHS Public Trust.
• Bachelor's degree in data engineering, computer science, information systems, engineering, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience leading enterprise data modernization, migration, platform, or analytics programs.
• Experience leading data migration strategy and execution across complex source systems.
• Experience defining rationalization criteria, migration waves, readiness gates, and stabilization plans.
• Strong knowledge of modern cloud data platforms, lakehouse architecture, data products, governance, quality, testing, and DataOps.
• Experience with Databricks and Unity Catalog.
• Ability to advise executives and align stakeholders.
• Experience developing resource models and delivery roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end data workstream, migration strategy, governance cadence, priorities, and delivery plan.
• Define criteria for migration decisions: migrate, redesign, consolidate, retire.
• Prioritize migration waves by value, readiness, risk, and impact.
• Lead profiling, quality analysis, mapping, conversion, reconciliation, validation, readiness.
• Oversee migration across Databricks architecture, testing, release, and ops transition.
• Expand HR data products and reusable patterns beyond initial waves.
• Coordinate with business, HR, integration, security, architecture, governance, and leadership.
• Establish repeatable operating model, standards, gates, metrics, and lessons learned.
• Lead executive communications and resolve cross-workstream issues.

Skills

Data migration leadership

Databricks

Unity Catalog

Governance & DataOps

Executive stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in data engineering, computer science, information systems, engineering, or related field

Tools

Databricks

Unity Catalog

Job description

Job Family

Data Science Consulting

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Clearance Required

Ability to Obtain Public Trust

• Lead the end-to-end data workstream and establish the migration strategy, governance cadence, priorities, and integrated delivery plan.
• Define system and asset rationalization criteria and guide decisions to migrate, redesign, consolidate, retain temporarily, or retire.
• Prioritize migration waves using business value, dependency, readiness, complexity, risk, and operational-impact considerations.
• Direct source and target profiling, quality analysis, mapping, conversion, reconciliation, validation, and readiness activities.
• Oversee migration execution across Databricks architecture, engineering, testing, release, stabilization, and operational transition.
• Guide expansion of canonical HR data products and reusable patterns beyond the initial priority waves.
• Coordinate with business, HR, application, integration, security, architecture, governance, and program leadership stakeholders.
• Establish the repeatable operating model, standards, decision gates, metrics, and lessons learned needed for broader rollout.
• Lead executive communications, resolve cross-workstream issues, and provide accountability for scope, schedule, quality, and outcomes.

What You Will Do

• Lead the end-to-end data workstream and establish the migration strategy, governance cadence, priorities, and integrated delivery plan.
• Define system and asset rationalization criteria and guide decisions to migrate, redesign, consolidate, retain temporarily, or retire.
• Prioritize migration waves using business value, dependency, readiness, complexity, risk, and operational-impact considerations.
• Direct source and target profiling, quality analysis, mapping, conversion, reconciliation, validation, and readiness activities.
• Oversee migration execution across Databricks architecture, engineering, testing, release, stabilization, and operational transition.
• Guide expansion of canonical HR data products and reusable patterns beyond the initial priority waves.
• Coordinate with business, HR, application, integration, security, architecture, governance, and program leadership stakeholders.
• Establish the repeatable operating model, standards, decision gates, metrics, and lessons learned needed for broader rollout.
• Lead executive communications, resolve cross-workstream issues, and provide accountability for scope, schedule, quality, and outcomes.

What You Will Need

• Must be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DHS "PUBLIC TRUST"; candidates must obtain approved adjudication of their PUBLIC TRUST prior to onboarding with Guidehouse. Candidates with an ACTIVE PUBLIC TRUST or SUITABILITY are preferred
• Bachelor's degree in data engineering, computer science, information systems, engineering, or a related field.
• EIGHT (8) or more years of experience leading enterprise data modernization, migration, platform, or analytics programs, including responsibility for multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience leading data migration strategy and execution across complex source systems, dependencies, and business processes.
• Experience defining rationalization criteria, migration waves, reconciliation approaches, readiness gates, and stabilization plans.
• Strong knowledge of modern cloud data platforms, lakehouse architecture, data products, governance, quality, testing, and DataOps.
• Experience with Databricks and Unity Catalog.
• Demonstrated ability to advise executives, facilitate difficult decisions, and align business and technical stakeholders.
• Experience developing resource models, delivery roadmaps, implementation plans, and repeatable rollout approaches.

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Experience modernizing enterprise HR, ERP, financial, or workforce data environments.
• Experience with public-sector or regulated organizations.
• Program management, cloud, Databricks, or data governance certification.
• Experience supporting capture, proposal development, and partner-led staffing.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits Include

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer-Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at [e-mail]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.

All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or [e-mail]. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.

If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse's Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact [e-mail]. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant's dealings with unauthorized third parties.

Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.