Data Governance Specialist I

Colorado-Public-Employees; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Work Option

Job summary

Colorado PERA seeks a Data Governance Specialist to support the enterprise data governance program. You will work with the Data Governance Program Manager to ensure data is trusted, secure, and well-documented for reporting and modernization.

Your responsibilities include data stewardship, metadata management, glossary development, and governance documentation while collaborating with business and technology teams to drive practical, sustainable data practices across PERA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2+ years of data governance/analytics experience.
• Working knowledge of data governance concepts including ownership, stewardship, metadata, and glossary.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accurate documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation and maintenance of PERA’s data governance framework, policies, standards, and documentation.
• Document data ownership, stewardship roles, decision rights, and accountability structures.
• Support data glossary, metadata repositories, and data lineage efforts.
• Collaborate with business and technical teams to ensure consistent definitions and reporting terminology.
• Assist with training materials, stakeholder engagement, and governance communications.

Skills

Data governance concepts

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Data Management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Purview

Informatica

Alation

Collibra

Power BI

Tableau

Snowflake

Databricks

AWS

IBM i

Oracle

SQL Server

Job description

Summary of Job ResponsibilitiesThe Data Governance Specialist at Colorado PERA supports the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of PERA’s enterprise data governance program. Working in partnership with the Data Governance Program Manager, this role helps ensure that data is trusted, secure, well-documented, and effectively used to support reporting, analytics, operational decision-making, and modernization efforts.The Data Governance Specialist assists with data stewardship activities, business glossary and metadata documentation, data quality processes, governance standards, and stakeholder engagement across business and technology teams. This position plays an important role in helping PERA build consistent, practical, and sustainable data governance practices that support responsible data use and improve confidence in enterprise data.Ideal Candidate StatementOur ideal candidate is a collaborative, detail-oriented, and analytically-minded professional who is interested in helping an organization strengthen how it manages and uses data. They bring a solid understanding of data governance, data quality, metadata, reporting, and business process documentation, along with the ability to work effectively with both technical teams and business stakeholders. This individual is comfortable supporting structured enterprise initiatives, documenting data definitions and business rules, assisting with data quality analysis, and helping translate governance concepts into practical day-to-day practices. They are organized, curious, service-oriented, and able to support multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesEmployees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Individuals must be able to perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodations.Data Governance & Stewardship SupportSupport the Data Governance Program Manager in implementing and maintaining PERA’s enterprise data governance framework, including policies, standards, procedures, and supporting documentation.Assist with documenting data ownership, stewardship roles, decision rights, and accountability structures across business units.Support the coordination and administration of data governance forums, working groups, and stewardship meetings, including agenda preparation, meeting notes, action item tracking, and follow-up.Help build and maintain a data stewardship community by providing documentation, coordination, training materials, and ongoing support to data owners and data stewards.Assist business teams in documenting data definitions, business rules, data quality expectations, and governance-related decisions.Metadata, Business Glossary, & Data DocumentationSupport the development and ongoing maintenance of business glossaries, data dictionaries, metadata repositories, and related governance artifacts.Work with business subject matter experts and technical teams to document key data elements, definitions, data sources, system relationships, and usage context.Assist with documenting data lineage, source-to-target mappings, and data lifecycle information where needed.Help ensure that data definitions, metrics, and reporting terminology are consistent across business areas and analytics products.Maintain organized, accessible, and version-controlled governance documentation that supports transparency and reuse.Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagemento Serve as a supporting liaison between business stakeholders, data owners, data stewards, technology teams, the Data & Analytics Team, and other stakeholders.o Help translate business questions and data concerns into documented governance needs, data quality requirements, or process improvement opportunities.o Support communication and education efforts that promote data literacy, data stewardship, and responsible data usage across PERA.o Assist with creating training materials, reference guides, presentations, and other resources that help employees understand governance practices.o Build trusted working relationships across teams by providing responsive, accurate, and practical support.Compliance, Privacy, & Risk Supporto Assist with governance activities that support compliance with applicable data protection expectations, internal policies, and responsible handling of sensitive member and organizational data.o Support collaboration with Legal, Enterprise Risk, Information Security, and business teams by helping document data-related risks, controls, and mitigation activities.o Support the consistent application of data classification, privacy, access, and usage standards.o Promote a risk-aware approach to data management while helping teams apply governance in a practical and business-focused manner.Process Improvement & Innovationo Identify opportunities to improve data governance processes, documentation standards, issue tracking, and stewardship workflows.o Support evaluation and implementation of data governance, data catalog, metadata, or data quality tools as needed.o Stay informed on data governance, data quality, metadata management, analytics, and data stewardship best practices.o Recommend practical improvements that make governance easier to understand, adopt, and sustain across PERA.o Assist with embedding governance practices into projects, system changes, data modernization efforts, and operational workflows.Other Duties/ResponsibilitiesPerforms other duties as assigned.Job QualificationsRequired QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Management, Business, or related field and 2+ years of experience in data governance, data analytics, data management, or a related field. A combination of relevant education, training, and experience that demonstrates the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities will also be considered.Working knowledge of data governance concepts such as data ownership, stewardship, metadata management, data quality, data lifecycle management, and business glossary development.Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.Ability to manage multiple priorities, track action items, and maintain accurate documentation.Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, collaboration platforms, and business documentation practices.Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and follow applicable data privacy, security, and confidentiality expectations.Preferred QualificationsExperience with data governance platforms such as Microsoft Purview, Informatica, Alation, Collibra, or similar tools.Experience with BI or reporting tools such as Power BI or Tableau.Experience supporting data warehouse, analytics platform, modernization, or enterprise system (e.g. Snowflake, Databricks, AWS) implementation efforts.Familiarity with IBM i, Oracle, SQL Server, or other similar operating systems and databases.Certification, coursework, or training related to data governance, data management, or data analytics.Experience in financial services, pension systems, or public sector organizations.Working ConditionsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Standard office environment with frequent telephone communication, computer operation, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy and printer machine.Occasional moving and positioning supplies in excess of 20 poundsAll employees are expected to present themselves in a professional manner in alignment with the financial services industryAbility to sit for prolonged periods of timeAbility to operate standard PC equipmentAbility to manage frequent deadlines and tight schedulesHybrid Work OptionOpportunity to work from home up to three days per week. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA's Work from Home Policy.Interested Candidates:Complete the employment application online at https://www.copera.org/careers. Please have copies of your resume and cover letter available to upload.Job Description DisclaimerThis job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned with or without notice.Unfortunately, at this time, PERA cannot consider candidates that require sponsorship (now or in the future), or are located outside of the US.All Colorado PERA employees are subject to PERA’s Ethics Policy and some employees are subject to the Personal Trading Policy. These policies include restrictions on outside business activities and employment and have certain requirements on personal trading. You may request copies of these policies from PERA’s talent acquisition team and any questions can be answered by PERA’s Investment Administration team.Why Work at PERAColorado PERA offers more than a traditional pension career. We are a mission-driven organization with a growing focus on technology and modernization. Employees have the opportunity to do meaningful work with a real impact on over 700,000 members. From enhancing digital tools and member experiences to supporting major enterprise initiatives, employees are part of meaningful, future-focused work that blends public service with innovation. We take pride in our inclusive culture, career development opportunities, and our consistent recognition as a Top Workplace based on employee feedback. PERA is a place to connect, contribute, and be part of something bigger.A Culture That CaresAt PERA, leveraging employee strengths and supporting strong engagement are the foundations of our culture. Employees are encouraged to grow through development opportunities and internal career movement, while also being part of an organization where people feel respected, informed, and included. Collaboration is encouraged across teams, allowing employees to learn from one another and contribute in ways that maximize their unique skills. We strive to foster an environment where employees can do their best work and feel supported by the people around themAn Employer that Invests in YouPERA invests in our employees in ways that matter; from comprehensive benefits and generous paid time-off to thoughtful everyday amenities that enhance the office experience. Employees are encouraged to continue learning through training, mentoring, and development at every stage of their careers. We champion a workplace where people feel valued, inspired, and equipped to grow.Join UsIf you’re energized by meaningful work, motivated by an organization that evolves with a changing world and looking for an employer that invests in you, then consider joining PERA’s team. Learn more about careers at PERA at copera.org/careers.Position Title: Data Governance Specialist IDivision: Data and AnalyticsReports to: Director of Data and AnalyticsJob Status: Full-time, ExemptSalary: $90,000.00 to $120,000.00 Annual, Commensurate with experiencePosting Dates: 10/15/2026 to 11/01/2026