Data Governance & Standards Specialist

Sun Communities; Southfield (MI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental/Vision plans

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Sun Communities in Metro Detroit seeks a Data Governance Specialist to drive governance processes, maintain data standards, and coordinate documentation across business and technical teams. You will champion data quality initiatives and support training, ensuring governance embeds into daily analytics and projects.

The role requires a strong foundation in governance concepts, excellent communication, and the ability to translate policies into practical guidance for diverse user groups.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED (Required)
• Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, Data Management, Business, Analytics, or a related field (Required)
• 5 years in experience in data governance, data management, or analytics (Required)
• Foundational understanding of data governance concepts such as data quality, metadata, business glossaries, stewardship, and responsible data use (Required)
• Strong organizational, documentation, and process coordination skills (Required)
• Effective communication skills with the ability to work across business and technical teams (Required)
• Ability to learn quickly, follow structured processes, and support continuous adoption of governance practices (Required)
• Experience supporting governance committees, steward networks, or cross functional data initiatives
• Exposure to data governance tools, metadata management systems, or cataloging platforms
• Familiarity with business intelligence/analytics concepts and data workflows
• Basic knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) governance and responsible AI principles
• Experience contributing to process or policy documentation

Responsibilities

• Support the rollout and ongoing operation of Sun’s data governance framework by assisting with documentation, process coordination, and communication activities.
• Maintain governance materials such as policies, standards, procedures, and glossary definitions, ensuring they remain clear, current, and accessible.
• Coordinate governance meetings, working sessions, and committee activities, including preparing agendas, capturing decisions, and tracking follow up actions.
• Work with business and technical stewards to document data definitions, validate data quality rules, and support root cause analysis for identified data issues.
• Serve as a point of contact for teams applying data governance standards, providing clarifications, examples, and guidance on how to follow established practices.
• Help ensure consistent use of business terms, metrics, and data elements by supporting data owners and subject matter experts in maintaining standardized definitions.
• Participate in efforts to improve data quality by collecting information, updating documentation, and supporting remediation workflows.
• Support training and awareness activities by preparing materials, maintaining resource libraries, and reinforcing best practices across different user groups.
• Collaborate with analytics, information technology, and business teams to ensure governance practices are embedded in day-to-day data activities and project workflows.
• Track governance related activities, data issues, and documentation updates to support reporting on governance progress and maturity.
• Help identify opportunities to simplify governance processes, streamline templates, or improve communication to make adoption easier for end users.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Data governance

Documentation

Process coordination

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Training support

Education

Bachelor's degree in IS/DM/Analytics

Tools

Metadata management systems

BI concepts

Job description

Sun Communities in Metro Detroit seeks a Data Governance Specialist to drive governance processes, maintain data standards, and coordinate documentation across business and technical teams. You will champion data quality initiatives and support training, ensuring governance embeds into daily analytics and projects.

The role requires a strong foundation in governance concepts, excellent communication, and the ability to translate policies into practical guidance for diverse user groups.