Director, Research Data Governance & Analytics

The Jackson Laboratory; United States; Remote; USD 136,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jackson Laboratory seeks a Director of Research Data Governance & Analytics to lead data strategy, governance, and analytics initiatives across the research and education portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President of Research Administration, you will oversee data standards, integrity, accessibility, and regulatory compliance through the data lifecycle.

Remote with travel as needed; you will work with researchers and administrators to drive data-driven decision making, build governance

Qualifications

• 10 years of technical experience, ideally in data governance and management.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership of enterprise-wide programs and/or cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of data governance best practices, data management principles, data architecture, storage, and security requirements.
• Experience executing strategic plans that involve integrating cross-functional processes and information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and the ability to conduct independent data analysis.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and policy development and education.
• Commitment to collaborative and inclusive decision making.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Develop a research data framework and master project plan for data collection, operations, reporting, and analytics.
• Serve as institutional official coordinating across IT, Security, Legal, Compliance, Research, Administration, and Services.
• Engage stakeholders to establish and maintain the research data governance infrastructure and standards.
• Develop standardized data governance policies and data resource documents (definitions, lineage, workflows, metadata, models).
• Promote data accuracy, transparency, and operational excellence; oversee data remediation and sharing to ensure quality and usability.
• Prepare and maintain governance documentation; monitor emerging data and AI regulations; support audits and risk mitigation.
• Lead development of research analytics capabilities; define metrics and KPIs aligned with programs and reporting.
• Define information management principles and create tools to track and inventory research data; design data quality scorecards.
• Establish requirements for reports and dashboards; advise on AI tool use for process improvements.
• Develop and deliver outreach, education, and training programs to foster data literacy and stewardship.

Skills

Technical leadership

Data governance

Data analysis

Regulatory compliance

Communication

Education

BS degree required

Master's degree preferred

Job description

The Director of Research Data Governance & Analytics leads JAX's research and education data strategy and works closely with stakeholders to advance JAX data capabilities through the development and implementation of governance, use, and AI initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President of Research Administration, this position provides oversight and direction of data management standards, integrity, accessibility, and regulatory compliance throughout the data lifecycle and across the organization’s research applications and systems ecosystem. Working closely with researchers and administrators, the Director plays a critical role in driving data-driven decision making at JAX.

Remote with travel as needed

Key Responsibilities (What you contribute):

• Develop a research data framework in collaboration with stakeholders; create and execute a master research data project plan to implement data collection, operations, reporting, and analytics strategies.

• Serve as the institutional official responsible for collaboration and coordination across IT, Security, Legal, Compliance, Research, Administration, and Services teams and partner with data-related committees, subject matter experts, and operations teams to implement research data management, including the optimal integration of tools, applications, and technology solutions throughout the research data ecosystem.

• Facilitate stakeholder engagement to establish and maintain the research data governance infrastructure, policies, standards, and practices; collaborate with stakeholders to foster trust and shared responsibility for research data governance and management.

• Develop standardized and consistent data governance policies, practices, and procedures that promote information sharing, collaboration, and innovation consistent with ethical, compliance, and security requirements; provide data requirement documents and resources, including, e.g., data definitions/ontologies, data lineage/provenance, workflows, metadata forms, data models, protocols, etc.

• Promote a culture of data accuracy, transparency, and operational excellence within the research community; oversee the remediation, alignment, and rationalization of research data and metadata; provide oversight for sharing research data to ensure quality, traceability, and usability consistent with FAIR and CARE principles.

• Prepare and maintain research data governance documentation; monitor emerging data and AI regulations; identify and mitigate risks related to data governance and management; support audits and assessments.

• Lead the development of research analytics capabilities; define metrics and KPIs to assess research and educational outcomes, translating institutional strategy into measurable performance indicators aligned across programs and reporting requirements.

• Define, manage, and advance information management principles, policies, programs; create or use tools to track, categorize, and inventory research data; identify data management metrics and design data quality scorecards to monitor and improve data integrity.

• Establish requirements for reports, communications, and metrics dashboards, advise on the use of AI tools to contribute to continuous process improvements for data management and use across the research enterprise.

• Develop and deliver outreach, education, and training programs to foster data literacy, integrity, and stewardship.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (What you're good at):

• 10 years of technical experience, ideally in data governance and management

• BS degree required, master's preferred

• 5 or more years of progressive leadership of enterprise-wide programs and/or cross-functional teams

• Significant knowledge of data governance best practices, data management principles, data architecture, storage, and security requirements

• Experience executing strategic plans that involved integrating complex, cross-functional processes and information

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities and the ability to conduct independent data analysis

• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and policy development and education

• A strong commitment to a collaborative and inclusive decision making

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences

Pay Range: $136,461 - $228,467 based on years of related experience

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visit www.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.