Executive Director, Data Governance Lead

RGA; Chesterfield (MO); Remote; USD 127,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

RGA is a Fortune 200 reinsurance company focused on life- and health-related solutions. The Executive Director, Data Governance Lead will own the governance strategy for the Enterprise Data Platform (EDP) and drive adoption of governance capabilities across the ecosystem.

In partnership with business and technology stakeholders, you will define policies, controls, and standards, lead governance implementations, and ensure data is trusted, secure, and compliant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) or equivalent education/ experience.
• 10+ Years of progressive experience in enterprise-level data governance, data management or related field demonstrating in depth expertise in own specialized discipline or field as well as basic knowledge of related disciplines.
• 4+ Years of experience in managing enterprise initiatives, teams, and engineering solutions; demonstrated skill aligning solutions with business goals and objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation and execution of the organization's data governance program across the EDP ecosystem, translating governance requirements into operational processes, controls, and platform capabilities.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across business units and IT to define, implement and operationalize policies and standards for data management, data quality, metadata, data security, and privacy across the EDP ecosystem.
• Monitor compliance with data governance policies and standards through audits and metrics reporting across the EDP ecosystem.
• Creates, implements, and monitors effective metrics.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships; takes ownership for the relationships, ensuring organizational objectives are met.
• Communicates difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view and drive innovation.
• Develop frameworks and models to classify data and define ownership, data quality, metadata management, lifecycle management, and access controls.
• Works in an Agile environment and continuously reviews the business needs, refines priorities, outlines milestones and deliverables, and identifies opportunities and risks.
• Performs capacity planning and creates technical diagrams and layouts.
• May lead cross-functional project teams to drive adoption of data governance standards by educating stakeholders on policies, procedures, and best practices and/or implement new security and compliance standards across various RGA teams.

Skills

Data governance

Governance frameworks

Data quality

Metadata management

Stakeholder engagement

Data security

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences or equivalent

Tools

Data catalog tools

Job description

You desire impactful work.

You’re RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World's Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

The Executive Director, Data Governance Lead contributes to RGA's culture of innovation by owning and leading the governance strategy, framework, controls, and operating model for the Enterprise Data Platform (EDP). In partnership with business and technology stakeholders, this role defines and implements EDP governance standards, policies, processes, and controls that ensure data within the platform is trusted, secure, compliant, and effectively managed. The position is accountable for ensuring EDP capabilities support the execution, monitoring, and enforcement of enterprise data governance requirements, while establishing EDP-specific governance practices that align with enterprise standards, regulatory obligations, and data management best practices. Through leadership, governance oversight, and stakeholder engagement, this role drives the adoption and continuous improvement of governance capabilities across the EDP ecosystem. This role serves as the primary governance implementation lead for EDP, partnering directly with business, technology, security and platform teams to operationalize governance requirements.

Principle Duties

• Lead the implementation and execution of the organization's data governance program across the EDP ecosystem, translating governance requirements into operational processes, controls, and platform capabilities.

• Collaborate with stakeholders across business units and IT to define, implement and operationalize policies and standards for data management, data quality, metadata, data security, and privacy across the EDP ecosystem.

• Monitor compliance with data governance policies and standards through audits and metrics reporting across the EDP ecosystem.

• Creates, implements, and monitors effective metrics.

• Develops and maintains effective relationships; takes ownership for the relationships, ensuring organizational objectives are met.

• Communicates difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view and drive innovation.

• Develop frameworks and models to classify data and define ownership, data quality, metadata management, lifecycle management, and access controls.

• Works in an Agile environment and continuously reviews the business needs, refines priorities, outlines milestones and deliverables, and identifies opportunities and risks.

• Performs capacity planning and creates technical diagrams and layouts.

• May lead cross-functional project teams to drive adoption of data governance standards by educating stakeholders on policies, procedures, and best practices and/or implement new security and compliance standards across various RGA teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) or equivalent education/ experience

• 10+ Years of progressive experience in enterprise-level data governance, data management or related field demonstrating in depth expertise in own specialized discipline or field as well as basic knowledge of related disciplines

• 4+ Years of experience in managing enterprise initiatives, teams, and engineering solutions; demonstrated skill aligning solutions with business goals and objectives

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks, policies, standards programs and their practical implementation within data platforms.

• Knowledge of data privacy, security, lifecycle management, and data quality best practices

• Experience defining data policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines

• Experience implementing and managing enterprise data catalog capabilities and applying governance requirements through operational platform controls, metadata management, stewardship, lineage, and data quality processes. Demonstrated ability to lead teams and projects

• Advanced ability to lead and resolve complex problems, working across broad groups and geographies

• Advanced interpersonal skills, including the ability to build consensus

• Advanced communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex or difficult information

• Balance of technical knowledge and business acumen

• Customer first, service-oriented thinking and mind set

• Proactive, self-starter with excellent project management skills and ability to manage multiple tasks effectively

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage, influence, and inspire partners and stakeholders to drive collaboration and alignment

• High degree of organization, individual initiative, and personal accountability

#LI-MJ1 #LI-REMOTE

What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.

We’re excited to get to know you and connect your unique skills with our global opportunities. To create a modern and seamless experience, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in parts of our preliminary screening process. This technology helps us personalize job recommendations, automate interview scheduling, evaluate candidates based solely on experience—without considering name, gender, or other personal details—and provide real-time answers through our chatbot. AI is used only during early screening and never makes hiring decisions. Your RGA recruiter will work closely with you every step of the way to ensure the process feels personal, thoughtful, and focused on you.

Compensation Range:

$126,710.00 - $188,840.00 Annual

Base pay varies depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and market location. In addition, RGA provides an annual bonus plan that includes all roles and some positions are eligible for participation in our long-term equity incentive plan. RGA also maintains a full range of health, retirement, and other employee benefits.

RGA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.