Director, Data Asset Management

ATS Client; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

TransUnion in Johannesburg seeks a Director of Data Asset Management to lead data across Africa, shaping strategy, governance, and cross-border programs. You will drive end-to-end data lifecycle management, collaborate with regional and global teams, and mentor a diverse analytics workforce to deliver compliant, high-value data assets.

The role requires 8+ years in data leadership, with a track record of managing complex ecosystems and delivering commercial value in regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• DAMA Certification preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in data management, data strategy, or analytics, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, including multi-country or regional leadership experience.
• Proven track record of managing complex data ecosystems.
• Deep understanding of ingestion pipelines, data quality frameworks, and governance best practices.
• Experience working with regulatory and compliance frameworks related to data in the African markets.
• Strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills are required.
• Works independently, proactively and displays business acumen and maturity with the ability to translate data capabilities into commercial value.
• Provides strategic direction, coaches and mentors associates across managerial and technical levels.
• Embed compliance by design through upfront validation, controls, and continuous monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Define a vision and strategy for the data asset management division aligned with enterprise goals, regulatory requirements, and market opportunities.
• Lead end-to-end data lifecycle management: data operations, data quality, data governance, reference and master data management, metadata management, data warehousing.
• Establish and monitor data quality and maturity metrics, governance frameworks, and KPIs to ensure data integrity and usability while enabling revenue growth and risk reduction.
• Proactive data quality monitoring and detection.
• Own data acquisition and supplier onboarding processes, including ingestion monitoring, exception handling, proactive monitoring and performance management of data providers.
• Design, optimize and automate data operations workflows and processes to improve efficiency, resilience, quality, data compliance, scalability and reduce key-person dependency.
• Lead complex, multi-stream data programs from design through delivery, ensuring timelines, risks, and business outcomes are managed effectively.
• Establishment of data policies and standards.
• Ensure best practices and standardization of functions across multiple countries in Africa.
• Leverage and contribute to data best practices in the global regions.
• Act as industry subject matter expert, gauge events occurring in the external competitive environment, compare them to the division operations and assess against the underlying strategy.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of data professionals across countries, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, external data providers, and regulatory bodies to ensure data availability and compliance.
• Partner with data science, product, and technology teams to ensure data assets are optimized for analytics and product development.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication

Negotiation

Mentoring

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Master's degree preferred

DAMA Certification

Job description

Director, Data Asset Management

This is a hybrid position and involves regular performance of job responsibilities virtually as well as in-person at an assigned TU office location for a minimum of two days a week.

Role Overview And Core Responsibilities

• Bachelor's degree/diploma in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Preferred DAMA Certification
• 8+ years of experience in data management, data strategy, or analytics, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role, including multi-country or regional leadership experience
• Proven track record of managing complex data ecosystems
• Deep understanding of ingestion pipelines, data quality frameworks, and governance best practices.
• Experience working with regulatory and compliance frameworks related to data in the African markets.
• Strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills are required
• Works independently, proactively and displays business acumen and maturity with the ability to translate data capabilities into commercial value
• Provides strategic direction, coaches and mentors associates across managerial and technical levels
• Embed compliance by design through upfront validation, controls, and continuous monitoring

Required Knowledge And Experiences

As the Director of Data Asset Management, you will lead all aspects of data across TransUnion's Africa Regions. You will collaborate cross-functionally with regional and global teams to drive data innovation, operational excellence, and quality, consistent with contractual and regulatory obligations. This role will report into the Senior Director, Data Asset Management - International Markets, with dotted reporting lines into Africa's Chief Data and Analytics Officer.

• As a leader, you are responsible for defining a vision and strategy for the data asset management division aligned with enterprise goals, business priorities, regulatory requirements, and market opportunities.
• The role will lead the end-to-end data lifecycle management with the focus on:
  • Data Operations
  • Data quality
  • Data governance
  • Reference and master data management
  • Metadata management
  • Data warehousing
• Establish and monitor data quality and maturity metrics, governance frameworks, and operational KPIs to ensure data integrity and usability whilst enabling revenue growth and risk reduction
• Proactive data quality monitoring and detection
• Own data acquisition and supplier onboarding processes, including ingestion monitoring, exception handling, proactive monitoring and performance management of data providers
• Design, optimize and automate data operations workflows and processes to improve efficiency, resilience, quality, data compliance, scalability and reduce key-person dependency
• Lead complex, multi-stream data programs from design through delivery, ensuring timelines, risks, and business outcomes are managed effectively.
• Establishment of data policies and standards
• Ensure best practices and standardization of functions across multiple countries in Africa
• Leverage and contribute to data best practices in the global regions
• Act as industry subject matter expert, gauge events occurring in the external competitive environment, compare them to the division operations and assess against the underlying strategy
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of data professionals across countries, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, external data providers, and regulatory bodies to ensure data availability and compliance.
• Partner with data science, product, and technology teams to ensure data assets are optimized for analytics and product development