Senior Data Governance & Information Architecture Manager (Freelance optional)

📋 Tasks and responsibilities

As Data Governance and Information Architecture Manager, you will define, structure and optimise data assets so they support strategic objectives and business outcomes. This role combines governance, architecture and execution: you establish robust data governance frameworks, guide their implementation, and maintain a coherent enterprise information architecture. Given the cross-functional scope, you also act as a close strategic partner to senior data leadership and help align data initiatives across teams.

You will also support discussions with internal business units and external partners on data exchange, GDPR, data protection, ownership and usage conditions. In that context, you ensure that data-sharing initiatives are properly scoped, documented and aligned with governance, privacy, security and information architecture principles.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Define and communicate the vision, strategy and roadmap for data governance and enterprise information architecture.
• Set objectives, priorities and KPIs for governance and architecture initiatives.
• Align governance and architecture practices with strategic goals and regulatory requirements.
• Support broader strategic data initiatives.

Team leadership

• Build, lead and develop a high-performing team focused on data governance and information architecture.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities and development paths for team members.
• Coach data stewards and data owners to ensure consistent application of best practices.
• Promote collaboration across data, IT and business teams.
• Encourage an agile and adaptive approach to evolving business and regulatory needs.

Data governance and quality

• Develop, document and enforce data governance policies, standards and procedures.
• Define accountability models for data stewardship and ownership.
• Ensure compliance with data protection regulations and relevant standards, including GDPR.
• Set data quality standards, metrics and monitoring mechanisms.
• Work with data owners and stewards to resolve quality issues and address root causes.
• Drive continuous improvement of data quality and reliability.

Enterprise information architecture

• Design and maintain business information models, including conceptual and logical data models.
• Define mappings for key business entities and contexts.
• Develop and maintain a unified conceptual information model to support data initiatives.
• Collaborate with other architecture domains on information flows and application integration.
• Support project teams by defining data and information management requirements.
• Ensure strong alignment between data governance and wider enterprise architecture efforts.

Metadata and documentation

• Implement processes to capture and maintain data lineage, definitions and dependencies.
• Promote the use of data dictionaries, glossaries and cataloguing tools.
• Drive adoption of metadata standards and documentation best practices.

Risk, value and stakeholder management

• Assess the risks and benefits of information usage in business scenarios such as new initiatives and partnerships.
• Provide recommendations on access, security, retention and ownership.
• Support value creation through effective use of internal and external data resources.
• Act as a key point of contact for discussions related to data exchanges, privacy, ownership and usage conditions.
• Work closely with privacy, security, legal, IT, architecture and business stakeholders to embed governance principles in day-to-day operations.
• Facilitate cross-functional discussions that strengthen data accountability and data-driven decision-making.

📝Your profile

Skills and competencies

• Strong conceptual thinking, pattern recognition and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to explain the value of data governance and information architecture to different stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to assess emerging technologies and determine their business relevance.

Knowledge and expertise

• Deep expertise in data governance principles, frameworks and best practices.
• Strong background in information modelling, data classification and enterprise information architecture.
• Familiarity with metamodels, taxonomies, ontologies and structured data management techniques.
• Experience with Master Data Management (MDM) and Business Intelligence.
• Good understanding of regulatory, privacy and security requirements.
• Experience with distributed data management and analytics in cloud and hybrid environments.

Experience

• Minimum 8 years of experience in data governance, information architecture or a closely related domain.
• Experience in large organisations; background in the automotive sector is a plus.
• Proven people management experience.
• Senior-level experience in data governance leadership.

Education and certification

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field.
• Relevant certifications in data governance and architecture, such as DM-BOK, CDMP or TOGAF.

Languages

• Fluent in English and in Dutch or French.

💼 Offer

You will be part of a growing Belgian SME where initiative and personal development are encouraged. We will provide you with an enjoyable work environment with fun colleagues. We will work out a career plan with you, with attention and a budget for extra education/certification. You can count on an attractive salary, supplemented with extra-legal benefits, including a company car.
(Freelance is also possible)