Data Strategy & Governance Lead

Enterprise Data Strategy & Governance Lead (Contractual role 4-6months)Location: Lahore, PakistanTimings: 9:00am to 6:00pmType: Contractual (4 - 6 months) - Onsite Lahore/QatarKey Responsibilities1. Data Strategy & Capability Maturity AssessmentLead current-state assessments of enterprise data capabilities, maturity, and operating models.Apply relevant industry frameworks and methodologies such as COBIT, ITIL, IT-CMF, DAMA-DMBOK, and other recognized data management and governance frameworks.Assess organizational capabilities across areas including data governance, data management, data architecture, data quality, metadata, data ownership, data literacy, and data culture.2. Enterprise Data Strategy Lead the development of enterprise-wide data strategies aligned with business priorities, digital transformation objectives, and technology strategies.Define strategic principles, objectives, capabilities, initiatives, and success measures for enterprise data.Establish a clear connection between business strategy, data strategy, technology strategy, and enterprise architecture.Support clients in prioritizing data initiatives and investments based on business value, organizational readiness, and strategic importance.Develop multi-year data transformation roadmaps and implementation plans.3. Data Governance Framework & Policy DevelopmentDesign and establish enterprise data governance frameworks, operating models, and decision-making structures.Define key governance roles and accountabilities, including Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Custodians, and other relevant data personas.Develop data governance policies, standards, procedures, and supporting controls.Establish governance mechanisms for key data domains and critical data assets.Define frameworks for areas such as data quality, metadata management, master and reference data, data classification, data lifecycle management, and data access.Ensure governance frameworks are practical, scalable, and aligned with recognized standards and best practices, including DAMA-DMBOK or equivalent frameworks.4. Data Capability, Literacy & Workforce DevelopmentLead assessments of data skills and organizational capabilities using SFIA-aligned or equivalent competency frameworks.Define enterprise data personas, capability requirements, skills profiles, and competency expectations.Develop data literacy and capability development strategies for different stakeholder groups.Partner with Learning & Development teams to design and implement data literacy, awareness, and capability-building programs.Identify capability gaps and recommend targeted learning, development, and upskilling initiatives.Define mechanisms to measure the effectiveness and maturity of data literacy and capability development programs.5. Change Management & TransformationDevelop change management approaches to support the adoption of data governance and data-driven ways of working.Identify key stakeholders and establish stakeholder engagement and communication strategies.Support the establishment and mobilization of Data Governance Councils, Steering Committees, and other governance bodies.Drive organizational adoption of new data roles, processes, policies, and accountability models.Work with business leaders to embed data ownership, accountability, and data-driven decision-making into organizational culture.Monitor adoption, address resistance, and recommend interventions to improve transformation outcomes.6. Stakeholder & Engagement LeadershipLead workshops, interviews, and working sessions with senior business and technology stakeholders.Present assessment findings, strategic recommendations, governance frameworks, and transformation roadmaps to executive audiences.Build strong relationships with client leadership teams and act as a trusted advisor on enterprise data strategy and governance.Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across business, data, technology, architecture, and change management.Support the development of proposals, methodologies, thought leadership, and reusable consulting assets, where applicable.Required Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Business, Engineering, Data Management, or a related discipline. A Master's degree is desirable.Typically 8–15+ years of relevant experience in data strategy, data governance, data management, enterprise architecture, technology transformation, or management consulting.Demonstrable experience leading enterprise-wide data strategy and governance engagements.Strong hands-on experience designing and implementing data governance frameworks, operating models, policies, standards, and procedures.Experience conducting maturity and capability assessments using recognized frameworks such as COBIT, ITIL, IT-CMF, DAMA-DMBOK, SFIA, or equivalent methodologies.Experience aligning business strategy, technology strategy, data strategy, and enterprise architecture.Experience defining data roles, personas, competencies, and organizational capability models.Experience developing or supporting data literacy, learning and development, organizational change, or capability-building programs.Strong understanding of core data management disciplines, including data governance, data quality, metadata management, master data management, data architecture, and data lifecycle management.Excellent stakeholder management, facilitation, communication, and executive presentation skills.Ability to translate complex data and technology concepts into clear business-focused recommendations.