Lead Data Governance & Management Consultant

We are seeking an experienced Lead Data Governance & Management Consultant to lead data governance, data maturity assessments, and open data initiatives for leading UAE government entities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in data management frameworks, UAE open data policies, big data standards, and modern data and analytics platforms. This role requires strong consulting and leadership capabilities to drive data management transformation and ensure alignment with UAE government standards and regulatory requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesLead data governance and management projects for government entities, ensuring alignment with established standards and best practices.Conduct organizational data maturity assessments using recognized frameworks, including DAMA-DMBOK and other relevant maturity standards.Develop data governance strategies, frameworks, policies, and implementation roadmaps to enhance organizational data maturity.Assess existing data management capabilities, identify gaps, and recommend improvements aligned with government objectives.Ensure compliance with UAE open data policies, standards, and applicable government requirements.Oversee the preparation, validation, and publication of open datasets through the Federal Open Data Platform.Establish data quality, metadata management, and data lifecycle management practices.Provide guidance on big data standards and the adoption of modern data and analytics platforms, including Microsoft Fabric and Databricks.Lead stakeholder engagement, workshops, and consultations with senior government officials and technical teams.Prepare data maturity assessment reports, strategic recommendations, and implementation plans.Monitor project progress, ensure the quality of deliverables, and provide expert guidance to project teams.Drive continuous improvement in data governance, data management, and open data practices.Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor's degree in Information Systems, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field. A Master's degree is preferred.8-15 years of professional experience, including at least 5-8 years in the UAE delivering data governance and management projects with leading government entities.Proven experience leading data governance initiatives, data maturity assessments, and organizational data management transformation.Strong knowledge of DAMA-DMBOK, data maturity standards, open data maturity frameworks, and big data standards.In-depth understanding of UAE open data policies, standards, and publication requirements for the Federal Open Data Platform.CDMP (DAMA) certification is required.Certification in a data and analytics platform such as Microsoft Fabric or Databricks is required.Required SkillsData governance strategy and framework implementationData maturity assessments and DAMA-DMBOKUAE open data policies, standards, and complianceBig data standards and data management practicesData quality, metadata, and data lifecycle managementMicrosoft Fabric, Databricks, or equivalent data platformsStrategic consulting and government stakeholder managementProject leadership, reporting, and roadmap development