Data Governance & AI Governance Lead

Location: Dallas, TX
Onsite Requirements: Hybrid - onsite 3 days per week
Contract: 6 months
Compensation: $65-70/hr

We are seeking a Data Governance & AI Governance Lead to help establish and operationalize an enterprise-wide data governance program from the ground up. This role will partner closely with Security, IT, business stakeholders, data owners, and technical teams to understand the organization's data landscape, establish governance standards, improve data discoverability and protection, and create the foundational processes needed to support the responsible use of data and emerging AI technologies.

The ideal candidate brings hands‑on experience developing or implementing data governance programs, including data ownership, stewardship, policies, metadata, business glossaries, data dictionaries, governance frameworks, and accountability models. Experience with AI governance is valuable but not required; the successful candidate should have an interest in learning and helping the organization establish governance practices that support the safe and responsible adoption of AI.

• Help lead the development and implementation of an enterprise data governance program, including governance structures, processes, standards, and operating practices.
• Partner with Security and IT to develop a clear understanding of the organization's data landscape, including key data sources, systems, data types, and areas of sensitivity.
• Identify and engage business and technical data owners across the organization.
• Establish and facilitate a cross‑functional Data Governance Working Group consisting of data owners and other key stakeholders.
• Define and help implement a data stewardship model, including identification of data stewards responsible for the day‑to‑day management and quality of data.
• Develop governance charters, operating models, RACI matrices, roles, responsibilities, and accountability frameworks.

• Partner with Security and technology teams to expand data discovery and classification capabilities across the enterprise.
• Participate in governance activities surrounding tools such as Microsoft Purview, Varonis, or similar data discovery and classification technologies; direct hands‑on tool administration is not required.
• Establish processes for identifying, classifying, protecting, and managing sensitive data, including PII, PHI, financial, confidential, and other regulated or sensitive information.
• Define governance requirements around data access, protection, retention, and deletion.
• Identify gaps in the organization's data governance and data protection processes and help drive remediation.

• Establish standards and processes for enterprise metadata management and data discoverability.
• Develop and maintain business glossaries, data dictionaries, data catalogs, and data definitions.
• Work with data owners and subject matter experts to establish consistent definitions, ownership, lineage, and usage guidelines for critical data.
• Define data governance metrics and reporting to measure adoption, compliance, data quality, and program effectiveness.

• Establish foundational data governance practices necessary to support the organization's expanding use of AI.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure AI initiatives incorporate appropriate data governance, classification, access, privacy, security, and usage considerations.
• Identify governance requirements for AI tools and use cases as the organization's AI program evolves.
• Participate in the development of emerging AI governance policies, standards, review processes, and responsible‑use…