Operations Data Steward

At Vanguard, we are committed to giving investors the best chance of investment success. The Operations Data Steward (ODS) is a first-line business role accountable for the day-to-day management, maintenance and governance of data across FAS Operations. The role ensures that operational data is accurate, complete, appropriately controlled, compliant and fit for purpose, supporting safe client outcomes, operational resilience and effective decision-making.

Reporting to the Head of FAS Operations, the role remains embedded within Operations and operates as the principal data stewardship contact for the function. It works in close partnership with operational leaders and subject-matter experts, Technology, Risk, Compliance, Privacy, Information Security and the Chief Data & Analytics Office (CDAO) to implement the European Data Governance Framework and translate enterprise standards into effective operational practice.

Maintain a complete and accurate inventory of structured and unstructured operational data assets, including ownership, location, classification, business purpose, criticality and lifecycle status.

Maintain business metadata, data definitions, critical data elements, glossaries, data dictionaries and ownership records in approved governance repositories such as Collibra.

Document and maintain end-to-end operational data lineage, process flows, source systems, hand-offs, transformations, business rules and third-party dependencies.

Implement data governance policies, standards, processes and controls across FAS Operations, maintaining evidence that requirements are operating as intended.

Ensure operational management information and reporting use authoritative, controlled and consistently defined data sources.

Define and maintain data quality rules, thresholds and monitoring for critical operational data, aligned to business, client and regulatory requirements.

Monitor data quality performance through dashboards and management information, identify emerging risks and provide transparent reporting to operational and data governance forums.

Investigate data issues, perform root-cause analysis and coordinate corrective actions across Operations, Technology and third parties.

Own data remediation plans through to closure, validate that outcomes are complete and sustainable, and escalated overdue actions, control failures or risks outside tolerance.

Execute and evidence agreed data governance controls, support assurance and audit activity, and respond to findings within agreed timescales.

Implement approved data retention schedules and records-management requirements across operational data assets.

Identify data without a defined retention basis, assess business value and regulatory impact, and coordinate agreed archival, deletion, obfuscation or disposition activity.

Maintain evidence of retention decisions and validate that lifecycle actions have been completed in line with policy, legal holds and control requirements.

Partner with Privacy, Records Management, Information Security, Technology and third-party owners to resolve complex lifecycle and data protection issues.

Act as the primary point of contact for data governance and data quality across FAS Operations, providing clear advice, constructive challenge and timely escalation.

Represent Operations in relevant data governance working groups and forums, present performance, risks and remediation progress, and track decisions and actions to closure.

Work with operational leaders, data owners and subject-matter experts to clarify responsibilities and embed stewardship within day-to-day processes.

Assess projects, process changes and new data uses for governance, quality, lineage, retention, privacy and control impacts before implementation.

Develop reporting, analysis and data quality insights that support operational performance, risk management and evidence-based decisions.

Identify opportunities to automate monitoring and controls, reduce manual workarounds, remove duplicate data and strengthen authoritative data sources.

Promote strong data-management capability across Operations through guidance, practical training and reusable standards.

Demonstrable experience in data stewardship, data governance, data quality, data management,…