Director, Data and AI Governance

Director, Data And Ai GovernanceThe selected candidate for this position will report on-site 2-3 days a week.The Director of Data and AI Governance is responsible for establishing and leading enterprise-wide governance frameworks to ensure the quality, compliance, and ethical use of data, analytics, and AI/ML assets and processes with efficiency and effectiveness. This leader guides the development of policies and operational processes supporting trustworthy, auditable, and compliant data and AI practices across the organization in alignment with the enterprise data and analytics strategy.This role includes leading Master Data Management (MDM) and data stewardship programs, serving as Secretary of the Enterprise Data and AI Governance Committee, managing data contracts, and overseeing governance tooling such as Microsoft Purview, Profisee, Azure DevOps, and Databricks Unity Catalog.Experience in public universities, public institutions, and/or global online higher education is highly preferred. The candidate will also drive User Acceptance Testing (UAT) processes within a SAFe Agile environment to ensure data and analytics initiatives meet business and technical requirements.Duties and Responsibilities:Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of governance frameworks spanning data, analytics, and AI/ML assets.Serve as Secretary of the Enterprise Data, Analytics, and AI Governance Committee, managing agendas, documentation, and follow-up.Define and enforce AI governance policies and processes ensuring federated model transparency, fairness, risk controls, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.Champion data privacy, security, and ethical AI practices in alignment with institutional priorities.Master Data Management and Stewardship:Lead the Master Data Management (MDM) cross-functional group.Lead processes for data domain definitions, hierarchy management, and data quality controls.Oversee data stewardship processes, empowering business units with accountability for data quality, ownership, and issue resolution through local data owners and stewards.Facilitate collaboration across IT and business stakeholders to maintain trusted master data assets.User Acceptance Testing (UAT):Lead UAT planning, execution, and reporting within a SAFe Agile framework for governance-related initiatives, including data contracts, data product delivery, MDM, tooling, processes, and policies.Collaborate with product owners, scrum masters, and technical teams to define acceptance criteria that align with business requirements and compliance standards.Ensure smooth coordination between governance teams and Agile release trains for successful delivery of governance capabilities.Contracting and Data Sharing Governance:Lead the drafting and management of:Data provider contracts for ingestion and use of external/internal data sources.Data consumer contracts covering secure data delivery and AI/BI product consumption.Work cross-functionally with legal, procurement, and IT to ensure contractual alignment with governance and compliance policies.AI Governance and Compliance:Establish AI governance processes aligned with frameworks such as NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, and relevant privacy regulations.Monitor AI model lifecycle, bias risks, retraining policies, and auditability.Maintain alignment with global data privacy compliance requirements: FERPA, HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, PIPL, PDPA, SOX.Skills:Expertise in data governance, AI governance, and risk frameworks.Strong proficiency with governance tools: Purview, Profisee, Unity Catalog, Azure DevOps.Experience leading MDM and data stewardship programs.Skilled in planning and executing UAT within SAFe Agile environments.Knowledge of data privacy and AI regulations: GDPR, FERPA, EU AI Act, etc.Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.Education & Experience Requirements:Education: Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems, Data Governance, Computer Science, AI Policy, Law, Engineering or related field.Experience: 10+ years in data governance, data management, or AI policy roles.35+ years in leadership roles overseeing enterprise-wide governance initiatives.Proven experience leading:Master Data Management and stewardship processes.UAT within SAFe Agile frameworks.Implementation of Purview, Profisee, Unity Catalog, and Azure DevOps.Serving as secretary or chair of governance committees.Negotiating and managing data provider and consumer contracts.Preferred Experience Requirements:Education: Master's Degree in Information Systems, Data Governance, Computer Science, AI Policy, Law, Engineering or related field.Experience: Experience in public universities, public institutions, or global online higher education.Certifications: CDMP, DAMA, CIPP/E, AI Ethics/Governance, Azure/Cloud GovernanceAzure Purview, DevOps, Profisee, Databricks Unity CatalogThe University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. UMGC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, ancestry, political affiliation or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.Workplace Accommodations: The University of Maryland Global Campus is committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive working environment for people of all abilities. UMGC is dedicated to the principle that no qualified individual with a disability shall, based on disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of the University, or be subjected to discrimination.Benefits Package Highlights:Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 days of paid vacation, 15 days of sick leave, 3 personal days, and 15 paid holidays (16 during general election years). For part-time employees, time off rates will be prorated based on the number of hours worked.Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access to health care, medical with vision, dental, and prescription plans for both individuals and families, effective from the 1st of the month following your hire date.Insurance Options: Term Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, and Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance. Part-time employees working less than 0.5 FTE are not eligible for LTD.Flexible Spending Accounts: Available for medical and dependent care expenses.Retirement Plans: Choose between the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) or the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS).Supplemental Retirement Plans: include 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), and various Roth options. The university does not provide matching funds.Tuition Remission: Immediate availability for Regular Exempt Staff. Spouses and dependent children are eligible for undergraduate tuition remission after two years of service. NOTE: For part-time employees (at least 50 percent of the time), tuition remission benefits are prorated.Hiring Range: $172,000.00 - $197,000.00