Data Governance Specialist

At NCS Australia, we believe in doing technology services better. Our commitment to quality, focus on people, and willingness to challenge traditional thinking set us apart. Our team brings this belief to life by partnering with our clients and communities to make tomorrow together.

We are committed to creating an environment that prioritises innovation, collaboration, and purposeful work. Our diverse team is empowered to make a meaningful impact with curiosity, creativity and resilience to shape better outcomes. Join us and accept the challenge of creating a better tomorrow.

Job Description

The Data Governance Specialist will play a key role in the implementation and enhancing our data governance strategy, policies, and practices across the organisation. This individual will lead data and AI governance advisory and assessment tasks ensuring that data is managed, used, and protected in compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies and industry best practices. The role involves engaging and influencing key business stakeholders (often senior), including IT, legal, compliance, and business units, to foster a culture of data stewardship and quality. The role will also be involved in uplifting our Responsible AI governance processes capabilities across the organisation.

As a Data Governance Specialist, the role involves leading and providing data and AI governance advisory services to a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation, including senior leaders. This includes assessing data and AI risks and controls, advising on control requirements for initiative delivery and third-party vendor engagements, and ensuring adherence to governance standards. The specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining data governance frameworks, including standards, guidelines, and procedures aligned with the organisation's new data governance operating model. The role also entails conducting data and AI governance assessments and audits, managing deviations where necessary, and collaborating with business data stewards and subject matter experts to uplift the organisation's overall data governance maturity—covering data classifications, glossary management, control implementation, and data quality. Additionally, the Data Governance Specialist designs and delivers guidance and training on governance best practices, facilitates cross-functional working groups to drive alignment and decision-making, and monitors and reports on data governance metrics, risks, and issues, ensuring effective escalation and resolution.

Qualifications

• Experience and understanding of data governance principles, frameworks, and methodologies.
• Experience with implementing data policies and standards and assessing business initiative adherence to these. Examples of data policies include data classification, data retention.
• Experience in the management, promotion and implementation of a Data Governance Operating Model
• Experience in applying Data Management Frameworks (e.g. DCAM or DMBOKv2).
• Experience with implementing Responsible AI Governance practices.
• Experience in defining and implementing data glossary and catalogues.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of relevant data, privacy and security regulations (incl. data retention etc.)
• Strong business and data analysis skills, incl. data classification, data manipulation and problem identification.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong stakeholder management experience to ensure data is being utilised and processes are documented correctly.
• A curious and self-motivated person with a passion for challenging the status quo and driving positive change.

Additional Information

Why join us:

NCS Australia is where you can feel at home, nurturing your talents and skills as we make tomorrow together, one day at a time. Our benefits include paid parental leave, initiatives focused on your well-being and discounted health insurance. You will also enjoy discounts on various products and services and be regularly recognised and rewarded for high performance. We are committed to your career development through our Capability Fingerprint, industry and partner training programs, special interest groups, and an AI-driven learning platform. No matter where you are in your career, we offer meaningful work and opportunities for growth.

NCS Australia is an equal-opportunity employer, and we take pride in our commitment to valuing and supporting our people and the communities we serve.We are dedicated to attracting, retaining and developing our people regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and age. Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community and we strongly encourage applications from the Veterans, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

At NCS Australia, we are committed to supporting adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, as well as during employment. We actively support and encourage people with disability to apply.

Agencies:

We've got this. We request that you do not contact NCS employees outside of the Talent Acquisition team. NCS exclusively accepts resumes from agencies on our preferred supplier panel through the NCS Agency Portal. Agencies that submit resumes must have a valid fee agreement and be assigned to the particular requisition by the Talent Acquisition team. Any resumes that are submitted outside of this process will become the sole property of NCS. If a candidate is hired outside of this process, no fee or payment will be given.

Work rights and background checks:

To be eligible for a position with us, applicants will need to have valid work rights for Australia and be willing to undergo a comprehensive background checking process, including probity and police checks