Head, Data Governance at I&M Bank

Job Purpose

The Head of Data Governance is accountable for setting the enterprise-wide vision, strategy, and leadership for data governance across the Bank. This role partners with the CDO, executive leadership, and business unit heads to embed data as a strategic asset, ensuring data integrity, quality, security, and compliance across the group. This role will shape policy at board and regulatory level, influence enterprise investments in data capabilities, and drive cultural change to position the Bank as a leader in ethical and compliant data usage.

Key Responsibilities

Data Governance

• Develop and own the bank-wide Data Governance Framework aligned to the Bank’s corporate vision and regulatory obligations.
• Lead the definition and enforcement of enterprise data ownership, stewardship, and accountability structures.
• Establish policies and standards to ensure data integrity, quality, security, and compliance.
• Define data ownership, stewardship, and accountability structures across the bank.
• Promote data literacy and accountability throughout the organization.
• Align data governance initiatives with regulatory requirements and risk frameworks (e.g., GDPR, Kenya DPA).
• Drive the adoption of ethical data usage policies and responsible AI governance.

Governance Programs

• Lead data governance councils, working groups, and data stewardship forums
• Develop metadata management, master data management (MDM), and data lineage capabilities.
• Design and implement data quality management processes with KPIs.
• Facilitate the resolution of data issues and inconsistencies.
• Standardize data definitions and ensure alignment across business units.
• Implement ongoing training and awareness initiatives on data governance policies.

Policy Enforcement & Monitoring

• Monitor and enforce compliance with data governance policies.
• Conduct regular data quality assessments and audits.
• Oversee data access controls and ensure role-based permissions.
• Manage data issue logs and support root cause analysis.
• Produce data governance and compliance reports for internal and regulatory purposes.
• Continuously improve governance processes based on audit findings and business feedback.

Key duties/functions Job Specifications

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field.

Professional Qualifications / Membership to professional bodies/ Publication 

• (Desirable) Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
• (Desirable) Data Management Capability Assessment Model (DCAM) Certification

Work Experience Required

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in data governance, data management, risk management, or a related discipline.
• Proven track record of influencing C-level stakeholders and regulators.
• Experience in managing enterprise-scale governance programs with multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Proven experience in banking or financial services is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with data governance tools, data catalogues, and data quality management platforms.

Competencies:

• Strong understanding of data governance principles, data lifecycle management, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with data privacy laws, banking regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to drive cultural change in data ownership and accountability.