Data Governance Lead

About the role

We are a growing insurance company building a data governance program from the ground up. This is a leadership opportunity to shape how data is trusted, protected, and used across the business — establishing the practices, standards, and platform capabilities that make reliable data the default, not the exception.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead a data governance strategy that protects customers, mitigates risk, and enables the business to use data with confidence.
• Build the foundational program including ownership models, data standards, classification, quality, and retention, in a pragmatic, scalable way.
• Serve as the primary governance voice for risk, legal, and compliance leadership; translate complex data issues into clear business context.
• Champion governance-as-code: embedding policies, quality rules, and data controls directly into pipelines.
• Work alongside data engineers to operationalize governance through our catalog, observability, and transformation tools.
• Think creatively about how governance standards can be enforced automatically in code, through schema contracts, quality rules in pipelines, and metadata requirements.
• Drive data quality and reliability so that teams across the business can find, understand, and use data without friction.
• Create a data product model that packages critical datasets as well-governed, well-documented assets accessible to all.
• Lay the groundwork for responsible use of AI and analytics, ensuring data is traceable, well-understood, and fit for purpose.

Requirements

• 6–10 years in data governance, data management, or a closely adjacent discipline, with experience leading or building a program — not just contributing to one.
• Strong command of core governance domains: data quality, metadata management, lineage, classification, access control, and data lifecycle.
• Ability to express and enforce governance standards in code — schema contracts, pipeline quality rules, metadata requirements — not just policy documents. Technical fluency to work credibly alongside data engineers is essential.
• Hands-on experience with modern data platforms and catalog or observability tooling (e.g. Secoda, Monte Carlo, Alation, Ataccama, or similar).
• Insurance or regulated industry experience a plus; familiarity with CCPA, state DOI requirements, or similar compliance frameworks is valued.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful data governance initiatives.
• Experience in developing and implementing data governance policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements relevant to the insurance industry.
• Experience with data quality tools and techniques.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

• Data governance expertise.
• Technical proficiency with data platforms and tools.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Healthy Hippos Benefits - Multiple medical plans to choose from and 100% employer-covered dental & vision plans for team members and their families.
• Equity - Eligible for equity compensation.
• Training and Career Growth - Training and internal career growth opportunities.
• Flexible Time Off - Recharge when you need to.
• Little Hippos Program - 12 weeks of parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers.
• Hippo Habitat - Snacks and drinks available and catered lunches for onsite employees.

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Flexible / Hybrid schedule.