Data Governance Specialist JP055313

Data Governance Specialist – Brussels | Hybrid We are looking for an experienced Data Governance Specialist to strengthen a data governance and data strategy initiative within a complex organisation. Location: Brussels Work model: Hybrid – 2 to 3 days on-site per week Duration: ASAP – 30 June 2027 Workload: Full-time Daily rate: €750–€950/day Experience: 7+ years in Data Governance / Data Quality Key Responsibilities The Data Governance Specialist will play a central role in defining, implementing and maintaining a pragmatic data governance framework, with a strong focus on data quality, security, compliance and business value. Data governance & critical data Inventory, map and classify critical data, including data flows and dependencies. Define and maintain data governance policies, standards and procedures. Establish requirements for protecting data according to classification levels. Define and enforce data access rules based on business needs and least-privilege principles. Support access reviews and controls for critical data. Promote awareness and adoption of good data management practices. Data strategy & governance implementation Embed data governance principles into business and Data & Analytics initiatives. Ensure data quality, discoverability, accessibility and documentation. Define and maintain governance roles, responsibilities and processes. Support Master Data Management (MDM) , data lineage and data modelling. Contribute to the selection, implementation and adoption of data governance tools. Required Experience & Skills 7+ years of experience in Data Governance and Data Quality. Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK . Hands-on experience with data governance and metadata management tools such as Collibra, Informatica, OvalEdge or equivalent. Strong understanding of data management methodologies and technologies. Excellent documentation and presentation skills. Strong stakeholder management, negotiation and communication skills. Ability to explain complex data governance concepts in simple business terms. Experience with change management and organisational adoption. Strong leadership and ability to work independently. Ability to build relationships and align business, IT and data stakeholders. Nice to Have Knowledge of NIS2 and cybersecurity-related data governance. Knowledge of GDPR, ISO/IEC 38505, ISO 8000 or similar standards. Experience with UML data modelling. Experience with ArchiMate and data-flow modelling. Experience in a regulated environment such as finance, healthcare or the public sector. Languages Dutch and/or French: Native or bilingual proficiency English: Professional working proficiency Ideal Candidate We are looking for a senior data governance professional who can operate strategically while remaining pragmatic and hands-on. You should be comfortable working across business and IT, engaging senior stakeholders, driving governance adoption and translating complex data requirements into practical processes and standards.