Head of Data Governance

Lazard is one of the world’s preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms. Our people and culture make the difference. While global in presence and reach, ours is a close, collaborative community of just over 3,000 professionals. Lazard is a place of continuous knowledge sharing, skill development and relationship building, where professionals grow and succeed together. Our entrepreneurial culture, flat structure and embrace of individual differences, allow creative ideas, original concepts, and unique perspectives to drive our business forward — and for careers to take flight. AI is the central pillar of Lazard’s 2030 Growth Strategy. Our ambition is to become the leading AI-enabled independent Financial Services firm. This is to say we are interested in AI beyond the scope of operational efficiency. We see AI and Contextual Alpha as two primary factors underpinning our future success and better outcomes for our clients. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Data Governance to serve as the firm’s authority on enterprise data governance. Reporting to the Head of AI and Data, you will architect and lead a firmwide governance framework that treats data as a trusted, well-governed strategic asset across Lazard’s Financial Advisory and Asset Management businesses. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring deep technical fluency, proven experience operating across multiple lines of business in a regulated financial services environment, and the credibility to drive enterprise-wide accountability at the most senior levels. The ideal candidate has served as a head of data governance, or equivalent, at a bank, asset manager, broker-dealer, or similarly complex financial institution, and brings a track record of designing and enforcing enterprise controls, security controls, and technical data architecture across diverse business lines with differing data needs, regulatory profiles, and risk tolerances. We’ll trust you to: Enterprise Governance & Controls Define and own the firmwide data governance strategy — policies, standards, operating models, and accountability structures — across Financial Advisory and Asset Management lines of business Architect and enforce enterprise-grade data controls spanning data quality, access, lineage, lifecycle management, and classification, with clear escalation paths and issue remediation workflows Establish data ownership and stewardship accountability at the business line and function level, with governance structures that scale across a multi-LOB organization Design and operate a governance operating model that integrates with first- and second-line risk frameworks, including three-lines-of-defense alignment Provide regular reporting to senior management and the Board (as appropriate) on data quality metrics, governance effectiveness, open issues, and remediation status Technical Architecture & Hands-On Execution Lead the design of the firm’s enterprise data architecture governance layer — covering data platform standards, canonical data models, metadata management, data lineage, and master data management Actively engage in technical design reviews for data infrastructure, AI/ML pipelines, and analytics platforms to ensure governance is embedded at the architectural level, not bolted on after the fact Define and enforce data classification schemes, sensitivity labeling, and data handling standards that are operationally grounded and technically implementable Partner with Data Engineering and Platform Engineering to embed governance controls within data pipelines, data lakes, warehouses, and cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP) Evaluate and own the firm’s data governance toolchain — including data catalogs, data quality engines, lineage tools, and observability platforms — with hands-on involvement in selection, configuration, and adoption Security, Privacy & Risk Controls Partner with Information Security to define and enforce data security controls, including role-based and attribute-based access, data masking, tokenization, and encryption standards across data environments Own the governance of sensitive and regulated data categories — including client data, MNPI, personally identifiable information, and proprietary financial data — ensuring controls meet regulatory and internal policy requirements Ensure data governance practices support regulatory reporting obligations, auditability, records retention, and supervisory expectations across relevant jurisdictions (SEC, FINRA, GDPR, CCPA, and others as applicable) Act as a key control owner in technology and operational risk frameworks; support internal audit, regulatory examinations, and external reviews with clear, auditable evidence of governance discipline Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, and Privacy teams to keep governance standards current with evolving regulatory requirements and enforcement trends Leadership & Stakeholder Influence Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing data governance and stewardship organization; attract and develop talent with both technical depth and business acumen Serve as the firm’s senior voice on data governance with C-suite, business line heads, and the Board — translating complex data risk into clear business and strategic terms Drive cross-LOB adoption of governance standards through influence, education, and accountability mechanisms rather than mandates alone Establish governance communities of practice across business units to embed data stewardship into day-to-day operations You’ll need to have: 12+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or related disciplines in financial services, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership capacity (e.g., Head of Data Governance, Chief Data Officer, VP/MD-level data governance lead) Proven track record operating at a financial services firm with multiple lines of business (e.g., investment banking, asset management, lending, trading, or insurance), with direct experience navigating different data domains, regulatory regimes, and business unit priorities Deep expertise in enterprise data governance frameworks, methodologies, and operating models (e.g., DCAM, DAMA-DMBOK, or equivalent) including hands-on design and implementation experience, not just advisory oversight Direct experience designing and enforcing enterprise controls and data security controls, including access governance, data classification, sensitive data management, and integration with information security frameworks Demonstrated technical depth: ability to engage credibly with data engineers, architects, and platform teams on data modeling, pipeline design, cloud data infrastructure, and governance tooling Hands-on experience with data governance and data quality tooling Familiarity with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern data stack architecture (data lakehouses, medallion architecture, data mesh, or similar) Strong working knowledge of relevant financial services regulatory requirements: SEC, FINRA, GDPR, CCPA, BCBS 239, and data-related expectations from prudential regulators Experience supporting or leading responses to internal audit, regulatory exams, and third-party reviews as a control owner Undergraduate degree or higher in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, or a quantitative technical field It’s a bonus to have: Experience governing data for AI and machine learning systems, including model data lineage, training data governance, and AI risk frameworks Background in quantitative finance, financial data models, or securities data (market data, reference data, portfolio data) Relevant certifications: CDMP, CIPPE, CISM, or equivalent Experience at a global firm with cross-border data flows and multi-jurisdictional regulatory obligations What We Offer We strive to enhance the total health and well-being of our employees through comprehensive, competitive benefits. Our goal is to offer a highly individualized employee experience that enables you to balance your commitments to career, family, and community. We expect the base salary range for this role to be approximately $200,000–$275,000 USD. Various factors contribute to determining actual base compensation, including years of relevant experience, career tenure, qualifications, level of education, certifications, and relevant skills. Base salary is one component of Lazard’s compensation package, which also includes comprehensive benefits and may include incentive compensation. Does this sound like you? Apply! We’ll get in touch on the next steps. Representation at Lazard Lazard is an intellectual capital business committed to delivering the best advice and solutions to clients. We believe that a workforce comprised of people who represent a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives creates a rich variety of thought that empowers us to challenge conventional wisdom, solve problems creatively, and make better decisions. Lazard was built on the premise that a multicultural firm can best serve a global clientele. As a global firm that has grown organically from local roots in different countries, we have a deep tradition of respecting and appreciating individual differences. Doing so has been core to our success for over 175 years. We are committed to sustaining an environment where every colleague is supported in their professional pursuits, can maximize their individual potential, and contribute to our collective success.