Executive Director Data Strategy & Operations

The Executive Director, Data Strategy & Operations, is responsible for leading the firm’s data strategy, governance, and operational execution across enterprise platforms, analytics, and reporting capabilities. This role serves as the senior functional leader accountable for translating enterprise strategy into scalable data solutions that improve decision‑making, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and business performance. Operating at the enterprise functional level, the Executive Director partners closely with executive leadership, business unit leaders, Technology, Finance, Risk, and Product teams to ensure data assets are governed, accessible, reliable, and aligned to business priorities. The role oversees multiple data‑related functions, including data governance, quality, analytics enablement, reporting platforms, and operational data services—and drives consistency across regions and business units. This leader balances strategic influence with execution accountability, ensuring that data initiatives deliver measurable value while maintaining strong controls around privacy, security, and regulatory requirements. The Executive Director plays a critical role in shaping the firm’s data operating model, building organizational capability, and enabling data‑driven leadership across the enterprise.

Position Summary

The Executive Director, Data Strategy & Operations, is responsible for leading the firm’s data strategy, governance, and operational execution across enterprise platforms, analytics, and reporting capabilities. This role serves as the senior functional leader accountable for translating enterprise strategy into scalable data solutions that improve decision‑making, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and business performance. Operating at the enterprise functional level, the Executive Director partners closely with executive leadership, business unit leaders, Technology, Finance, Risk, and Product teams to ensure data assets are governed, accessible, reliable, and aligned to business priorities. The role oversees multiple data‑related functions, including data governance, quality, analytics enablement, reporting platforms, and operational data services—and drives consistency across regions and business units. This leader balances strategic influence with execution accountability, ensuring that data initiatives deliver measurable value while maintaining strong controls around privacy, security, and regulatory requirements. The Executive Director plays a critical role in shaping the firm’s data operating model, building organizational capability, and enabling data‑driven leadership across the enterprise.

Primary Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise data strategy, aligned with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and technology roadmaps.
• Translate firm‑wide priorities into multi‑year data and analytics initiatives with clear execution plans and measurable outcomes.
• Design and maintain the enterprise data operating model, including governance structures, decision rights, and accountability frameworks.
• Establish and oversee enterprise data governance, including data ownership, stewardship, classification, lineage, and quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy, security, and regulatory obligations through partnership with Risk, Legal, Cybersecurity, and Compliance teams.
• Drive data quality management practices to improve accuracy, consistency, and trust in enterprise reporting and analytics.
• Lead teams responsible for data platforms, reporting solutions, analytics enablement, and operational data support services.
• Ensure reliable, scalable, and cost‑effective delivery of data products and services across the organization.
• Oversee prioritization of data initiatives, balancing demand from multiple business units with enterprise value and capacity constraints.
• Partner with executive and senior leaders to identify opportunities where data and analytics can drive growth, efficiency, or risk reduction.
• Enable self‑service analytics and reporting capabilities while maintaining appropriate governance and controls.
• Establish success metrics and performance indicators to track adoption, business impact, and return on investment for data initiatives.
• Lead and develop senior managers, data leaders, and cross‑functional teams responsible for strategy execution and operations.
• Build data literacy and capability across the organization through standards, training, and enablement programs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within data and analytics functions.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep understanding of enterprise data strategy, data governance frameworks, and analytics operating models.
• Strong knowledge of data management disciplines, including data architecture, quality, metadata, master data, and reporting platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex data organizations and deliver outcomes through multiple layers of leadership.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into executable data initiatives tied to measurable results.
• Experience balancing innovation with risk management in regulated or compliance‑driven environments.
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders and align diverse business units around shared data priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex data concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information systems, computer science, data analytics, business administration, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in data, analytics, technology, or related leadership roles.
• Proven experience leading enterprise‑scale data or analytics functions within complex, multi‑business environments.
• Demonstrated success designing and implementing data governance, operating models, and analytics platforms.
• Experience operating in regulated industries or environments with significant data risk and compliance considerations preferred.

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The Baldwin Group will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate who applies on our career site. Any unsolicited resumes sent to The Baldwin Group, including unsolicited resumes sent via any source from an Agency, will not be considered and are not subject to any fees for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.