Data Governance / Alation Analyst

Role Overview

We are looking for a Data Governance / Alation Analyst to support the implementation and ongoing management of enterprise data governance and data catalog capabilities. The role will primarily focus on Alation, metadata management, data lineage, business glossary, data stewardship, data quality, and governance processes. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working with both technical and business stakeholders to ensure that critical data assets are well documented, understood, governed, and traceable across the organization.

Hands-on experience with Alation is mandatory. Candidates with both Alation and Collibra experience are welcome; however, candidates with only Collibra or other enterprise data catalog experience will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

· Configure, maintain, and administer the Alation Data Catalog and related governance capabilities.

· Create and maintain metadata, business glossary terms, data definitions, data domains, and critical data elements.

· Support the development and maintenance of data lineage across reports, data sources, processes, and business functions.

· Establish and maintain data stewardship workflows, including ownership, accountability, approvals, and issue resolution.

· Work with business and technical stakeholders to identify, document, and validate critical data assets and their definitions.

· Support report-to-data-source and report-to-business-process mapping to improve data traceability and transparency.

· Maintain governance documentation, standards, procedures, operating models, and other governance artifacts.

· Support data quality initiatives, including identification of data quality issues, documentation of rules, and coordination with data owners and stewards for remediation.

· Assist with regulatory reporting, compliance, audit, and risk-related activities, including evidence collection and documentation.

· Support audit and compliance teams in tracking governance gaps, remediation activities, and closure evidence.

· Develop and maintain data governance metrics, dashboards, and status reports covering catalog adoption, stewardship, data quality, lineage, and governance activities.

· Identify gaps in existing governance processes and recommend improvements to increase data transparency, accountability, and control.

· Participate in data governance forums and collaborate with Data Owners, Data Stewards, Business Analysts, Technology teams, Risk, Compliance, and Audit.

Required Skills & Experience

· Experience in Data Governance, Data Management, Metadata Management, or Data Catalog functions.

· Hands-on experience with Alation is mandatory.

· Experience with Collibra or other enterprise data catalog/governance platforms will also be considered.

· Strong understanding of Data Governance frameworks and operating models.

· Strong understanding of metadata management, data lineage, business glossary, and data definitions.

· Understanding of data stewardship, data quality concepts and processes, critical data elements, and data ownership.

· Experience supporting regulatory, risk, compliance, or audit requirements.

· Strong documentation and process-definition skills.

· Ability to work effectively with both business and technical stakeholders.

· Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

Preferred Experience

· Experience working with enterprise data governance implementations.

· Experience configuring or administering Alation.

· Experience with data lineage and integration of catalog metadata from multiple systems.

· Exposure to financial services, banking, insurance, or other highly regulated environments.

· Experience supporting regulatory reporting or data controls.

· Familiarity with SQL and/or data analysis tools is an advantage.

· Experience creating governance dashboards and operational metrics.

What Success Looks Like

· Critical data assets are properly cataloged and documented.

· Business definitions and ownership are clearly established.

· Data lineage is available and maintained.

· Data stewards and owners have clearly defined responsibilities.

· Governance and data-quality issues are tracked through to resolution.

· Audit and regulatory evidence can be produced efficiently.

Requirements

Required Skills & Experience

· Experience in Data Governance, Data Management, Metadata Management, or Data Catalog functions.

· Hands-on experience with Alation is mandatory.

· Experience with Collibra or other enterprise data catalog/governance platforms will also be considered.

· Strong understanding of Data Governance frameworks and operating models.

· Strong understanding of metadata management, data lineage, business glossary, and data definitions.

· Understanding of data stewardship, data quality concepts and processes, critical data elements, and data ownership.

· Experience supporting regulatory, risk, compliance, or audit requirements.

· Strong documentation and process-definition skills.

· Ability to work effectively with both business and technical stakeholders.

· Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

Benefits

What Success Looks Like

· Critical data assets are properly cataloged and documented.

· Business definitions and ownership are clearly established.

· Data lineage is available and maintained.

· Data stewards and owners have clearly defined responsibilities.

· Governance and data-quality issues are tracked through to resolution.

· Audit and regulatory evidence can be produced efficiently.

· Business and technology teams have greater confidence in the organization's data.