Data Governance Consultant

Data Governance ConsultantLong-Term Contract Opportunity with a Major Financial Services FirmLocation: Newark, NJ (Hybrid – 3 Days/Week Onsite)Duration: Long-Term ContractPay Rate: Up to $80/hr W2Employment Type: W2 Only (No Corp-to-Corp)Candidates: Local Candidates OnlyWe are seeking a Data Governance Consultant to help drive enterprise-wide data governance initiatives within a leading financial services organization. This role will focus on establishing and enhancing data governance frameworks, defining best practices, improving data quality, and partnering with both business and technology teams to ensure trusted, well-managed data across the organization.The ideal candidate will bring a combination of data governance expertise and technical capability, with experience working in financial services, fintech, banking, payments, capital markets, or similar highly regulated environments. This is a hands-on consulting role requiring both strategic thinking and the ability to work directly with data, systems, and stakeholders.What You Can Expect on a Typical DayPartner with business and technology teams to establish and mature enterprise data governance practicesDefine, document, and implement data governance standards, policies, procedures, and operating modelsDevelop and promote best practices related to data quality, metadata management, data lineage, stewardship, and data ownershipCollaborate with data owners, business stakeholders, and technical teams to improve data management processes across the organizationSupport enterprise initiatives focused on data quality, regulatory compliance, and risk managementIdentify data governance gaps and recommend process improvements to strengthen data controls and governance maturityFacilitate discussions with business and technical teams to establish governance requirements and drive adoptionAssist in the development and implementation of data governance metrics, reporting, and monitoring processesPartner with data engineering, analytics, and architecture teams to ensure governance principles are incorporated into data solutionsSupport data cataloging, metadata management, and lineage initiativesParticipate in governance councils, working groups, and enterprise data management initiativesProvide guidance and education to stakeholders on governance standards and best practicesRequired Qualifications5+ years of experience in Data Governance, Data Management, Data Quality, Data Stewardship, or related disciplinesExperience developing or implementing enterprise data governance frameworks, policies, and best practicesStrong understanding of data governance concepts, including:Data QualityMetadata ManagementData LineageData StewardshipData OwnershipData CatalogingExperience working within financial services, banking, fintech, payments, insurance, capital markets, or other regulated industriesAbility to communicate effectively with both business and technical stakeholdersStrong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skillsExperience facilitating cross-functional discussions and driving consensus across stakeholder groupsTechnical QualificationsHands-on experience working with SQL for data analysis, validation, profiling, and governance-related activitiesExperience using Python for data analysis, data quality assessment, automation, or governance initiativesAbility to analyze and interpret complex data structures, relationships, and business processesFamiliarity with enterprise data platforms, databases, and cloud-based data environmentsUnderstanding of data architecture and data lifecycle management conceptsPreferred QualificationsExperience with data governance platforms such as Informatica, Collibra, Alation, Microsoft Purview, or similar toolsKnowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements related to financial services data managementExperience supporting large-scale data transformation or modernization initiativesFamiliarity with AWS, Azure, Snowflake, Databricks, or other modern data platformsExperience establishing data governance programs within complex enterprise environments