Program Manager - Data Governance

About Talent Leaders

Talent Leaders is a global executive search and leadership recruitment firm with a well-established presence across Canada, the Middle East, and Asia. We have been mandated by one of our prestigious government-affiliated clients in Qatar to lead the executive search for a Program Manager – Data Governance. This role is part of a high-impact national initiative focused on advancing enterprise data strategy, governance, and cross-entity coordination.

As a trusted partner to public sector institutions and large enterprises, Talent Leaders specializes in securing exceptional talent for senior leadership roles in data governance, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Our search methodology is discreet, research-driven, and aligned with our clients’ strategic goals and organizational culture.

Role Summary ( Fluent in English and Arabic (mandatory)

A seasoned Program Manager to lead a comprehensive Data Management Program with a specific focus on Data Governance . The selected candidate will oversee the design, execution, and operationalization of a large-scale data governance operating model. This role will also contribute to the growth of the Data & AI practice through presales engagement, business development, and thought leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Program Delivery & Execution

Lead the full-cycle delivery of the Data Management Program within the defined scope, timeline, and budget

Oversee the development of governance artifacts including Governance Framework, RASCI Matrix, Data Source Registers, and Critical Data Element (CDE) inventories

Manage workflows for metadata approval, issue resolution, and escalation

Ensure project deliverables such as maturity assessments, training plans, and sustainability models meet program expectations

Stakeholder Management

Collaborate with senior leadership, group-level, and entity-level stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in

Facilitate Steering Committee and Working Group sessions

Manage inter-agency communications and ensure timely resolution of escalated issues

Team Leadership & Resourcing

Lead and coordinate a cross-functional team consisting of internal resources and consulting partners

Align SME contributions with client-facing activities and delivery timelines

Develop and maintain resource allocation plans in accordance with delivery milestones

Change Management & Capacity Building

Execute change management strategies and training programs to drive adoption of governance practices

Foster engagement across business units and promote a culture of data accountability

Ensure sustainability and knowledge transfer for long-term operational success

Governance & Reporting

Track progress against a Data Governance Maturity Model and ensure KPI alignment with broader data strategy

Deliver leadership-level reporting, including post-launch reviews and lessons learned

Maintain compliance with cybersecurity and data privacy standards

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Information Management, Public Administration, or a related discipline

Minimum 10 years of program management experience, with at least 5 years in large-scale initiatives

Proven experience in Data Management and Data Governance frameworks, operating model setup and execution, and multi-entity program delivery and oversight

Familiarity with federated governance models and stakeholder coordination is preferred

Demonstrated success in change management, training deployment, and capacity building

Fluent in English and Arabic (mandatory)

PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification is required

Experience in solution selling, presales, and go-to-market strategy is a strong advantage

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