Director Data Governance & Strategy

Director Of Data Governance & Strategy

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

We are seeking a transformational data leader to serve as our Director of Data Governance & Strategy within our Chief Information & Digital Office (CIDO). This role is part of our Insights & Intelligence (I2) organization which leads enterprise data, AI and analytics and will report to the Sr. Director of I2. In this highly visible, enterprise-wide role, you will define and lead the execution of our enterprise data strategy, ensuring high-impact alignment with business priorities, regulatory requirements, and the company's broader digital transformation.

This role is located at our corporate headquarters in Falls Church, VA. We may consider hybrid or Part-Time telework arrangements for this position.

You will own the data governance operating model, lead our data quality and privacy programs, and drive clarity on where enterprise data must be standardized vs. harmonized. This role is ideal for a visionary leader who can partner effectively across the C-suite, influence federated teams, and embed data ownership deep into the fabric of how we operate.

Your leadership will ensure that data is treated as a strategic asset - enabling insights, driving automation, and ensuring our data-driven future is built on trusted, well-governed foundations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, socialization, and execution of the enterprise data strategy across business and technology.
• Define where strict data standardization is needed to drive operational or regulatory outcomes, and where harmonization of non-standard processes is sufficient.
• Build and operationalize a fit-for-purpose data governance framework including policies, stewardship models, escalation protocols, and accountability mechanisms.
• Serve as a key voice in data-centric decision-making forums, representing governance strategy in enterprise architecture, analytics, and transformation discussions.
• Embed clear, actionable data ownership into business-aligned teams, enabling distributed accountability for data quality and governance.
• Equip functional organizations with the frameworks, training, and support they need to fulfill data stewardship responsibilities.
• Drive culture change across the enterprise to treat data as a shared corporate asset.
• Design and lead the enterprise-wide data quality strategy, including data profiling, cleansing, and continuous monitoring.
• Establish data quality thresholds and scorecards for key systems of record and strategic data domains.
• Drive root cause analysis and data remediation initiatives in partnership with technology and business stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements and internal policies related to data management and privacy protection.
• Serve as the enterprise lead for the data privacy function, ensuring compliance with all applicable data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, etc.).
• Design and oversee privacy-by-design processes, data minimization practices, and privacy impact assessments.
• Partner with Legal, Information Security, and Compliance to maintain a strong risk posture and audit readiness.
• Design and launch training programs to build data literacy and awareness across all levels of the organization.
• Deliver scalable, role-specific education for data owners, stewards, and analysts to support governance and privacy adoption.
• Foster a federated network of trained data champions across the business.
• Act as a trusted advisor to C-level executives, senior functional leaders, and technical stakeholders.
• Influence cross-functional decision-making by translating complex data risks and opportunities into business-relevant narratives.
• Ensure data governance and quality frameworks enable scalable, compliant use of advanced analytics and AI / ML use cases.
• Partner with AI and analytics leaders to establish trust in training data, improve data discoverability, and manage model risk associated with poor data quality.
• Supervise and provide leadership and mentoring to a diverse team of professionals, fostering a culture of ethical governance, continuous learning, and innovation.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including senior management, to report on governance activities, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in data governance and privacy to ensure the organization remains at the forefront of industry standards.

Basic Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Salary Range : $179,600.00 - $269,400.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and / or personal business.