Data Governance Specialist - Life Sciences

Axtria Introduction

Axtria is a global provider of cloud software and data analytics to the Life Sciences industry. We help Life Sciences companies transform the product commercialization journey to drive sales growth and improve healthcare outcomes for patients. We are acutely aware that our work impacts millions of patients and lead passionately to improve their lives. Since our founding in 2010, technology innovation has been our winning differentiation. We continue to leapfrog competition with platforms that deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Our cloud-based platforms — Axtria DataMAx™, Axtria SalesIQ™, Axtria InsightsMAx™, and Axtria CustomerIQ™ — enable customers to efficiently manage data, leverage data science to deliver insights for sales and marketing planning, and manage end-to-end commercial operations. We help customers in the complete journey from Data to Insights to Operations. With customers in over 75+ countries, Axtria is one of the biggest global commercial solutions providers in the Life Sciences industry. We continue to win industry recognition for growth and are featured in some of the most aspirational lists — Inc. 5000, Deloitte Technology Fast 500™, NJBIZ Fast 50, SmartCEO Future 50, Red Herring 100, and several other growth and technology awards.

Axtria is looking for exceptional talent to join our rapidly growing global team. People are our biggest perk! Our transparent and collaborative culture offers a chance to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Axtria Institute, our in-house university, offers the best training in the industry and an opportunity to learn in a structured environment. A customized career progression plan ensures every associate is set up for success and able to do meaningful work in a fun environment. We want our legacy to be the leaders we produce for the industry. Will you be next?

Data Governance Specialist 

Are you passionate about Data? Do you believe that data governance is critical for organizations looking to embrace and scale AI, and to use data responsibly and efficiently to realize business goals? Are you ready to take charge and lead innovative data governance strategies and solutions? This role at Axtria is the right fit for you!
We are looking for a Data Governance Specialist to join our Data Management practice, driving Data Governance best practices, strategy, and adoption. You will create an expert point of view that generates business value by improving data quality, data access, data findability, and data interoperability, implementing all aspects of the FAIR data concept.
This role requires a deep understanding of data governance principles, data management discipline, and data privacy and regulatory compliance requirements and solutions. The ideal candidate has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and can communicate complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
As a Data Governance Specialist, you will provide clients with Data Governance consulting across the full spectrum, from business and functional design (strategy, operating model, policies, stewardship) to technical solution architecture and hands-on platform implementation.

Key Responsibilities: Data Governance Strategy and Frameworks

• Stay current with industry trends, emerging technologies, and pharma regulatory changes that may impact data governance practices.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive data governance strategy, framework, and capabilities roadmap that aligns with the organization's goals and objectives.
• Establish data governance policies and procedures that ensure the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of data.
• Define data quality standards, data classification procedures, and data lifecycle management processes.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of data governance initiatives.
• Enable Data Stewardship efforts for clients.
• Create and execute processes that drive efficiency and support the long-term sustainment of DG operations.
• As an evangelist, drive the application of Data Governance concepts and promote a data-driven mindset and behavior.

Solution Architecture and Client Delivery

As a Data Governance Solution Architect, you will combine functional and technical depth on client engagements:

• Identify and understand client requirements, issues, and gaps in their DG organization, people, processes, and technical implementations, and recommend Data Governance solutions that meet immediate and long-term needs.
• Work closely with client partners to conceptualize and develop the right functional and technical solution architecture for the client's end-to-end data governance requirements.
• Design data governance solution frameworks covering all tenets of Enterprise Data Governance: Data Catalog, Metadata Management, Lineage Management, Business Glossary, Data Quality Management, Data Access and Controls, and Data Marketplace.
• Lead solution design leveraging DG platforms such as Informatica IDMC, Collibra, and Alation, or open-source and cloud-native capabilities (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Drive thought leadership in DG technology platforms and selection, with expert knowledge and point of view on the leading platforms.
• Take ownership of the solution architecture on client projects, aligning it with the client's near-term and strategic objectives.
• Design and implement Data Governance projects as per requirements, and ensure the solution meets stringent quality criteria by reviewing test strategy, test plans, test cases, and their successful execution.
• Be ready, willing, and capable to do hands-on configuration and integration of Data Governance capabilities as needed, and troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
• Demonstrate cross-functional leadership, aligning clients' business and IT teams.
• Lead project scoping, estimation, and key activities to ensure quality deliverables.
• Lead and facilitate client pre-sales and project workshops.
• Act and be seen as a trusted advisor by both client and internal stakeholders, demonstrating functional, technical, and strategic leadership.

AI-Enabled Data Governance

• Architect GenAI-enabled governance patterns integrated with Collibra, Informatica, and Alation, such as catalog enrichment, glossary copilots, and lineage documentation assistants.
• Define the integration approach for Claude and other LLMs, including API management, guardrails, retrieval from approved knowledge sources, and logging and monitoring.
• Ensure data governance foundations are ready to support clients embracing and scaling AI responsibly.

Business Development

• Actively contribute to Pre-Sales and Business Development for the Data Governance domain.
• Identify and develop use cases, POCs, and demos that demonstrate our capability in end-to-end governance of Life Sciences data assets, including common internal application data and 3rd party data.
• Develop GenAI-led governance use cases, POCs, and demos (such as auto glossary generation, classification, and lineage documentation) to support pre-sales and workshops.
• Design and create innovative solutions and accelerators across the Data Governance tenets.
• Author solutions for client pain points through Points of View, Thought Leadership, and white papers.
• Work with cross-functional teams and lead the development and delivery of RFP responses.

Leadership and Internal Collaboration

• Coach and mentor junior team members, and provide training and support to internal employees and customers.
• Build the required DG competencies and skills across the practice, both functional and technical.

Desired Skills and Experience

Required

• Strong knowledge of data assets and data management principles in Pharma, Med Device, Biotech
• 10+ years of overall experience leading Data Governance strategy, implementation, and adoption, and designing and implementing data governance platforms and solutions.
• Experience as a solution architect (functional and/or technical) who has designed and implemented Data Governance solutions for mid to large scale organizations.
• Strong knowledge of Data Quality Management, Data Warehouse / Lakehouse architectures.
• Hands-on experience and proficiency in leading Data Governance tools such as Informatica IDMC, Collibra, and Alation across DG capabilities: Data Catalog, Metadata Management, Business Glossary, Lineage, Data Classification / Access / Security, and Data Marketplace.
• Knowledge of Data Analysis and Logical Data Modelling.
• Working knowledge of GenAI / LLMs (Claude or equivalent), including prompt engineering, RAG, embeddings, and secure enterprise integration patterns.
• Awareness applying AI to data governance capabilities (catalog, glossary, lineage, classification, access controls) with a strong compliance orientation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; able to represent Axtria and lead discussions with both technical and business leaders in the organization.
• Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, with a strong aptitude for working with large data sets.
• Proven ability to handle multiple clients in an advisory capacity.
• Self-starter who can work independently or as a team player.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science.

Preferred

• Prior consulting experience.

Pay Transparency Laws 
Salary range or hourly pay range for the position 
 
The salary range for this position is $157,600 to $205,425 annually. The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant’s geographic location. 
 
The salary range reflected is based on a primary work location of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. The actual salary may vary for applicants in a different geographic location. 

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