Senior Data Governance Consultant

Senior Data Governance Consultant Enterprise Data Inventory & Classification Engagement Exp:

15+ W2 / C2C Location Oakland, CA, Rancho Cordova, CA or Alpharetta, GA Engagement Objectives The consultant will execute across four workstreams in parallel: 1

• Plan & Current State Review Mobilize quickly; confirm objectives, scope, and ways of working with the CLIENT team Review current-state data governance documentation and prior proof-of-concept (POC) results Interview CLIENT subject matter experts to capture institutional knowledge and requirements gaps 2
• Requirements & Tool Evaluation Matrix Define business and functional requirements for a data classification and inventory platform Build a weighted tool evaluation matrix covering functionality, scalability, cybersecurity/DLP fit, and cost Establish coverage criteria for both structured and unstructured data environments 3
• Vendor Bake-Off Support Confirm the shortlist of two finalist vendors appropriate for CLIENT's environment Support the head-to-head bake-off using real CLIENT data Score and compare results against the evaluation matrix to determine best fit 4
• Classification Profiling & Recommendation Develop data classification profiles and classification type definitions for applications beyond the Project Contribute to the strategic platform recommendation with supporting cost estimates Support development of an implementation plan and sequenced 2027 deployment roadmap Required Qualifications Experience 10+ years of experience in data governance, data management, or information architecture roles Demonstrated hands-on experience leading data inventory and classification engagements in enterprise environments Prior experience in highly regulated industries; healthcare or health insurance strongly preferred Proven track record executing vendor evaluations, bake-offs, and technology selection processes for data governance platforms Experience developing data classification frameworks, policies, and handling strategies Technical Skills Deep familiarity with data classification and discovery tools (e.

g., Microsoft Purview, Varonis, BigID, Collibra, Alation, or comparable platforms) Proficiency assessing structured data (databases, data warehouses, data lakes) and unstructured data (file shares, email, collaboration platforms) Ability to build and apply weighted evaluation matrices for technology selection Understanding of data security posture management (DSPM) and DLP integration considerations Experience with data lifecycle management concepts and governance operating models Soft Skills & Engagement Qualities Operates effectively in a client-directed model; takes guidance from the CLIENT program lead and executes with limited oversight Strong written and verbal communication; able to produce clear, executive-ready deliverables independently Collaborative and responsive; accustomed to working alongside internal client teams and stakeholders Manages time well against a compressed timeline with a hard August milestone Preferred Qualifications Familiarity with HIPAA, state-level privacy regulations, and healthcare data handling requirements Experience with data classification in the context of cybersecurity or CISO-sponsored programs Relevant certifications: CDMP, CIPP, CIPM, or equivalent data governance or privacy credentials