VP, Data Operations and Governance

Title:                VP, Data Operations and Governance

Location:         Remote – USA and/or Canada, Europe

Reports to:      Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Role:  

The Vice President of Data Operations and Governance will build a world-class global data operations function from the ground up, transforming how the company acquires, processes, governs, and delivers data assets across a $1B automotive data and analytics business. Leading a team of over 500 people across North America and Europe, this role will consolidate fragmented teams operating across different organizational groups into a unified, scalable, and efficient operation.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the VP will lead a comprehensive transformation from manual, fragmented processes to an automated, AI-enabled operation with standardized processes, consolidated systems, and real-time performance visibility. This is a hands-on position requiring deep operational expertise, transformation leadership, and the ability to drive measurable results quickly in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

 
The Impact You Will Have in This Role: 

Through the transformation of how the company acquires, processes, governs and delivers data assets across the globe, you will foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, aligning with the company’s values.  These impacts collectively position the organization for greater efficiency, agility, growth, and market leadership in automotive data and analytics.  

What You’ll Be Doing in This Role:

Transformation Leadership & Process Automation

• Build Global Data Operations Function: Establish unified data operations capability consolidating  fragmented teams across NA and EU into a cohesive organization with standardized processes, clear accountability, and consistent quality standards.

• Lead Manual-to-Automated Transformation: Identify high-volume manual processes suitable for automation and drive implementation of RPA, workflow automation, and AI/ML solutions. Establish clear criteria for where to apply automation based on volume, complexity, error rates, and ROI. Deliver measurable reduction in manual effort and cycle time.

• Leverage AI & Emerging Technologies: Drive innovation through application of AI, machine learning, and emerging technologies to transform data operations. Implement AI-enabled solutions for data validation, quality assurance, content processing, and analytics to enhance speed and accuracy.

• Execution: Dive deep into operational details to understand current state, identify transformation opportunities, and build credibility with teams. Transition to strategic oversight as leadership team is built and processes mature.

Systems Strategy & Rationalization

• Own Systems Strategy & Roadmap: Define strategy and roadmap for systems consolidation and rationalization across data operations. Partner with technology organization on implementation while owning business requirements, prioritization, and adoption. Drive reduction in platform/system count and elimination of redundancy.

• Technology Evaluation & Selection: Assess current technology landscape and identify opportunities to consolidate, modernize, or replace systems. Build business cases for technology investments and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture.

• Coordinate Cross-Functional Implementation: Work closely with technology teams to ensure systems roadmap aligns with operational needs and transformation priorities. Manage business side of system implementations including requirements, testing, training, and change management.

Metrics, OKRs & Real-Time Performance Management

• Establish Metrics Framework: Implement comprehensive metrics and OKR framework to provide real-time visibility into operational performance. Define and track KPIs for quality, speed, cost, throughput, and capacity across all teams.

• Build Real-Time Dashboards: Create executive dashboards providing real-time visibility into data operations performance. Enable data-driven decision making and rapid identification of issues and opportunities.

• Drive to Measurable Targets: Set efficiency targets and drive accountability for achieving them. Establish baseline metrics and demonstrate continuous improvement through automation, process standardization, and capability building.

• 30-Day Progress Milestones: Deliver clear, measurable progress updates on 30-day cycles for board reporting, demonstrating momentum and value creation throughout transformation.

Quality Leadership

• Ensure the highest standards of data quality, and content accuracy across all outputs delivered to product organization

• Establish enterprise-wide quality assurance frameworks, monitoring systems, and corrective action processes

• Own root cause analysis and remediation for quality incidents

• Build culture of quality ownership and accountability throughout the organization

Data Acquisition & Sourcing Operations

• Oversee external data sourcing, vendor partnerships, and third-party data acquisition

• Ensure effective data entry operations and input data preparation to operational standards

• Manage vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and supplier performance in coordination with procurement function

• Drive standardization of acquired data for downstream products’ consumption

Data Governance, Quality & Platform Operations

• Establish and enforce data governance framework including Single Source of Truth (SSoT), data dictionary, and master data management

• Own data quality standards, monitoring, cleansing processes, and quality assurance programs

• Partner with technology organization on operational health of data processing platforms, storage infrastructure, and ETL pipelines

• Manage data access, security, compliance, and localization requirements across geographies

• Establish training programs, standard operating procedures, and knowledge management systems

Global Operations & Cost Management

• Manage capacity planning and workforce optimization across global teams

• Partner with CFO/COO on budget development, forecasting, and financial performance management

• Oversee financial planning, budget management, and vendor spend across operations

Multi-Stakeholder Alignment & Product Prioritization

• Navigate Complex Stakeholder Landscape: Manage multiple data sources with competing stakeholder priorities and requirements. Build alignment mechanisms to balance competing needs and ensure data operations supports highest-value initiatives.

• Partner on Product Prioritization: Work closely with product organization to align data changes, improvements, and enhancements with product prioritization model. Ensure data operations roadmap supports strategic product initiatives and customer value creation.

• Translate Requirements into Operations: Serve as bridge between product/technical requirements and operational execution. Ensure clear communication and alignment across Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO), Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), and product organization leadership.

Team Transition & Organizational Development

• Manage Current Team Transitions: Lead transition of existing teams from current organizational structures into unified data operations organization. Provide clarity on roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, and future state vision.

• Build Leadership Team: Recruit, develop, or promote leaders for direct report positions. Establish clear charters, accountabilities, and operating rhythms for new leadership structure.

• Drive Change Management: Address team concerns about automation, job security, and organizational change. Build trust, communicate transparently, and create career development pathways.

• Foster Collaborative Culture: Build culture focused on operational excellence, innovation, quality, and customer service across previously siloed teams and geographies.

Qualifications of this Role:  

• Bachelor’s Degree – Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Analytics, Business    Administration or related field required; Master’s degree preferred

• 15 years of progressive experience in data management, data operations, data governance, or related fields

• 10 years of senior leadership experience with a demonstrated track record of building and scaling data operations within a complex organization. Experience leading enterprise-wide data governance initiatives and establishing operational frameworks that balance risk management with business enablement.

• Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams across distributed locations. Track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving organizational alignment around data strategy. Skilled at translating complex technical concepts into business value propositions for executive audiences.

• In depth knowledge of data governance frameworks, data management technologies, regulatory environments, and emerging trends in data and analytics

• Demonstrated experience with global data protection and privacy regulations including GDPR, CCPA, etc

• Strong understanding of data architecture, data modeling, master data management, metadata, data quality, data integration, and omnichannel technologies and methodologies

• Proven ability to develop and articulate a clear vision and strategy for data governance that aligns with business objectives, and digital transformation initiatives, while driving organizational change and fostering a data-centric, adaptable culture in evolving business, technology, and regulatory landscapes

• Strong communication skills with ability to engage effectively across all organizational levels. Proven capability to build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups with competing interests. Experience fostering collaborative relationships between data functions and business units to ensure governance practices support strategic objectives.

• Ability to analyze complex data environments to identify areas of improvement and innovation and adept at identifying and resolving data-related issues

• Expertise in managing large-scale projects and programs within budget and timelines, especially those impacting and business operations

• Experience in leveraging AI & emerging technologies to transform data operations

The Hiring Manager says: 

 We're looking for a seasoned data leader who can bring order to complexity without stifling innovation. This person needs to be equal parts strategist and operator, someone who can design elegant governance frameworks but also roll up their sleeves to make them work in the real world.

Our ideal candidate can build data operations at scale. They've been in the trenches dealing with messy data, competing stakeholder priorities, and the challenge of making governance feel like an enabler rather than a roadblock. They know how to speak the language of the business, not just the language of data. If you're energized by the idea of creating clarity from chaos, building high performing teams that people want to join, and establishing the data backbone that powers strategic decisions across the enterprise, let's talk.  

Company Mission

J.D. Power is clear about what we do to ensure our success into the future. We unite industry leading data and insights with world-class technology to solve our clients’ toughest challenges.

Our Values

We POWER Our Customer's Success

We are Innovative, Collaborative and Grounded in Data

We Make Things Easy

We Get It Done

We Start with Trust & Prove it Everyday

J.D. Power is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability. 

Should you require accommodations during the recruitment and selection process, please reach out to tarecruitment@jdpa.com. 

J.D. Power does not disclose your personal data to unauthorized third parties. However, as a global corporation consisting of multiple affiliated companies in various countries, J.D. Power has international sites and J.D. Power uses resources located throughout the world. J.D. Power may from time to time also use third parties to act on J.D. Power’s behalf. You agree to the fact that to the extent necessary your personal data may be transferred and/or disclosed to any company within J.D. Power group of companies as well as to third parties acting on J.D. Power’s behalf, including also transfers to servers and databases outside the country where you provided J.D. Power with your personal data. Such transfers may include for example transfers and/or disclosures outside the European Economic Area and in the United States of America. If you are a California or United Kingdom resident, additional disclosures about the information we collect and how we use that information can be found by clicking here.

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