GRC Data Governance Manager

About the Role

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive data governance framework aligned with GRC best practices
• Define, enforce, and update data policies, standards, and procedures
• Monitor emerging regulatory requirements and translate them into organizational controls
• Conduct data risk assessments and implement mitigation strategies
• Lead data privacy initiatives to ensure compliance with UAE PDPL, GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant regulations
• Collaborate with IT, legal, and business units to embed data governance across processes and systems
• Establish and chair data stewardship committees; provide training and guidance to stakeholders
• Perform regular audits, prepare compliance reports, and present findings to senior management and regulators

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Management, or related field
• 5–10 years of professional experience in Governance, Risk, and Compliance with at least 3 years focused on data governance
• Strong technical expertise in GRC frameworks (ISO 27001, COBIT) and regulatory compliance
• Proven experience in data governance disciplines: data classification, metadata management, data lineage
• Hands-on experience conducting risk assessments and implementing risk management controls
• In-depth knowledge of data privacy regulations including UAE PDPL and GDPR
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related discipline
• Certifications such as CIPP/E, CIPM, CISA, or CRISC
• Experience operating within the UAE or MENA regulatory landscape
• Familiarity with data governance platforms (Collibra, Informatica, Alation)
• Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2)
• Practical experience with cloud data governance features in AWS, Azure, or GCP