Royal Bank of Canada

Director, Data Products & Semantics

Royal Bank of Canada$90K — $140K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in data engineering or analytics
  • Hands-on SQL and modern transformation tools proficiency (dbt or equivalent)
  • Experience building or leading a data consumption layer
  • Proven leadership in managing analytics teams
  • Strong business fluency with technical communication skills
  • Experience establishing data governance in complex environments
  • Ability to manage ambiguity and prioritize effectively

Responsibilities

  • Own and govern the business-ready consumption layer on Snowflake
  • Design and deliver curated data products and metrics for enterprise use
  • Build and lead a team of analytics engineers for consumption layer development
  • Collaborate with Data Platform & Engineering teams for joint delivery
  • Engage with analytics teams to prioritize and evolve data products
  • Establish and maintain governance standards as the platform scales
  • Position semantic layer for self-serve and AI analytics

Benefits

  • Flexible benefits and work/life balance programs
  • Career development support and training provided
  • Access to tools for productivity and business growth
  • Competitive pay with high earning potential
  • Inclusive team environment with a respect for diversity
Full Job Description
Job Description

What is the opportunity?

We are building a governed consumption layer on our Snowflake data platform, a curated set of business-aligned data products and semantic definitions that make enterprise data trustworthy, discoverable, and usable at scale. We are looking for a director to own this capability end to end.

This role sits at the boundary between data engineering and business consumption. You will define what "ready to use" means for our data, lead the team that builds it, and work closely with our Data Platform & Engineering team who owns the underlying data models, platform services, and production deployment. Together, you will ensure that what gets built is both technically sound and business relevant.

You bring hands-on experience with the modern data stack, have built or led semantic/consumption layers before, and have evolved into a leader who can translate business needs into governed data products. You understand that the future of analytics is self-serve and increasingly AI-assisted, and that a well-defined semantic layer is what makes that future reliable.

What you will do
  • Own the consumption layer: Design, deliver, and govern business-ready views and data products on Snowflake, defining entities, metrics, and datasets that serve BI, operational systems, and AI applications with consistent, trusted definitions.
  • Build and lead a team: Hire, develop, and manage analytics engineers focused on consumption-layer design and delivery.
  • Partner with Data Platform & Engineering: Work daily with the team that owns data modeling and platform infrastructure. They own the contracted data models and production deployment; you own what gets built on top and how it's presented to consumers. This is a tight collaboration, not a handoff.
  • Partner with Analytics & Insights: Work with BI analysts and data consumers to identify needs, prioritize data product development, and ensure the layer evolves based on real usage.
  • Define standards: Establish governance criteria for the consumption layer, naming conventions, metric definitions, testing, documentation, lineage, access policies, and maintain them as the platform scales.
  • Coordinate across teams: Work with IT partners on security, compliance, and infrastructure; engage business domain owners as stakeholders; align with AI programs on data requirements.
  • Enable self-serve and AI-readiness: Position the semantic layer as the foundation for self-serve analytics and generative AI use cases (text-to-SQL, contextual retrieval), where correctness depends on embedded business context rather than user expertise.


What do you need to succeed?

Must have
  • Technical depth: Hands-on SQL experience and fluency with modern transformation tools (dbt or equivalent) on cloud data warehouses (Snowflake required). You can review code, contribute to designs, and hold engineering standards.
  • Consumption layer experience: You have built or led a semantic layer, data products function, or governed mart/reporting layer before. You know the difference between a data model and a data product, and you've navigated that boundary in practice.
  • Collaboration with platform teams: Experience working alongside (not above) data engineering or platform teams, shared standards, code review across team boundaries, joint delivery accountability. You respect the infrastructure that makes your layer possible.
  • Leadership: Proven experience managing analytics engineers or similar technical roles. Track record of building small teams that deliver disproportionate impact through standards and leverage, not headcount.
  • Business fluency: Ability to prioritize based on business value, communicate trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders, and drive adoption of governed data products over ad-hoc alternatives.
  • Governance in complex environments: Experience establishing data governance, quality, and access standards in large or regulated organizations.
  • Pragmatism: Ability to define long-term direction while delivering incrementally. Comfortable with ambiguity and competing priorities.


Nice to have
  • Financial services or insurance domain knowledge.
  • Experience with knowledge graphs or formal ontology frameworks.
  • Familiarity with AI/ML feature stores or LLM context layers.
  • Experience defining RBAC or row/column-level security policies on Snowflake.


What's in it for you?

RBC Insurance is an organization that succeeds by bringing out the best in its people. You'll be part of a supportive, inclusive team that shares common values - including a fundamental respect for each other. At the heart of this is a commitment to diversity. RBC respects and responds to the many competing and evolving priorities in our lives - so you can focus on what you can do best - putting clients first.
  • A Total Rewards program that includes flexible benefits, work/life balance and career development programs and investment and retirement savings plans
  • Competitive pay and high-earning potential
  • All the tools, training, and team support you need to grow your business and career
  • Flexible work/life balance options
  • RBCI software tools to boost your productivity and grow your business


Job Skills
Agile Product Development, Communication, Customer Service, Customer Success, Decision Making, Group Problem Solving, Leadership, Long Term Planning, Teamwork, Time Management

Additional Job Details

Address:
MEADOWVALE BUSINESS PARK, 6880 FINANCIAL DR:MISSISSAUGA
City:
Mississauga
Country:
Canada
Work hours/week:
37.5
Employment Type:
Full time
Platform:
INSURANCE
Job Type:
Regular
Pay Type:
Salaried
Posted Date:
2026-08-20
Application Deadline:
2026-09-06
Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the application deadline date above

Compensation for this position (including salary and discretionary/variable payments) will be determined by factors, including but not limited to candidate's experience, skills, registration status, performance, individual goals, market conditions, and business needs.

Pay Range

The expected pay range for this position is:
$90,000.00 - $140,000.00

The pay range provided is for the primary work location referenced in the Additional Job Details section of this job posting. Pay ranges may differ based on location. If the posting lists multiple job locations, a recruiter can confirm availability of the role and the relevant pay rage for the additional locations listed. RBC supports pay transparency and we strive to ensure all pay ranges are competitive, fair, and equitable.

You have the potential to earn RBC's discretionary variable compensation program which gives you an opportunity to increase your total compensation, provided that business meets its performance targets and you meet your individual goals.

About Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Canada Careers

Join the dynamic team at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a global leader in financial services and a company committed to excellence and innovation. At RBC, we offer a wide range of job opportunities that empower professionals to shape their career paths with leadership, diversity training, and continuous growth.

Work You’ll Do

At Royal Bank of Canada, we are not just hiring; we are building a culture of innovation and leadership. Our team members are at the forefront of the financial industry, driving transformation and delivering targeted solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and communities.

Explore Job Opportunities and Employment at RBC

Whether you are starting your career or looking to take it to the next level, RBC offers positions that challenge your skills and fuel your ambition. From entry-level positions to leadership roles, our job opportunities span across various functions and regions. Join us and be part of a team that values professional growth and diversity.

Internship and Professional Development

Kickstart your career with an internship at Royal Bank of Canada. Our internships provide invaluable hands-on experience, networking opportunities, and insights into the financial services industry. Interns at RBC gain the skills necessary to excel and are often considered for full-time positions within the company.

Benefits and Culture

At RBC, we prioritize the well-being and satisfaction of our employees. Our benefits package is designed to support our team members at every stage of their life and career. RBC’s culture is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and responsibility, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Career Growth and Innovation

We believe in nurturing the potential of our employees through continuous learning and career development programs. At RBC, you will find endless opportunities to grow professionally through on-the-job experiences, formal training programs, and leadership development initiatives. Our commitment to innovation means we are constantly seeking out new ideas and perspectives, making RBC a perfect place for those who aim to lead and innovate.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is our strength. At Royal Bank of Canada, we are committed to building an inclusive workplace where every employee feels valued and respected. Our diversity training programs are designed to educate and inspire, creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace.

Join Our Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Start your journey with RBC today and be part of a world-class team known for its commitment to client service, community involvement, and innovation.

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Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities awaiting you at RBC. Explore the possibilities with Royal Bank of Canada, where your future is filled with potential and the path to success is paved with countless opportunities for professional and personal growth. Join us and shape not just your career but the future of the financial industry.
Learn more about Royal Bank of Canada
Size
86,007 employees
Market Cap
$130.3 billion
Industry
5 Year Trend
+8.7%
NASDAQ

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