Lead, Master Data Management

Position Overview

The Lead, Master Data Management (MDM) reports to the Director, Financial Systems & Analytics and serves as a lead contributor on enterprise MDM initiatives. This role balances hands-on technical execution with functional leadership and cross-functional collaboration, supporting the design, development, governance, and continuous improvement of scalable master data solutions across enterprise systems and business processes.

Key Responsibilities

The Manager, Master Data Management reports to the Director, Financial Systems & Analytics and leads the development and evolution of enterprise master data solutions and capabilities in close partnership with Data Engineering (DAWGs), BI & Analytics, and business teams. This role balances hands-on technical leadership with strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration, overseeing the design, implementation, and governance of scalable MDM processes, data models, and supporting platforms.

Key responsibilities for this position include:

Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a functional lead on MDM initiatives, guiding solution design, process definition, stewardship practices, and alignment with MDM standards and governance expectations.
• Mentor and guide MDM Application Developers, MDM Analysts, and business data stewards, supporting skill development, knowledge sharing, and best practice adoption.
• Partner with business stakeholders, Data Engineering, BI & Analytics, Financial Systems, and other IT counterparts to translate master data needs into scalable, governed solutions.
• Coordinate cross-functional MDM workstreams, helping prioritize issues, resolve data and process challenges, and maintain continuity across systems and domains.
• Serve as a backup to the Manager, Master Data Management, or as the primary MDM functional lead when needed, supporting stakeholder engagement, initiative leadership, and MDM delivery continuity.

MDM Solution Design & Process Enablement

• Design, develop, and enhance master data solutions, workflows, data models, hierarchies, validation rules, and supporting processes across key enterprise data domains.
• Support the evaluation, selection, and implementation of MDM platforms and tools to enable scalable and sustainable master data management capabilities.
• Ensure MDM solutions support multiple data domains, including customer, product, vendor, financial, and other critical enterprise data.
• Provide technical leadership in defining data models, hierarchies, solution workflows, and supporting structures that enable efficient, governed master data management.
• Collaborate with Data Engineering & Architecture teams to align MDM solutions with enterprise data platforms, integration patterns, and downstream analytics needs.

Master Data Governance, Quality & Stewardship

• Support the definition and adoption of master data standards, ownership models, stewardship workflows, and lifecycle management processes.
• Partner with business data stewards to define data quality rules, validation logic, approval workflows, and maintenance processes.
• Develop and monitor data quality standards, controls, and metrics to improve master data accuracy and consistency.
• Drive root cause analysis and resolution of data quality issues across systems.
• Lead continuous improvement of master data processes, workflows, and controls.

Enterprise Data Integration & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Collaborate with the Data Warehousing & Integration (DAWGs) team to ensure master data is consistently integrated across enterprise systems and analytics platforms.
• Partner with BI & Analytics teams to support trusted master data for reporting, dashboards, certified datasets, and decision-making.
• Work closely with Financial Systems, Pricing, ERP, and operational teams to align master data structures with business processes and system requirements.
• Support integration of multiple data sources and applications to enable reliable, consistent master data flows across enterprise platforms.
• Contribute to documentation of data flows, source-to-target mappings, data definitions, and integration patterns that support enterprise data consistency.

MDM Capability Development & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee support and drive improvement of MDM applications and processes, including issue resolution, enhancements, performance optimization, and workflow efficiency.
• Ensure appropriate testing and release management practices are followed for MDM solutions to support reliable delivery and operational continuity.
• Maintain documentation of MDM processes, solution designs, data structures, standards, and support procedures to enable knowledge transfer and consistent execution.
• Track solution effectiveness and identify opportunities to mature MDM capabilities toward governed, decentralized maintenance, improved data quality, and scalable stewardship.

Education and Experience

• 4+ years of progressive experience in master data management, data governance, enterprise application development, or related enterprise data roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Data Management, Data Science, Business Analytics, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree in a related field, such as Information Systems, Data Science, Business Analytics, or MBA, preferred but not required.
• Professional certifications in data management, data governance, MDM platforms, business analysis, cloud platforms, or related technologies (e.g., Informatica, Microsoft Azure, AWS, or similar) are highly valued.
• Experience translating business requirements into scalable technical solutions, data processes, workflows, validation rules, and data quality controls.
• Experience designing, developing, supporting, or improving master data solutions, data models, workflows, or enterprise data applications.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development through training, certifications, conferences, and industry engagement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required

• Strong proficiency in SQL and relational database concepts, with experience working with complex, multi-source datasets.
• Familiarity with data governance practices, data quality management, stewardship workflows, and master data lifecycle processes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data and process issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop practical solutions that improve data accuracy and reliability.
• Experience collaborating across business and technical teams to deliver data-driven solutions aligned with operational, financial, analytical, or enterprise system needs.
• Ability to provide guidance, influence stakeholders, and support alignment across cross-functional teams without relying solely on formal authority.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain technical and data concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred

• Contribution to MDM or data governance initiatives in an enterprise environment.
• Familiarity with MDM platforms or tools such as Informatica MDM, Reltio, Profisee, SAP MDG, Microsoft-based solutions, or similar technologies.
• Working knowledge of multiple master data domains such as customer, product, vendor, financial, location, or organizational data.
• Background supporting ERP, financial systems, pricing systems, product configuration, or other complex enterprise data structures.
• Exposure to manufacturing, consumer products, or similarly complex environments with configurable products, multi-system data flows, or distributed data ownership.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor technical or business team members, lead workstreams, or act as a lead contributor on data-related initiatives.