Assistant Director (Data Governance & Transformation)

[What the role is]

The Singapore Food Agency’s mission is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore.

The Digital Technology & Transformation (DTT) Division designs, builds, and refreshes SFA’s digital capabilities and systems to enable effective, efficient, and resilient organisation processes.

The candidate will work in the Data Governance and Transformation Department (DGT) under DTT. DGT empowers SFA to become a digitally driven organisation by harnessing data to inform policy development, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. This role is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a comprehensive data governance framework and enterprise-wide data policies that align with our business objectives and regulatory requirements.

[What you will be working on]

Data Governance Policy Development and Implementation:
• Develop and maintain data governance policies and procedures aligned with Whole-of-Government (WOG) directives and organisational objectives
• Monitor and interpret relevant data protection laws, regulations, and WOG directives to ensure organisational compliance in data governance and security

Stakeholder Management and Communication:
• Support the Data Governance Steering Committee and Data Stewardship Teams to:

a. Align data governance with business objectives
b. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration on data-related initiatives, fostering a data-driven culture
c. Facilitate resolution of data-related issues and conflicts

• Coordinate data sharing initiatives within the organisation and with external partners
• Develop and deliver targeted education programmes on data governance policies, procedures, and best practices for staff at all levels
• Monitor and report data governance metrics, initiatives, and outcomes to senior management

Data Infrastructure and Systems Management:
• Collaborate with system owners, data owners, business users, and project managers on data architecture and infrastructure
• Ensure data assets are aligned with business objectives and are effectively managed throughout their lifecycle by conducting regular data audits and risk assessments
• Support data-sharing initiatives across teams, systems, and projects
• Identify opportunities for data optimisation and implement solutions to enhance data quality, accessibility, and usability
• Develop and drive implementation of data standards, conceptual data models, master and reference data management, and metadata management

Continuous Improvement and Innovation:
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of data governance processes, policies, and infrastructure
• Stay abreast of data governance and management trends and technologies
• Propose and implement improvements to enhance data management practices and drive organisational value from data assets
 

[What we are looking for]

Requirement and Skills:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Data Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline
• Preferably 3-5 years relevant experience in data governance, data management, or related roles, particularly in establishing and maintaining data standards throughout the data lifecycle
• Familiar with IM8 and data protection, and governance principles and processes would be advantageous
• Experience in utilising data governance tools and technologies (e.g., Microsoft Purview, Azure Data Catalog) and data warehousing concepts, ETL processes, and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark)
• Proven experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and their data services, with implementation experience on government commercial cloud platforms being highly advantageous, preferably good project management skills with knowledge of Agile methodologies
• Preferably experience in SQL and at least one programming language (e.g., Python, R)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail
• Good oral and written communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across teams, translate business requirements into technical solutions, and communicate complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Collaborative mindset, proactive at identifying and resolving data-related issues across multiple teams and departments.
• Be inquisitive and an advocate for best practices and continuous learning to stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in data governance and management

Work Location:
SFA HQ at JEM