Data Governance Lead

Want to influence the bigger picture? At Saab, you can realize amazing innovations that keep people and societies safe. Together, we can truly make an impact – and your part matters.

Your role

Information and data are increasingly critical assets for business performance, decision-making, digital transformation, AI adoption, and regulatory compliance. As our Strategic Lead - Data Governance, you will play a central role in defining how our enterprise governs information and data to enable these ambitions at scale.

This is a strategic leadership role focused on shaping direction rather than managing day-to-day operational governance activities. You will act as the organisation's thought leader for Data Governance, defining the principles, frameworks, accountability models, and governance capabilities required to support a large, decentralised, and globally distributed organisation.

Our organisation has adopted Data Mesh as a strategic direction. In this role, you will help define the governance foundations, ownership models, and ways of working needed to realise that vision. Working closely with senior leaders across business and technology, you will build understanding of why governance matters, articulate the business value it creates, and influence the organisational evolution required to strengthen data ownership, accountability, and trust. You will help create the conditions that allow data to be managed as a business asset, balancing domain ownership with enterprise alignment, and ensuring governance remains practical, scalable, and value driven.

Your main responsibilities include

Strategic Leadership, Governance Strategy & Operating Model Design

• Define and continuously evolve the enterprise Data Governance strategy, governance framework, and target-state operating model to support business objectives and the organisation's Data Mesh ambitions.
• Act as the organisation's leading expert and trusted advisor in Data Governance, federated governance, and Data Mesh, influencing executive leadership and shaping enterprise direction.
• Translate industry-leading practices into pragmatic governance principles, accountability models, ownership structures, and governance capabilities.
• Refine the existing governance framework and define how governance, decision-making, and accountability should operate across a decentralised organization, balancing domain autonomy with enterprise alignment.
• Ensure alignment between governance principles, the Hub-and-Spoke operating model, and the Medallion Architecture to create a coherent and scalable foundation for trusted, business-owned data.

Enterprise Alignment and Influence

• Build alignment among senior stakeholders across business, technology, architecture, risk, security, legal, and compliance functions.
• Influence leaders and decision-makers to strengthen ownership, accountability, and stewardship of information and data.
• Provide expert guidance to strategic initiatives involving analytics, AI, digital transformation, and enterprise data capabilities.
• Support leaders and governance communities by providing direction, frameworks, and expertise on governance-related topics.
• Foster a common understanding of governance principles and their role in achieving business outcomes.

Value Realisation

• Clearly articulate and communicate the business value of effective Information and Data Governance.
• Define strategic objectives and success measures that demonstrate how governance contributes to trusted data, business agility, operational efficiency, AI readiness, and improved decision-making.
• Establish meaningful governance KPIs and outcome measures that support continuous improvement and value realisation.
• Promote a value-driven approach to governance that balances control, accountability, innovation, and business enablement.

Why This Role Matters

As our organisation continues its journey toward a more decentralised and data-driven operating model, strong governance becomes increasingly important. Success depends not only on technology, but on clear accountability, trusted data, shared principles, and effective decision-making.

In this role, you will help define how the enterprise manages information and data as strategic assets. By shaping governance direction, influencing leaders, and establishing a common framework for ownership and accountability, you will create the foundation needed for Data Mesh, AI, analytics, and future business transformation initiatives to succeed.

You will be a part of the Group Function Information Management, part of the COO organisation, reporting to Head of Information Management. The group function consists of several thought leaders responsible for leading transformation across a large, complex organisation by aligning leaders, building commitment, and enabling teams to deliver change at scale.

Your profile

• Has extensive experience leading and shaping Data Governance in large, complex organisations.
• Has experience working with Data Mesh and federated operating models, balancing domain ownership with enterprise alignment.
• Demonstrates strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to align senior stakeholders across a matrix organisation.
• Combines strategic thinking with practical execution, translating complex challenges into clear priorities and actionable direction.
• Has a proven track record of driving enterprise-wide transformation and organisational change.
• Communicates complex concepts clearly and effectively to both business and technical audiences.
• Takes initiative, works independently, and creates structure and clarity in ambiguous environments.
• Builds trust and collaboration through a pragmatic, collaborative, and grounded leadership style.

It is considered an advantage if you have

• Deep expertise in Data Governance, Federated Governance, and Data Product Management.
• Experience with Data Mesh, Hub-and-Spoke operating models, and governance in decentralised organisations.
• Knowledge of metadata management, data quality, data lineage, data catalogues, and master data management.
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms, Enterprise Architecture, and Medallion Architecture.
• Knowledge of Data Privacy, Compliance, Risk Management, and AI/Data Governance.

This position requires that you pass a security vetting based on the current regulations around/of security protection. For positions requiring security clearance additional obligations on citizenship may apply.

What you will be part of

Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose – to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden, with major operations all over the world, and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations. Read more about us here.

Kindly observe that this is an ongoing recruitment process and that the position might be filled before the closing date of the advertisement.