Head of Data Governance & Architecture

About this role

Client: APG Asset Management

COO Asset Management is building a new organization! If you are impassioned to make a difference, foster innovation, and guide a team toward excellence, this leadership role at APG Asset Management awaits you!

You’ll lead the team responsible for making Data Governance work in practice across APG Asset Management. Your primary focus is to further develop, implement and operationalize the governance foundations needed to deliver Trusted Data at scale and to support the responsible use of AI. You ensure that data is well defined, owned, traceable, of sufficient quality and used in line with internal policies, external regulation and clear accountability.

The job

The rapid development and adoption of AI makes strong Data Governance more important than ever. AI solutions depend on reliable, transparent and well-governed data. You will therefore help APG AM take the next step by connecting established Data Governance capabilities with emerging AI governance needs, including clear ownership, lifecycle controls, metadata, lineage, data quality, responsible use and effective oversight. This is a leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with practical execution. You will work closely with the Data Office leadership team, business stakeholders, Data Owners, Data Stewards, AI Leads, Business Owners of AI use cases, Data Product teams, Data Management, the AI Centre of Excellence, risk, compliance and legal stakeholders.

You create clarity, direction and consistency while enabling teams to deliver value in a controlled and pragmatic way. Data Architecture and Data Modelling remain capabilities within the team, but their architectural direction and approval are embedded in the established architecture governance. Your role is to ensure these capabilities support Data Governance outcomes and operate in line with the principles, standards and decisions set through Enterprise Architecture and the Design Authority. You lead a multidisciplinary team with capabilities in data governance, metadata management, data quality, business data analysis, data architecture and data modelling.

Together, the team helps APG AM move from fragmented practices towards a transparent, scalable and governed data landscape that is ready for both data driven decision making and AI enabled ways of working.

Key responsibilities

• Accountable for the execution, maturity and continuous improvement of Data Governance within APG AM. This includes defining and delivering the Data Governance strategy and roadmap, aligned with the Data Office, Data, AI and APG AM strategies, and ensuring governance standards are effectively embedded and applied in practice.
• Lead the operationalization of the Data Governance framework, including governance bodies, mandates, decision rights, escalation paths, roles, responsibilities, policies, standards and reporting across all governance levels.
• Strengthen and enable the governance operating model by defining and improving ways of working for Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Providers, Data Producers, Information Product Owners, AI Leads, Business Owners and other stakeholders.
• Drive the integration of Data Governance and AI Governance, ensuring AI use cases are supported by trusted data, clear accountability, responsible controls, transparency, traceability, explainability and lifecycle management.
• Support and further develop governance forums and communities, including the Data & AI Governance Board, Data Quality Authority, AI Authority, Data Community and AI Community, ensuring effective decision-making and alignment across the organization.
• Drive the implementation of Trusted Data principles, including ownership, business definitions, metadata, lineage, critical data elements, data quality insights and fit-for-purpose controls.
• Own and mature the metadata management capability, ensuring data domains, business definitions, data products, lineage, catalogue processes and data quality rules are consistently defined, maintained and leveraged across business and AI use cases.
• Lead the development of data quality governance, assurance, issue management, controls and reporting, ensuring data quality issues are identified, owned and resolved proactively within the data value chain.
• Develop and execute a roadmap for a future-proof metadata and governance platform that supports both Data Governance and AI Governance objectives.
• Support the implementation and monitoring of data and AI policies, translating policy requirements into practical standards, guidance, controls and ways of working for business and delivery teams.
• Establish and strengthen AI use case governance, including ownership, intake, classification, prioritization, monitoring, lifecycle oversight and alignment with risk, compliance, privacy and legal requirements.
• Ensure Data Governance standards are embedded within delivery processes, data product development, data platform onboarding, data architecture, data modelling activities and AI use case lifecycles.
• Lead and position the Business Data Analyst capability as the bridge between business stakeholders, governance and delivery teams, translating business needs into clear data and information product requirements.
• Build data literacy across the organization through practical guidance, training and communities, enabling stakeholders to effectively fulfil their governance responsibilities.
• Provide leadership, coaching and direction to the team, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, psychological safety, continuous improvement and pragmatic delivery.
• Deliver transparent reporting on governance maturity, adoption, ownership, policy implementation, data quality and AI governance effectiveness, using insights to drive continuous improvement and decision-making.

TALK TO A RECRUITER Your skills

• Academic degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Finance, Information Management, Business Management, Data Management, Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Relevant certifications or qualifications in Data Governance, DAMA/DMBOK, AI Governance, Risk Management, Privacy, Information Management or Leadership are considered a strong advantage.
• At least 7 to 10 years of relevant experience in data governance, data management, metadata management, data quality, information governance or related leadership roles, preferably in a complex financial or asset management environment.
• Demonstrable expertise in designing and operationalizing Data Governance frameworks, operating models, roles, decision rights, standards and controls.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between Data Governance and AI, including how data quality, metadata, lineage, ownership, privacy and responsible use enable trustworthy AI.
• Experience with AI governance, model or use case lifecycle governance, regulatory requirements for AI, or the controlled adoption of emerging technologies is a strong advantage.
• Strong knowledge of metadata management, business glossaries, data catalogues, data quality, data lineage, critical data elements, data policies and data operating models.
• Ability to translate strategy and policy into concrete roadmaps, governance processes, practical guidance, measurable outcomes and sustained adoption.
• Experience working with governance boards and cross functional stakeholders across business, data, technology, architecture, risk, compliance, privacy and legal.
• Sufficient understanding of data architecture, data modelling, data platforms and cloud based data capabilities to connect governance requirements to delivery, while working within established architecture governance.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience building, guiding and coaching multidisciplinary teams.
• Pragmatic and delivery-oriented mindset, able to make governance useful, understandable and scalable without making it unnecessarily bureaucratic.
• Ability to communicate clearly with senior management, specialist teams and non technical business stakeholders.
• A leadership style that combines clarity, ownership and accountability with trust, collaboration and psychological safety. Our offer

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• A competitive salary of max. €13.800 gross per month based on a 40-hour working week (depending on knowledge and relevant work experience);
• 25 days of annual leave based on a 40-hour working week;
• 8.33% holiday allowance, paid in May;
• Pension scheme, with pension accrual starting from day one;
• Hybrid working;
• A dedicated Happy Manager to support your personal and professional development;
• Access to various courses and training programmes through The Ministry of Compliance and Projective Academy;
• Referral bonus of €1,000 for every referred professional who starts an assignment;
• Travel allowance: choose between a mileage reimbursement or a public transport card;
• Working-from-home allowance and a budget to set up your home office.

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TALK TO A RECRUITER