Description

The Global GOS Data Governance Lead is the strategic authority for domain‑level data governance across Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Operations Services (GOS). This role defines how data is described, protected, engineered, and used across global operations and client portfolios, ensuring data is trustworthy, discoverable, and actionable. The leader embeds governance into engineering, analytics, operations, and product development while influencing senior stakeholders and elevating data as a strategic asset.

The lead designs and implements an enterprise‑wide data governance framework that supports diverse client portfolios and geographies while allowing nimble execution. They architect long‑term strategies for key domains, establishing critical data element (CDE) ownership, quality expectations, metadata standards, and domain‑specific controls aligned with business priorities. Additionally, they build and scale a stewardship operating model—including roles, accountabilities, and governance rhythms—across service lines and client‑facing teams.

Operationally, the lead owns the lifecycle of domain policies, business glossaries, metadata models, and data contracts, ensuring consistency across engineering, analytics, and reporting platforms. They establish data quality KPIs, monitoring frameworks, and remediation accountability for systems such as Yardi, FAMIS360, CoStar, Autodesk Construction Cloud, and Serraview. The role also oversees schema governance, versioning discipline, and maintains authoritative governance repositories with full lineage and audit defensibility.

In the governance, risk, and compliance arena, the lead embeds privacy‑by‑design, security requirements, classification standards, and retention policies into domain workflows. They define and enforce enterprise controls—including access governance, release readiness criteria, and compliance checkpoints—to mitigate data risk and prevent operational incidents. The role drives metadata, cataloging, and lineage strategies to improve transparency, discoverability, and enterprise trust in data assets.

The lead serves as a senior advisor to data owners, stewards, engineering leaders, account executives, and client technology partners, guiding governance strategy and operational expectations. They navigate complex, multi‑stakeholder environments to harmonize data structures, field mappings, and integration standards across global client portfolios. Communication of data health, risk posture, and governance outcomes to senior leadership is delivered in clear, business‑centric terms to support prioritization and investment decisions.

• Design and implement an enterprise-wide data governance framework for global operations.
• Architect long‑term governance strategies, defining CDE ownership, quality standards, and metadata norms.
• Build and scale a stewardship operating model with clear roles, accountabilities, and governance rhythms.
• Chair the GOS Data Governance Council to align operations, technology, analytics, and account teams.
• Own the lifecycle of domain policies, glossaries, metadata models, and data contracts across platforms.
• Establish data quality KPIs, monitoring thresholds, and remediation processes for key systems (Yardi, FAMIS360, CoStar, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Serraview).
• Govern schema versioning and ensure backward compatibility for downstream data consumption.
• Maintain authoritative governance repositories with full lineage, traceability, and audit defensibility.
• Embed privacy‑by‑design, security controls, classification, and retention policies into domain workflows.
• Define and enforce access governance, release readiness, and compliance checkpoints to mitigate data risk.
• Drive metadata cataloging and lineage initiatives to enhance data transparency and discoverability.
• Advise senior stakeholders on governance strategy, domain design, and operational expectations.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Information Systems, Business, Real Estate, or a related field, with advanced degrees preferred. At least five years of senior experience in data governance, data management, or analytics—preferably within real estate services, facilities management, or global operational enterprises—is required. Deep knowledge of frameworks such as DAMA‑DMBOK, data quality practices, metadata management, and data privacy regulations is essential, along with proven executive communication and stakeholder‑management skills.

• Communicate data health and risk posture to leadership in clear, business‑focused language.
• Possess 5+ years senior data governance or analytics experience, preferably in real estate or facilities management.
• Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field; advanced degrees are a plus.

Benefits

Cushman & Wakefield offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, flexible spending, health savings, retirement, life, and disability insurance, as well as paid and unpaid time off. Compensation for this role ranges from $149,685 to $176,100, dependent on factors such as location, experience, and collective bargaining agreements, and will not be below minimum wage. The firm is an equal‑opportunity employer, prohibiting discrimination and providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities in accordance with the ADAAA.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance