Information Protection Lead (Data Governance)

Information Protection Lead (Data Governance)
ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, our most valuable asset is our people. Here you'll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning; bold ideas; courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.
Our most valuable asset is our people.
At ZS we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are part of your success here. Learn more about our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces, obtaining the resources they need to thrive, and sharing the messages they are passionate about.
Information Protection Lead (Data Governance)
We are seeking a seasoned Information Protection Lead (Data Governance) to establish, manage, and scale our enterprise-wide data governance and security framework.
This role uniquely combines strategic leadership - shaping governance policies, frameworks, and organizational adoption - with technical oversight of governance and data security tools such as data discovery, DSPM (Data Security Posture Management), classification, and encryption frameworks.
The Data Governance Lead will ensure data is trusted, secure, compliant, and usable across the organization to drive decision-making, innovation, and regulatory alignment.
What You'll Do:

1. Strategic Leadership (Governance & Compliance Focus)

• Define and lead the enterprise data governance strategy in alignment with business objectives and regulatory mandates.
• Establish a comprehensive governance framework, including policies, standards, and controls for data ownership, stewardship, and lifecycle management.
• Form and chair data governance councils/committees to drive enterprise-wide accountability.
• Collaborate with executives and stakeholders to embed a culture of governance and data stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and privacy frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, PCI DSS, SOX).
• Define and track key KPIs that measure governance maturity, risk posture, and policy adoption.
• Lead training & awareness efforts to elevate governance knowledge across technical and non-technical communities.

1. Technical Oversight (Tooling & Security Enablement Focus)

• Data Discovery & DSPM: Implement and oversee DSPM platforms to automatically discover, classify, and monitor sensitive data across cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments.
• Data Classification & Cataloging: Define standards for sensitive data labeling and enforce consistent classification through data catalogs and automated workflows.
• Data Encryption & Protection: Ensure robust encryption (in transit, at rest, and in use) alongside support for masking, tokenization, and anonymization methods.
• Integration with Security Stack: Partner with InfoSec to integrate governance tools with DLP, SIEM, IAM, API security, and cloud-native security controls.
• Lifecycle Automation: Deploy automated workflows for archival, retention, purging, and secure disposal of redundant or stale datasets.
• Tool Ownership: Evaluate, select, and manage governance/security tooling (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, BigID, OneTrust, Alation, AWS Macie, Azure Purview, GCP DLP).
• Provide technical oversight in risk assessments, incident response, and data breach remediation activities related to sensitive or regulated data.

1. Team Management & Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of data governance professionals, including data stewards, analysts, and data security specialists.
• Provide clear direction, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to build a high-performing team.
• Allocate resources and prioritize tasks to ensure timely delivery of governance initiatives and technical implementations.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture focused on continuous learning and alignment with organizational goals.
• Act as a role model, promoting best practices in leadership, communication, and cross-team collaboration.

What You'll Bring:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's in Data Management, Computer Science, Information Systems, or Cybersecurity.
• Experience:
• 7+ years in data governance, data management, or data security, with at least 3 in a lead role managing teams.
• Demonstrated experience implementing data discovery, lineage, catalog, DSPM, classification, and encryption solutions in enterprise or regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of modern data architectures (data lakes, lakehouses, SaaS platforms, distributed systems).
• Technical Competencies:
• Hands-on familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their native security services.
• Deep understanding of data security concepts: least-privilege access, zero trust, sensitive data workflows, breach impact mitigation.
• Experience integrating governance with compliance auditing and reporting frameworks.
• Certifications Preferred: CDMP, DGSP, CISSP, CISM, CIPP, CCSK, or other relevant governance/security credentials.
• Leadership Skills: Excellent stakeholder management, executive communication, and the ability to drive organizational change.

How you'll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:
ZS offers a comprehensive total rewards package including health and well-being, financial planning, annual leave, personal growth and professional development. Our robust skills development programs, multiple career progression options and internal mobility paths and collaborative culture empowers you to thrive as an individual and global team member.
We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.
Travel:
Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.
Considering applying?
At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.
If you're eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.
ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.
To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment.An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.
NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.
Find Out More At:
www.zs.com