Senior Program Manager — Data Governance & Regulatory Transformation

Role: Senior Program Manager — Data Governance & Regulatory Transformation

Role Type: Contract

Contract Duration: 5 months extendable

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead complex regulatory and data transformation programs—specifically in Data Governance, Data Sovereignty, Data Residency & Access (DRA), and cross‑border regulatory change. This role will own early-stage mobilization through program delivery, partnering closely with business, legal, risk, compliance, data, and technology stakeholders across multiple regions. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on leader who can operate as a “player‑coach”: setting strategic direction and governance while rolling up their sleeves to perform analysis, facilitate workshops, and produce high-quality delivery artefacts.

Key responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program delivery for Data Governance, Data Sovereignty, DRA, and related regulatory transformations, ensuring timelines, budget and quality targets are met.
• Independently run early-stage program mobilization: define scope, build initial roadmap, identify dependencies, and establish governance and reporting.
• Elicit, baseline, and maintain business and regulatory requirements; translate legal and regulatory obligations into practical operational and technical requirements.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops, working sessions, and steering forums to align stakeholders and drive decision-making.
• Produce clear delivery artefacts: business requirements documents, solution options, gap analyses, implementation plans, RACI matrices, risk logs, and status reports.
• Perform hands-on business analysis: process mapping, impact assessment, data classification, and solution design support.
• Manage external counsel and other third-party advisors; coordinate legal interpretation and incorporate counsel input into operational controls and program design.
• Design and operationalize corridor-based transfer risk assessments and data sovereignty controls; advise on cross-border data transfer governance frameworks.
• Work with technology and data teams to define implementation approaches, data controls, access patterns, and monitoring/assurance mechanisms.
• Drive stakeholder management across global functions (Business, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Data, Technology) to secure sign-off, resolve conflicts, and ensure sustainable adoption of new controls and processes.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior PMs and business analysts on the team; balance strategic leadership with detailed execution where required.
• Ensure the program meets regulatory expectations and prepares the organization for regulatory engagement and audits.

Required experience & skills

• 8+ years of program or project management experience delivering data governance, data sovereignty, DRA, privacy, or regulatory transformation programs—preferably within Banking or Financial Services.
• Proven track record in early-stage program mobilization, scope definition, requirements baselining, and stakeholder alignment.
• Strong global stakeholder management experience across Business, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Data, and Technology teams.
• Hands-on business analysis skills: workshop facilitation, requirements documentation, process mapping, and delivery artefact creation.
• Experience managing external counsel and translating legal/regulatory language into operational/technical requirements.
• Practical familiarity with corridor-based transfer risk assessment, data sovereignty controls (e.g., localization, encryption, access restrictions, data residency policies), and cross-border data transfer governance frameworks.
• Ability to operate as a “player-coach”: lead at program level while performing detailed execution and mentoring team members.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex concepts to senior stakeholders and regulators.
• Strong problem-solving skills, prioritization capability, and proven capacity to manage ambiguous, multi-jurisdictional issues.
• PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, or equivalent project management certification desirable. Certifications in data governance, privacy (CIPP/E, CIPP/US) or related fields are a plus.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Law, Finance, or related field. Advanced degree preferred but not required.

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