Overview
The lead of Masterdata Management is a senior leader accountable for building and operating an enterprise grade MDM function that delivers trusted, governed, and secure master and reference data across core domains (e.g. Customer, Supplier, Location, Asset). The role spans strategy, operating model, platform/product leadership, governance, and adoption, ensuring that golden records and metadata are produced, protected, and propagated. The VP establishes the MDM operating model (federated stewardship with central standards), drives DataOps practices for quality and reliability, and partners with Security, Privacy, and EA to embed secure SDLC and zero trust data access.
Key responsibilities
Strategy & Governance
- Define the enterprise MDM strategy, capability roadmap, and investment case.
- Chair/lead the Data Governance Council (DGC) in partnership with the SVP; co lead the Architecture Review Board (ARB) for MDM standards and integration patterns.
- Establish domains, Critical Data Elements (CDEs), stewardship model, and decision rights; maintain glossary, policies, and quality thresholds.
Operating Model & Delivery
- Build and manage the MDM product/platform team (product, engineering, data quality, metadata/lineage).
- Implement DataOps for MDM (CI/CD, automated testing, observability, change control, incident/problem management).
- Deliver golden record services (match/merge/survivorship, hierarchy management) and reference data services.
- Define integration architecture and design and implement technical solutions accordingly.
Quality, Metadata & Lineage
- Define and enforce data quality rules; publish dashboards for completeness, validity, uniqueness, timeliness, and conformance.
- Mature metadata and end to end lineage (technical and business) to enable auditability, impact analysis, and AI readiness.
Security, Privacy & Compliance
- Implement least privilege and purpose based access, masking/tokenization where appropriate; complete DPIAs for MDM domains.
- Ensure quarterly access recertification, evidence of change/testing, and defensible audit trails.
- Align to GXO policies and industry frameworks.
Stakeholder Management & Adoption
- Partner with business VPs (Commercial, Operations, Procurement, Network/Asset Management) to appoint Domain Owners and Stewards.
- Drive adoption across top consuming platforms (ERP/WMS/TMS/CRM/data platforms), with measurable value delivery and change enablement.
- Communicate progress through executive ready KPIs, OKRs, and quarterly reviews.
Financials & Vendor Management
- Own MDM budget, staffing plan, and vendor/SI engagement; avoid lock in through open standards and portable models.
- Negotiate SLAs/OLAs; ensure cost transparency and unit economics for data products/services.
The role has enterprise wide accountability for building and operating an MDM function that delivers trusted, governed master and reference data across core domains such as Customer, Supplier, Location, and Asset. It owns the MDM strategy, capability roadmap, operating model, and platform delivery, with explicit responsibility for budget, staffing, and vendor management.
You will be responsible for designing and establishing a new enterprise MDM operating model, governance structures, and DataOps practices rather than following pre existing processes. The role addresses complex, cross functional challenges related to data ownership, quality, adoption, and integration, with solutions that span multiple domains, platforms, and business functions.
The role works closely with senior business leaders, data domain owners, IT leaders, Enterprise Architecture, Security, and Privacy teams to drive alignment and adoption. It communicates progress and value through executive ready KPIs, OKRs, and quarterly reviews, and partners extensively across the organisation to embed MDM into core business and technology processes.
You will build and manage a dedicated MDM product and platform team, including product, engineering, data quality, and metadata capabilities. The role establishes stewardship models, provides leadership and guidance across federated data roles, and develops organisational capability in master data management across multiple job areas.
Experience and Qualifications Required
- 7+ years leading enterprise MDM or closely related data governance/platform functions in global organizations.
- Proven track record establishing an MDM operating model (federated stewardship, RACI, governance bodies) and scaling to multiple domains.
- Demonstrated success delivering API first and event driven integrations of golden sources into complex application landscapes.
- Strong program leadership: portfolio planning, benefits realization, risk management, and executive communication.
- Deep knowledge of MDM capabilities: modeling, match/merge/survivorship, hierarchy & reference data mgmt, quality management, metadata & lineage.
- Hands on familiarity with DataOps (CI/CD for data, automated data testing, observability), microservices, and event streaming patterns (e.g., CDC, pub/sub).
- Experience with enterprise data catalogs, lineage tooling, and at least one MDM platform (commercial or open source); emphasis on open standards and portability.
- Practical GDPR/DPDP/CCPA experience: DPIA, data minimization, purpose limitation, RoPA, subject rights processes.
- Bachelor's/Masters degree in computer science or data related subject.
- CDMP (DAMA), TOGAF or equivalent certifications are pluses.
- English command is mandatory.
GXO is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate, support and thrive on diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We believe that diversity and inclusion in our business is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. We are an Armed Forces friendly organisation and Disability Confident Leader as part of the Disability Confident Scheme (GIS) and actively welcome applications from people with disabilities.
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