Data Governance Operation Manager

Job Description Summary

As part of the STEP transformation and the Data & Analytics workstream, this role is responsible for the implementation, operationalization, and scaling of enterprise Data Management & Governance (DMG) processes across business domains and data platforms.
The enterprise data governance framework, standards, and core processes are already defined. The focus of this role is to embed these processes into platforms, solutions, and day-to-day ways of working, ensuring consistent adoption, compliance, and measurable outcomes.
This is a governance execution and enablement role, requiring strong platform awareness, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate governance intent into practical, repeatable implementation.

Job Description

Data Governance Operation Manager
Through STEP (Sandoz Transformation Enterprise Program), we are creating a unified, integrated digital core and simplifying our end-to-end ways of working. From SAP S/4HANA to Veeva, Workday, LabVantage, and beyond, you’ll help design and deliver future-ready systems that drive global impact — enabling us to deliver affordable medicines to more patients worldwide.

As part of the STEP transformation and the Data & Analytics workstream, this role is responsible for the implementation, operationalization, and scaling of enterprise Data Management & Governance (DMG) processes across business domains and data platforms.

The enterprise data governance framework, standards, and core processes are already defined. The focus of this role is to embed these processes into platforms, solutions, and day-to-day ways of working, ensuring consistent adoption, compliance, and measurable outcomes.
This is a governance execution and enablement role, requiring strong platform awareness, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate governance intent into practical, repeatable implementation.

Your responsibilities include, but not limited to:

Governance Process Implementation & Adoption

• Operationalize and scale defined Information Management Framework (IMF) and Data Governance processes aligned with FAIR principles.
• Drive consistent adoption of governance processes across domains, programs, and delivery teams.
• Embed governance checkpoints into delivery lifecycles in collaboration with D&A and platform teams.
• Monitor and report governance adoption, effectiveness, and operational issues.

Standards, SOPs & Compliance

• Develop and maintain the operational lifecycle of Data Governance standards and SOPs (maintenance, updates, communication).
• Ensure alignment with enterprise eSOP and GxP requirements.
• Support audits and inspections by ensuring governance processes are consistently applied and evidenced.
• Coordinate remediation of governance gaps identified through audits or operational reviews.

Enablement & Training

• Manage the governance enablement and onboarding for Data Owners, Data Stewards, and SPOs.
• Develop practical, role-based training focused on how governance is applied within platforms, not just policy awareness.
• Drive governance literacy to reduce friction and improve adoption across the organization.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Collaborate with business, IT, platform, and analytics teams to support governance execution.
• Manage external partners and vendors delivering governance tooling and services.
• Act as a trusted governance execution partner to transformation initiatives.

Collaboration with Data Architecture

• Consume and apply enterprise Data Architecture artifacts (Enterprise Data Model, data domains, architectural standards) as the structural foundation for governance implementation.
• Ensure governance processes align with architectural intent and enterprise data structures.
• Provide implementation feedback to Architecture teams to support continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• University degree (Computer Science or comparable education preferred)
• Fluent English written and spoken
• Strong experience in enterprise data governance implementation.
• Proven ability to embed governance within modern data platforms and analytics environments.
• Experience operationalizing governance processes rather than designing frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Experience working in regulated environments (GxP preferred).
• Familiarity with FAIR principles, metadata management, lineage, and data quality concepts.
• Hands-on experience with governance and data platforms (e.g., Databricks, SAP, Collibra, cloud platforms).
• Excellent documentation and communication skills.

Why consider Sandoz?
Generic and Biosimilar medicines are the backbone of the global medicines industry. Sandoz, a leader in this sector, provided more than 900 million patient treatments across 100+ countries in 2024 and while we are proud of this achievement, we have an ambition to do more!

With investments in new development capabilities, production sites, new acquisitions, and partnerships, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Sandoz and help more patients gain access to low-cost, high-quality medicines, sustainably.

Our momentum is powered by an open, collaborative culture driven by our talented and ambitious colleagues, who, in return for applying their skills experience an agile and collegiate environment with impactful, flexible-hybrid careers, where diversity is welcomed and where personal growth is supported!

Join us!

#Sandoz

 

Skills Desired

Budget Management, Business Acumen, Performance Management, Planning, Risk Management, Service Delivery Management, Stakeholder Management, Waterfall Project Management

Global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, operating as an independent company spun off from Novartis. Based in Basel.

sandoz.com