Director, Data Governance Lead (Clinical Research)

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

At Thermo Fisher’s PPD clinical research group (CRG), we’re using digital innovation, data science, and AI to reimagine how life-changing therapies reach patients. Our teams combine deep scientific expertise with advanced analytics, automation, and digital platforms to make research smarter, faster, and more connected.

We know that innovation happens when diverse minds meet. Our Digital Science, Data, and AI professionals collaborate closely with scientists, clinicians, and operational experts to solve real-world challenges in clinical research. Alongside our partnership with Open AI, you can be part of the collaboration that will help to improve the speed and success of drug development, enabling customers to get medicines to patients faster and more cost effectively.

You’ll join a culture that values experimentation, learning, and collaboration — where your ideas can help shape how we deliver life-saving solutions and improve global health outcomes. Whether you’re a data engineer, product manager, software developer, or AI scientist, you’ll find opportunities here to apply your skills to work that truly matters — improving global health outcomes. 

*Posting open until 7/15/26*

Director, Data Governance 
This role is responsible for establishing and leading CRG Digital’s enterprise data governance program to ensure that data across the organization is high quality, trusted, secure, compliant, and effectively leveraged to enable scientific, operational, and commercial decision making.

Reporting to the VP, Data Capabilities, you will define and execute the governance vision, priorities, and multi-year roadmap; operate the Data Governance Center of Excellence (CoE); and drive enterprise master data management (MDM) across key data domains. The role establishes and enforces policies, standards, controls, and stewardship models that ensure the quality, integrity, privacy, and compliance of CRG’s data assets.

The Director partners closely with key internal stakeholders to embed strong governance practices into day-to-day operations. Success in this role requires a blend of strategic leadership, technical depth, and exceptional stakeholder management skills.

Key Responsibilities

CRG Data Governance Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute CRG Digital’s data governance vision, strategy, and multi-year roadmap.
• Establish governance priorities aligned to business objectives, regulatory requirements, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Build and lead the Data Governance Center of Excellence (CoE), including establishing governance forums, operating models, and engagement processes.
• Develop KPIs and maturity metrics to measure governance adoption, data quality, and business value realization.

Policy, Standards & Controls

• Establish and enforce enterprise data governance policies, processes, and standards ensuring data quality, integrity, security, and compliance.
• Translate high-level policy into practical rules, controls, and implementation frameworks.
• Codify and socialize best practices across divisions to drive consistency and scalability.
• Ensure alignment with regulatory, privacy, security, and audit requirements.

Master Data Management (MDM)

• Lead enterprise MDM strategy and execution across key data domains.
• Define data ownership, stewardship models, and governance workflows.
• Oversee data profiling, quality monitoring, issue remediation, and MDM logic.
• Partner with technology teams to ensure governance capabilities are embedded into platforms, tools, and architecture.

Organizational & Stakeholder Leadership

• Establish and evolve CRG Digital’s data governance organization and operating model.
• Partner with divisional data owners, IT, analytics, compliance, and business leadership to embed governance into core processes.
• Chair and lead CRG Data Governance CoE forums and cross-functional councils.
• Drive adoption through strong change management, communication, and executive engagement.

Risk, Compliance & Data Integrity

• Mitigate data risk through proactive governance controls and monitoring.
• Ensure data supports regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
• Identify and work to resolve systemic data quality and integrity issues impacting enterprise operations.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification (Advanced degree preferred)
• Previous experience in data governance, data management, analytics, or enterprise data leadership roles (comparable to 10+ years).
• 5+ years in leadership capacity with program ownership or CoE leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience designing and operating enterprise data governance and/or MDM programs.
• Hands-on experience with data catalog, metadata, and data quality tools (e.g., Informatica, Talend, Data.World, Collibra, Snowflake, or similar).
• Exposure to GxP environments and regulations such as 21 CFR Part 11, Annex 11, and global data integrity expectations preferred.
• Experience in a CRO, eClinical data provider, pharmaceutical/biotech company, or digital health/data startup strongly preferred.
• Experience in regulated data environments (e.g., clinical/GxP/Part 11/GDPR/HIPAA).
• Experience in making data AI/ML ready.
• Certifications preferred: Certified Data Steward (CDS), Certified Information Management Practitioner (CIMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
• In some cases, an equivalency, consisting of appropriate education, training, and/or directly related experience will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we are committed to fostering a healthy and harmonious workplace for our employees. We understand the importance of creating an environment that allows individuals to excel. Please see below for the required qualifications for this position, which also includes the possibility of equivalent experience:

• Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.
• Able to work upright and stationary for typical working hours. 
• Ability to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with proficiency.
• Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities. 
• May require as-needed travel (0-20%). 

Location: Central US (CST). Relocation assistance is NOT provided.  
*Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
 *Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.
 
The annual salary range estimated for this position in North Carolina is $185,000- $215,000 USD. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy.