Director, Master Data Management

About the Role

Data Governance at HARMAN is the formal orchestration of people, processes, and technology to help the organization leverage data as a strategic enterprise asset. Within Finance, Master Data Management (MDM) plays a dual role: ensuring compliance while enabling business analysis and decision-making.

As part of the Master Data Organization, you will lead a network of data stewards to interpret and enforce data policies that drive consistency, accuracy, and clarity across the enterprise. You will work closely with cross-functional leaders to establish Master Data Lifecycles that support high-quality analysis, optimize data utilization, and manage the archiving of legacy structures.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and execute data management projects that enhance data integrity and accountability.
• Develop and implement best practice policies to resolve inconsistencies and strengthen data governance.
• Enforce and evolve Master Data Management programs to reflect changes in policy and address process gaps.
• Partner with cross-functional Automotive teams on data governance and Master Data initiatives.
• Coordinate a virtual team of cross-functional data stewards within a matrixed organization.
• Guide and lead project teams for Master Data initiatives, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across functions to uphold data quality standards and implement continuous improvements.

This role is ideal for a strategic and hands-on leader with a passion for driving data quality, governance, and collaboration across global teams.

What You Will Do

• Manage a division-wide data governance framework mainly focusing on Finance relevant Master Data and create a roadmap to support all current and future business processes, with a focus on ensuring data quality across all systems by establishing the necessary processes and controls around the flow of data.
• Implement a Master Data Management strategy to ensure data standardization, quality, governance and provide a single source-of-truth for the domains including the configuration of data models, data maps, data validation reports, Hierarchy Management, security and other areas as required within MDM
• Operationalize governance processes for creation/change of data, defining business rules, to implement and improve data standards, quality, integrity, and consistency.
• Promoting Master Data Management and Data Quality within the organization, providing training on Master Data Management and improving the engagement with the Master Data Governance Framework
• Responsible for day-to-day oversight of the activities across functional and technical development and maintenance of MDM hub and integration technologies for supporting data ingestion, transformations and loading data into the MDM.
• Constant monitoring of master data against the currently used data in various business processes to identify the gaps, discrepancies, and the opportunities to further improve quality of master data.
• Maintain knowledge of the trends and technologies in master data management, enterprise data quality, data services and integrations.
• Using data and metrics and business problems; identify where enhancements or master data changes are needed, actively working with appropriate stakeholders and Core teams to develop and deliver system adoption, improvements, and enhancement request.

What You Need to Be Successful

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, or equivalent practical experience.
• 7 years of experience in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a similar role.
• 3 years of experience with SAP Master Data Governance for financial data.
• Experience working with SAP is required.
• Experience working with business process, system, and data flow modeling/mapping.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong project management, interpersonal, organization, communication (both verbal and written), and problem-solving skills are required. Individual must be flexible and capable of prioritizing projects, meeting deadlines, and working well under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret complex problems or processes that span multiple business areas.

Bonus Points if You Have

• Able to take a systems approach and to understand the interaction between Digital core systems/Quality Systems and the various functional department business processes.
• Proven technical data management experience.
• Quality compliance and investigation skills
• Leadership and team management experience

What Makes You Eligible

• You are willing to travel, if necessary 25% domestic and/or international travel.
• Be open to working in the Northridge, CA office (hybrid option available; flexibility to come into the office on short notice when needed is appreciated).
• Successfully complete a background investigation and drug screen as a condition of employment.

What We Offer

• Competitive wellness benefits and 401K Retirement Savings plan.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages career development opportunities.
• Flexible work schedule with a culture encouraging work-life integration and collaboration in a global environment.
• Professional development opportunities through HARMAN University's business and leadership academies and extensive course catalog.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Access to employee discounts on world-class HARMAN products (JBL, Harman/Kardon, etc.).
• "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program.

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