Director, Data Governance (Toronto)

About the role

The Director of Data Governance reports directly into the Global Head of Data & AI and will build, launch, and run Colliers’ global data governance program. The role ensures that critical Colliers data—properties, assets, leases, tenants, transactions, market research, client data, and more—are trusted, consistent, compliant, and ready to use across regions and service lines. The Director operates at the intersection of business, data, technology, and risk, enabling the firm to scale analytics, AI, and digital products globally while respecting local market and regulatory requirements.

Location

Hybrid role in Vancouver, BC or Toronto, ON.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a global Colliers’ data governance framework, covering core real estate data domains such as properties, clients, transactions, and enterprise.
• Define enterprise standards for core data concepts (e.g., property identifiers, asset hierarchies, client hierarchies, geographies, market definitions, transaction attributes and classifications).
• Establish governance ownership and accountability for service lines and regions.
• Balance global consistency with local market needs, regulatory requirements, and data nuances unique to regional/local practices.
• Operationalize governance through workflows, tooling, metrics, and recurring forums.
• Chair or support data governance councils and working groups at global and regional levels.
• Define and track KPIs for data quality, adoption, issue resolution, and policy compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement of governance practices as the data and AI landscape evolves.
• Partner with data and product teams to ensure data is fit-for-purpose for BI, analytics, product development, and AI/ML use cases.
• Enable trusted data foundations for core data assets at Colliers.
• Embed governance controls (lineage, quality checks, approvals) directly into data pipelines, analytics products, and workflows.
• Lead enterprise data quality strategy, including standards, issue management, root cause analysis, and remediation.
• Ensure data practices comply with global and regional regulations, including data privacy, data residency, and client confidentiality requirements.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Compliance to support audits, client due diligence, and regulatory inquiries related to data and analytics.
• Act as the primary leader for data governance globally.
• Influence senior leaders and business stakeholders to adopt governance standards and ways of working.
• Develop training, communications, and change‑management plans to drive adoption.
• Build and lead a small, high‑impact governance team over time.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data governance, data management, analytics, or related enterprise data roles.
• Proven experience building and launching a data governance program from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of modern data architectures (cloud data platforms, modern BI and analytics, AI/ML pipelines).
• Experience operating in a global, matrixed organization with regional regulatory complexity.
• Deep knowledge of data governance concepts, frameworks, and best practices (e.g., DAMA-DMBOK).
• Experience in commercial real estate, professional services, or adjacent data‑intensive industries supporting similar use cases.
• Hands‑on experience with native cloud data governance, catalog, and quality tools combined with industry‑standard governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Informatica, Purview).
• Familiarity with cloud‑based data platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform, Azure) and modern data architecture.
• Ability to translate complex technical and regulatory concepts into clear business language.

Compensation & Benefits

Approximate Salary Range: $148,680 to $160,000 CAD.

• Innovative projects: Work on cutting‑edge initiatives that shape communities, drive growth, and make a tangible impact.
• Career growth: Advance your career and achieve your goals with industry‑leading training and development programs.
• Competitive perks & compensation: Enjoy a comprehensive and flexible benefits package along with competitive compensation that rewards your contributions and supports your well‑being.
• Collaborative culture: Join an enterprising team where innovation thrives, collaboration is key, and people are empowered to be authentic and do their best work.
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Participate in a robust North American Diversity & Inclusion Program featuring employee resource groups and a supportive community.
• Global network: Connect with a global team of 24,000 professionals across 70 countries, expanding your network and learning from experts in a dynamic international community.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in Canada on a full‑time basis. Colliers does not sponsor work visas. Colliers is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. Colliers encourages applications from all qualified individuals and will accommodate applicants’ disability‑related needs, up to the point of undue hardship, throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If you require a disability‑related accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please contact the recruitment team by email at View email address on ca.talent.com.