Master and Reference Data Management Specialist

Job description / Role

Role Objective
The role holder is accountable for establishing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-wide Master Data Management (MDM) and Reference Data Management (RDM) frameworks. The position ensures the availability of accurate, consistent, and reliable master and reference data across systems to support operational efficiency, analytics, and decision-making. The specialist will lead data quality initiatives, standardize definitions, and support integration and interoperability across business domains.

Key Responsibilities
Technical and Solution Management
• Design, implement, and maintain scalable MDM and RDM solutions that align with enterprise architecture and business strategy.
• Develop and maintain master and reference data models, hierarchies, taxonomies, and relationships.
• Conduct data profiling, cleansing, validation, and enrichment activities to enhance data integrity and reliability.
• Implement business rules, data matching, survivorship logic, and workflows to manage master records effectively.
• Evaluate emerging MDM/RDM technologies and recommend tools to strengthen enterprise data capabilities (Informatica, Collibra, Talend, IBM InfoSphere, etc.).
• Establish metadata standards and document data lineage to ensure transparency and traceability.
• Conduct system and data audits to ensure compliance with internal standards and regulatory frameworks.

2. Governance and Collaboration
• Collaborate with data owners, data stewards, IT, and business units to define master and reference data policies, roles, and responsibilities.
• Enforce adherence to data governance policies, data quality standards, and naming conventions across domains.
• Support the Data Governance Office in defining stewardship models and participating in governance councils.
• Ensure alignment of MDM and RDM initiatives with organizational data governance frameworks, privacy, and security policies.
• Partner with analytics, ERP, and digital transformation teams to ensure the seamless flow of trusted data across systems.
• Provide subject matter expertise and training to business and technical stakeholders on MDM and RDM practices.

3. Continuous Improvement and Compliance
• Measure and report on MDM/RDM performance metrics, including completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and duplication rates.
• Identify opportunities to enhance data accuracy, interoperability, and compliance through automation or process optimization.
• Maintain alignment with international and local standards (ISO 8000, ISO/IEC 38505-1, ISO/IEC 42001, GDPR, PDPPL).
• Continuously improve master data processes and participate in enterprise transformation and AI readiness programs.
• Stay informed of evolving industry trends and best practices in data governance, MDM, and digital data ecosystems.

Qualifications:

Experience:
• 5–9 years in data management, with proven experience in MDM and RDM implementation and operations.

Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Management, or related discipline. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Certifications:
• Preferably DAMA CDMP, Informatica MDM, CDPSE, or other data management certifications.

Technical Expertise:
• Proficiency in data modeling, data quality, metadata management, and hands-on experience with MDM/RDM tools.

Knowledge Areas
• Data Governance, Data Quality, Metadata Management, Information Architecture, Data Security, and Compliance.

Knowledge and Skills
• Deep understanding of MDM principles, data lifecycle management, and data domain modeling (Customer, Vendor, Product, Asset).
• Strong grasp of data governance frameworks and stewardship practices.
• Skilled in data profiling, data quality improvement, and issue resolution techniques.
• Expertise in tools like Informatica MDM, Collibra, IBM InfoSphere, or Talend.
• Ability to collaborate across functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent analytical, documentation, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong communication and presentation skills to engage both business and technical audiences.
• Awareness of AI readiness, data privacy regulations, and compliance requirements.

Performance Indicators
• Accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of master and reference data.
• Reduction in duplication and data inconsistencies.
• Compliance with governance and data quality KPIs.
• Adoption rate of MDM/RDM processes across departments.
• Integration success of MDM with enterprise systems and analytics platforms.

About the Company

Ashghal is the Public Works Authority in the State of Qatar and is responsible for the construction and management of Roads, Highways, Waste Water facilities and Public Buildings.

It aims at being responsive at all times to the nations needs by providing effective community service and engagement to ensure that it is continuously meeting changing needs. Ashghal seeks to deliver state-of-the-art infrastructure development that caters for Qatar\\'s social, economic and political flourishing while being the Quality advocates.