How to Be Data Steward - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jan 9, 2023 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The rise of data stewardship has had a significant effect on the way organizations handle data. Data stewards are responsible for overseeing the accuracy, quality, and security of all data, ensuring its compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This has led to increased scrutiny of data governance initiatives, stronger enforcement of data privacy rules, and the adoption of more robust data security protocols.

data stewards are responsible for managing data access and usage, as well as providing guidance on how to effectively use data to make informed decisions. As a result, organizations have seen a decrease in data breaches, improved customer satisfaction, and greater efficiency in their operations.

Steps How to Become

Obtain the Necessary Education. A data steward typically needs to have a degree in a field such as computer science, information systems, or data science.
Pursue Certifications. Obtaining industry certifications such as Certified Data Steward (CDS) or Certified Data Manager (CDM) is highly recommended.
Develop Technical Skills. Data stewards need to be familiar with databases, analytics, data integration, and data modeling. They should also have an understanding of data security, privacy, and compliance regulations.
Build Soft Skills. Data stewards need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills in order to collaborate effectively with other stakeholders.
Gain Experience. Data stewards should have experience working with data management systems, data quality assurance, and data governance processes.
Become Familiar With the Business. Data stewards need to understand the business operations and processes in order to effectively manage data.
Keep Up With Industry Trends. Data stewards should stay up to date on new technologies and trends in the industry in order to remain competitive.

Data stewardship is the practice of properly managing, protecting and maintaining the accuracy, quality, and completeness of data. It is critical for organizations to ensure the reliability and competency of their data in order to make informed decisions. As data stewards, organizations must be aware of the causes and effects of data inaccuracies, which can include data breaches, incorrect insights from analytics, and other costly mistakes.

In order to avoid these issues, organizations must take steps to ensure the security of their data, as well as regularly review their data accuracy and completeness. organizations should provide proper training to their staff in order to ensure that they understand and are able to use the data correctly. By taking these steps, organizations can ensure a reliable and competent data environment.

You may want to check Data Visualization Specialist, Data Governance Manager, and Data Protection Officer for alternative.

Job Description

Data Governance Manager: Responsible for developing and implementing data governance policies and procedures and overseeing compliance.
Data Quality Analyst: Responsible for analyzing data accuracy and integrity and identifying data quality issues.
Data Steward: Responsible for managing and maintaining data, ensuring data quality and security, and promoting data sharing across the organization.
Metadata Manager: Responsible for collecting, organizing, and maintaining the metadata associated with an organization's data assets.
Business Intelligence Analyst: Responsible for gathering and analyzing data to identify trends, develop strategies, and improve decision making.
Data Modeler: Responsible for creating data models that represent relationships among data elements and ensuring the integrity of the underlying data architecture.
Data Architect: Responsible for designing and developing the overall architecture of an organization's data systems and networks.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of database management systems, data governance principles, and data architecture.
Ability to create and maintain data dictionaries, data models, and database schemas.
Proficiency in data cleansing, data transformation, and data integration processes.
Familiarity with data analysis techniques and tools.
Experience in data quality assurance and auditing.
Understanding of data privacy regulations and security protocols.
Skilled in writing clear, concise documentation.
Strong problem-solving and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Good understanding of IT infrastructure and related technologies.

A Data Steward is a critical role in any organization as they are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, quality, and integrity of data. The most important skill a Data Steward must possess is strong attention to detail. They must be able to identify discrepancies and correct any inaccuracies using a combination of skills such as problem solving, communication, and collaboration.

Poor attention to detail can cause data to become inaccurate or incomplete, leading to incorrect insights when analyzing the data, decreased customer satisfaction, and significant financial losses. Data Stewards must also have the ability to recognize patterns and trends in data, prioritize tasks, and develop strategies for managing data governance. By leveraging these skills, Data Stewards can ensure that data is accurate, up-to-date, and secure, allowing organizations to make informed decisions and stay competitive in the market.

Data Migration Specialist, Data Administrator, and Data Science Consultant are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

How familiar are you with the principles and practices of data stewardship?
What experience do you have in managing large datasets?
Describe a data governance program you have developed or implemented.
How do you ensure data accuracy, integrity and security?
How do you handle conflicting data sources and discrepancies?
How do you handle data requests from stakeholders and end users?
How do you ensure data is properly classified and categorized?
How do you ensure compliance with data protection regulations?
Describe the tools and technologies you use to manage and analyze data.
What processes do you follow to ensure data quality?

Common Tools in Industry

Collibra. Collibra is a data governance and cataloging solution that enables organizations to automatically manage, analyze, and visualize the relationships between data assets. (Example: Amazon uses Collibra to help manage their product catalog data).
Informatica Data Quality. Informatica Data Quality is an enterprise data quality platform that helps organizations to cleanse, standardize and match enterprise data. (Example: Porsche uses Informatica Data Quality to ensure data accuracy across their global supply chain. )
Talend Data Steward Studio. Talend Data Steward Studio is an end-to-end platform for data governance teams to create, manage, and deploy data quality rules and metrics. (Example: Facebook uses Talend Data Steward Studio to ensure the accuracy of user data. )
SAP Information Steward. SAP Information Steward is a comprehensive data quality and profiling solution that provides organizations with powerful insights into their data assets. (Example: Apple uses SAP Information Steward to improve the quality of their customer data. )
Oracle Data Governance Suite. Oracle Data Governance Suite is a comprehensive solution for organizations to manage, govern, and secure their data assets. (Example: Walmart uses Oracle Data Governance Suite to ensure that their data is in compliance with industry regulations. )

Professional Organizations to Know

Institute for Data & Analytics Professionals (IDAP)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
International Institute for Analytics (IIA)
International Association for Business Analytics (IABA)
International Association of Information Technology Professionals (IAITP)
American Statistical Association (ASA)
International Association of Business Process Management Professionals (IABPM)
Data Management Association International (DAMA-I)
Big Data Council (BDC)

We also have Data Solutions Architect, Data Warehouse Manager, and Data Integration Manager jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Data Governance. The overall management of the availability, usability, integrity, and security of data used in an organization. It includes the processes, roles, standards, and metrics used to ensure that data is consistent, accurate, and reliable.
Data Quality. The accuracy and completeness of the data collected and stored within an organization. Data quality is essential for producing meaningful results from data-driven decisions.
Data Security. The practice of protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. It includes physical, administrative, and technical controls for protecting data from unauthorized access.
Data Stewardship. The practice of caring for, managing, and overseeing the collection, use, security, and disposal of an organizations data. It is an important part of data governance and involves setting policies, designing processes, and implementing controls for data.
Metadata Management. The practice of collecting and managing data about other data. Metadata can include information such as the owner, source, purpose, and format of a dataset. It is important for ensuring that data is being used properly and securely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a Data Steward? A1: A Data Steward is a person responsible for managing and governing data within an organization. They are responsible for ensuring data is accurate, up to date, and secure. Q2: What are the roles and responsibilities of a Data Steward? A2: The primary role of a Data Steward is to ensure that data is managed, stored, and used in accordance with organizational policies and procedures. This includes auditing, monitoring, and enforcing data quality standards, as well as overseeing data access and security. Q3: What skills are needed for a successful Data Steward? A3: A successful Data Steward should have technical expertise in data management, as well as strong communication skills to effectively communicate with stakeholders. They should also have experience in data governance, change management, and project management. Q4: How does a Data Steward ensure data accuracy? A4: A Data Steward can ensure data accuracy by establishing and enforcing quality standards, such as regularly validating data accuracy and completeness. They can also develop processes to detect and correct errors in data. Q5: How is a Data Steward different from a Data Analyst? A5: A Data Steward is responsible for governing and managing data, while a Data Analyst focuses on analyzing and interpreting data. A Data Steward will focus on ensuring the accuracy and security of data while a Data Analyst will focus on understanding the meaning of data and uncovering insights.