Metadata Capability Lead at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• The Metadata Capability Lead is responsible for defining, implementing, and continuously improving metadata management capabilities across the organisation.
• This role leads the metadata capability team, ensuring effective delivery of services, adoption of tools and alignment to the data governance framework.
• The role ensures metadata-related processes, tools and practices enable consistent understanding and effective use of data, while driving adoption of the Enterprise Business Glossary, metadata repositories and lineage capabilities.

Job Description

The following responsibilities must be fulfilled:

• Lead the Metadata Capability team, providing direction, coaching and performance management to ensure delivery of high-quality services and continuous upskilling.
• Define, maintain and optimise the metadata management operating model, including processes, procedures, KPIs and responsibilities across the organisation.
• Own and govern the Enterprise Business Glossary, ensuring business terms, definitions and relationships are accurate, complete and aligned to data governance standards.
• Define and maintain metadata standards, guidelines and quality rules to ensure consistency and usability.
• Collaborate with data owners, custodians and stewards to capture, validate, and maintain business, technical and operational metadata.
• Own and manage metadata tools and repositories to ensure they support business and technical needs effectively.
• Define and deliver training, communication and enablement activities to build metadata awareness and adoption across the organisation.
• Drive integration of metadata across platforms, including data lineage and impact analysis capabilities.
• Support compliance with regulatory and internal requirements by ensuring metadata management controls are implemented effectively.
• Facilitate collaboration across data domains and communities of practice to align metadata practices and resolve issues.
• Contribute to the design and execution of the enterprise data management and governance strategy, focusing on metadata enablement. 

Education and Experience Required

• Minimum 3 years’ experience defining or practicing enterprise data management and governance.
• BSc Information Technology, or Risk Management or equivalent Diploma.
• Proven experience in successfully implementing metadata capabilities, such as business glossaries, metadata repositories and/or data lineage solutions.
• Experience implementing metadata solutions or tools (e.g., Collibra, Informatica, Alation) is advantageous.
• Exposure to data visualisation tools such as QlikView or Power BI advantageous.
• Minimum 3 years in Financial Services Industry.
• Preferred: 8–10 years’ experience in data management, governance, or related fields.
• 3+ years leadership experience in managing teams in a data management or governance context.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Stakeholder management and change management fundamentals.
• Strong understanding of metadata types: business, technical, operational, and lineage.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to define and implement standards, frameworks and processes for metadata management.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and change management skills to drive adoption across business and technology teams.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills to explain metadata concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Exposure to data architecture and modelling principles advantageous.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements related to data.
• Must be familiar with data management principles, including data quality, metadata, reference data, master data and data governance.

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Business, Commerce and Management Studies

End Date: October 16, 2025