Location: Selangor, Malaysia
Engagement Type: Program / Transformation Role
About the Role
The Master Data Management (MDM) Lead will play a critical role in defining, shaping, and operationalising the enterprise Master Data Management and Data Governance model across the full SAP S/4HANA lifecycle from design and build through to deployment, run, and transition into Business as Usual (BAU). This role acts as a trusted advisor to business and IT leadership, co-leading the Master Data workstream and working closely with Business Process Owners, Master Data Owners, Data Stewards, System Integrators (SI), and Core Program teams to ensure master data is fit for purpose, governed by design, and sustainable beyond go live.
Responsibilities
Data Governance & MDM Strategy (Preparation Phase)
- Advise on and help define enterprise Master Data Management and Data Governance models, aligned to business strategy and SAP S/4HANA fit to standard principles
- Articulate alternative MDM operating models (centralised, federated, hybrid) and recommend a fit for purpose approach
- Support the formulation of a practical implementation roadmap covering people, process, governance, and tooling
- Establish clear roles, decision rights, and accountabilities across Master Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Guardians, and IT custodians
Data Design Oversight & Risk Management (Design Phase)
- Provide subject matter leadership in defining and validating:
- Master data domains, objects, and ownership
- Data structures, attributes, and business definitions
- Data standards, business rules, and approval workflows
- Review and challenge SI led master data designs to identify risks, gaps, or misalignment early
- Ensure alignment between business process design, reporting needs, and master data structures
- Facilitate resolution of cross domain and cross country data design conflicts
Execution Oversight (Build, Test, Deploy Phases)
- Supervise the SI in executing the agreed master data strategy, including:
- Data mapping, cleansing, enrichment, and migration approach
- Validation rules, quality thresholds, and exception handling
- Ensure master data activities are fully aligned with Program milestones and workstream objectives
- Provide governance oversight for:
- Data readiness for SIT and UAT
- Critical data defect triage and prioritisation
- Go live data readiness and residual risk acceptance
- Act as a key escalation point between business stakeholders and technical teams for data related issues
Post Deployment & BAU Enablement (Run Phase)
- Support the transition from project mode into steady state operations, ensuring data governance is sustained
- Facilitate the operationalisation of the Master Data Management team by:
- Upskilling and coaching Data Stewards in data validation, approval, and issue management
- Supporting Data Guardians in enforcing policy, standards, and compliance
- Enabling a data quality assurance and monitoring program
- Help define KPIs and governance cadence to drive continuous data quality improvement and value realisation
- Contribute to the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) or long term data governance operating model, if requested
Qualifications
Essential
- 10+ years of hands on experience working directly with master data in roles such as:
- Master Data Owner
- Data Steward
- Data Analyst / Data Governance Specialist
- Practical experience in creating, validating, approving, and governing master data in enterprise environments
- Strong understanding of data governance concepts, including ownership, stewardship, data quality, and lifecycle management
- Proven experience collaborating with business stakeholders, IT teams, and system integrators in complex programs
Preferred / Advantageous
- Experience in SAP S/4HANA implementations or roll outs, particularly in:
- Data mapping, cleansing, enrichment, and validation
- Data migration and cutover planning
- Working knowledge of SAP MDG, SAP MDM, or similar master data management tools
- Familiarity with SAP Activate methodology, especially where it intersects data governance and migration
- Experience operating in multi country or regional programs, preferably across ASEAN
Key Competencies & Attributes
- Strong business facing communication skills with the ability to influence at senior levels
- Ability to explain complex data concepts in clear, pragmatic, and business relevant terms
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and balancing governance discipline with delivery pragmatism
- Hands on, collaborative, and outcome driven mindset
- Able to act as a bridge between strategy and execution
