Director, Global Data Operations

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way .   Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong.  Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward.    Director of Data Operations Job Description   What this job involves   As Director of Data Operations at JLL, you will lead strategic initiatives that transform how data governance and operations drive business outcomes across the organization. Reporting to the Senior Director of Data Governance & Quality, you will create and execute annual strategic plans with measurable KPIs — spanning operational SLAs, vendor performance, budget variance, audit remediation cycle time, and team capability metrics — working closely with central teams to ensure alignment with broader CDO and enterprise objectives.   You will orchestrate complex execution of high-quality work across multiple teams, focusing on business outcomes that improve operational efficiency, compliance posture, and data trust. You will build leadership capability within your team and enable your direct reports and peers to manage stakeholders effectively and independently. You will own critical operational functions including end-to-end vendor management and procurement, audit coordination, budget consolidation and oversight, and will serve as the designated HR operations lead for the Data organization in partnership with the People Partner team. This position requires a leader who can balance strategic vision with tactical execution, champion the adoption of emerging technologies within a governance context, and shape team culture to align with organizational goals and JLL values.   What your day-to-day will look like   Enterprise Data Governance Leadership   Lead a team of 3–4 data governance professionals within the Enterprise Data Governance organization, developing their leadership capabilities, managing performance, and building a succession-ready talent pipeline for critical roles   Own the full lifecycle of data governance policy and standards, and enforcing adoption across data domains and business units   Represent the EDG team in cross-functional governance councils, data forums, and steering committees, ensuring governance requirements are surfaced and operationalized across teams and domains   Partner with the InfoSec team on data-related compliance and security matters, including data access governance reviews, privacy compliance assessments (GDPR, CCPA), and data controls aligned to technology audit requirements   Develop and implement frameworks and methodologies for addressing novel data governance challenges, establishing shared best practices that scale across the organization   Strategy & Planning   Develop and execute annual strategic plans and roadmaps for the Data Operations domain with clearly defined, measurable KPIs — including operational SLAs, vendor performance scorecards, budget variance targets, and team development metrics — aligned with CDO and enterprise objectives   Create frameworks and methodologies for addressing novel data challenges and establish shared best practices across the Data organization   Accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies (including AI and machine learning) within your teams, and establish governance policies that define responsible, effective use in support of business goals   Operational Ownership   Own the end-to-end procurement process for the Data organization, including vendor evaluation, contract negotiation, and renewal processes, ensuring optimal cost management and value delivery   Serve as the primary audit liaison for the Data organization, acting as the main point of contact for all audits touching the data team — including technology controls audits, data access governance reviews, privacy compliance assessments, and SOX IT general controls — and coordinating audit responses and remediation efforts   Lead annual Data organization budgeting processes, consolidating indirect and business line budgets, and facilitating monthly budget reviews with finance and business stakeholders   People & Culture   Serve as the designated HR operations lead for the Data organization, partnering with the People Partner to manage annual performance reviews, promotion cycles, compensation processes, and succession planning   Build leadership capability across the Data Operations and EDG teams through structured development programs, individual coaching, and identification of succession-ready talent for critical roles   Shape team culture to align with organizational goals, JLL values, and leadership behaviors, fostering a high-performance, inclusive environment across your direct and extended teams   Enable team members to manage stakeholders effectively and independently, building cross-functional influencing capability at all levels of the team   Required qualifications   10+ years of progressive experience in data operations, data governance, or related disciplines, with demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale data and governance initiatives   5+ years of people management experience leading multiple teams, including experience managing other managers and building high-performing organizations   Demonstrated experience owning or operationalizing data governance programs, including policy development, standards enforcement, and stewardship model design   Proven experience managing vendor relationships, procurement processes, and contract negotiations with technology providers, including demonstrated success in cost optimization