A data steward collects and evaluates any and all issues related to data. They provide quality control of data for companies and play a functional role in data management and governance. They essentially carry out data usage and security policies based on set initiatives. What does a data steward do?
What is Data Stewardship?
Data stewardship refers to the act of managing and overseeing a company’s data assets. The aim here is to make sure that the data is accessible, usable, and safe.
Professionals who take on the role of data stewardship are responsible for knowing what data a company possesses and ensuring that all steps have been taken to safeguard the accuracy of the data.
Data stewardship helps companies all over the world make the most of its data, thus offering them a competitive advantage. What’s more, the process of data stewardship helps companies create a data-driven culture.
Tasks of a data steward
As mentioned above, data stewards are responsible for the entire data lifecycle. They make sure that the proper standards are in place at every stage and that the data is accessible and usable.
These professionals also create rules and regulations in place to make data accessible to stakeholders. They organise data management within the organisation and drive efforts to ensure best practices.
Data stewardships maintain data lineage and conform compliance throughout the data lifecycle and are also responsible for tracing any issues related to data.
What are data stewards responsible for?
- Reviews and oversees database environment
- Ensuring proper standards are in place
- Defining and enforcing data policies, regulations and audits
- Making data accessible and usable
- Ensuring data quality
- Creating rules and regulations to make data usable to stakeholders
- Coordinating activities of multiple database management systems (DBMS)
- Organising data management
- Ensuring that customer and user date is accurate and up-to-date
- Making sure that changes are documented and processed
- Helping companies create a data-driven culture
- Working as an advocate for trusted data
- Maintaining data lineage
- Conforming compliance throughout data lifecycle
- Tracing issues related to data
- Developing and maintaining stewardship SOPs/WI and training materials
Need a Data Steward for your company?
>> Find expert data stewards here
Skills of a data steward
A Data steward has a solid understanding of database structures and has experience working with data models and warehousing concepts.
These professionals have expert skills when it comes to programming too. They are familiar with the needs of each department within a company and are able to work with data flows and sources accurately.
In terms of soft skills, data stewards have strong technical documentation skills, communication and analytical skills and problem-solving skills.
What makes a good data steward?
- Solid understanding of database structures (e.g., data warehouse vs. transaction-based)
- Experience in database architecture (data definitions, understanding, analytics, quality)
- Experience with Catalyst (or equivalent)
- Experience with data analysis, data governance, data quality, business data modelling and/or reporting
- Understanding of data warehousing concepts
- Skills in programming languages (SQL)
- Understanding of Informatica MDM Hub
- Experience working with master data management and/or data quality tools (valuable)
- Ability to work with data sources and flows
- Good communication skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Ability to solve problems effectively
Join our IT freelancer community today! Create your freelance profile in just 2 minutes.
Background and education of a Data Steward
A job in data stewardship would typically require a relevant Bachelor’s degree. This could be in Business, IT, Computer Science, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field of study.
Generally, companies require several years of experience (5+ years) as a Data Steward, Data Quality Analyst and/or Business Analyst.
Holding a CDMP certification is seen as a plus. So, the Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP), a globally recognised Data Management Certification program, can help you land a job.
You may also boost your skills and chances of finding a good job by obtaining courses. Find options for these down below:
- The Data Stewardship Crash Course
- DS0: Data Stewardship – A Complete Guide Learning Plan
- Data Steward Training
- Database Management Essentials
Looking for the next professional challenge?
> Find the right job for your skills in data here
Salary
According to Glassdoor, Data stewards who are just starting work earn an average of $38,000 per year in the US whereas those with considerable skills and experience can earn around $93,000 per year. The average salary for data stewards is around $59,000.
Ziprecruiter reports that the majority of Data Stewards’ salaries range from $51,000 to $99,000.
Is data steward a good job? Data stewards can make a good living depending on factors such as their skills, position, industry, etc.
Salaries in the rest of the world will be different from US salaries. So, for reference, in Germany, data stewards can earn anywhere between €49,000 – €87,000 whereas in the UK, they can earn between £31,000 – £65,000.
How much do data stewards make?
| US | $38,000 – $93,000 |
| Germany | €49,000 – €87,000 |
| UK | £31,000 – £65,000 |
How much do freelance data stewards make?
| Average Hourly Rate of Freelance Data Stewards | $90/hour |
According to the freelancermap rate index in December 2022, Freelance Data Stewards make on average $100/hour.
Freelance rates in the data stewardship field range between $90 and $121 for most freelancers.
If you consider an 8-hour working day, the daily rate would be around $800/day.
