Data Governance Specialist

About Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple is on a mission to help everyone achieve financial freedom by reimagining what it means to manage your money. Using smart technology, we take financial services that are often confusing, opaque and expensive and make them transparent and low-cost for everyone. We’re the largest fintech company in Canada, with over 4 million users who trust us with more than $70 billion in assets.

Our teams ship often and make an impact with groundbreaking ideas. We're looking for talented people who keep it simple and value collaboration and humility as we continue to create inclusive and high-performing teams where people can be inspired to do their best work.

About the Security Assurance Team

The Security Assurance team plays a critical role in adhering to security frameworks and creating space for risk mitigation and oversight. We want to ensure that Wealthsimple maintains a secure operational environment by implementing and monitoring controls designed to protect information, systems and infrastructure.

About the Data Governance Specialist Role

We aim to expand the Security Assurance team to enhance the governance domain and prioritize data governance initiatives. We are looking for a Data Governance Specialist with experience in data privacy and data governance. This role will play a critical part in shaping and operationalizing our data governance practices to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, industry best practices and business requirements. You’ll work closely with teams across Security, Legal, Product, and Engineering to ensure proper safeguards are in place to support Wealthsimple’s commitment to data protection and trust.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive data governance framework that scales with business growth
• Shape AI governance practices and data architecture decisions to embed privacy-by-design principles
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify, classify and map sensitive data across the organization, ensuring effective data lifecycle management
• Develop policies and procedures for data usage, privacy, security, and retention that balance compliance with business enablement
• Drive data governance maturity through proactive risk assessments, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Contribute to training and awareness programs that build organization-wide data stewardship capabilities

What you’ll bring

• 4-6 years of experience in data governance and data privacy, with exposure to compliance or information security (preferably in financial services or fintech)
• Working knowledge of Canadian privacy regulations (PIPEDA, Quebec Law 25) with demonstrated experience implementing privacy frameworks
• Proven ability to build and implement data governance strategies in complex, data-driven environments
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Experience with data classification methodologies and data lifecycle management practices
• Familiarity with data management tools and platforms (experience with SQL or data analysis tools is a plus but not required)
• Self-directed professional who drives initiatives to completion and can influence without authority
• Relevant certifications preferred (CIPP/C, CIPM, CDMP, CISSP, CISA, or equivalent)

Why Wealthsimple?

• 🤑 Competitive salary with top-tier health benefits and life insurance
• 📈 Retirement savings matching plan using Wealthsimple for Business
• 🌴 20 vacation days per year and unlimited sick and mental health days
• 📚 Up to $1,500 per year towards wellness and professional development budgets respectively
• 🛫 90 days away program: Employees can work internationally in eligible countries for up to 90 days per calendar year
• 🌎 A wide variety of peer and company-led Employee Resource Groups (ie. Rainbow, Women of Wealthsimple, Black @ WS)
• 💖 Company-wide wellness