Chief Data Officer

About the role

The Chief Data Officer is a founding executive appointment at PDA, tasked with building and institutionalising Pakistan's national data governance architecture. Reporting directly to the Chairperson, the CDO will work alongside the Chief AI Officer within PDA's integrated technology governance team.

Key responsibilities

• Design and own the National Data Governance Framework, covering classification, quality standards, metadata, interoperability and lifecycle management.
• Lead development of national data policy instruments, including strategy, open data policy, cross‑border flow frameworks and sensitive data regulations.
• Establish and chair the National Data Governance Council to coordinate stewardship across ministries, provinces and regulators.
• Drive architecture and rollout of government‑wide data infrastructure such as national data exchanges and shared platforms.
• Develop regulatory frameworks for data sharing with the private sector, defining consent models and accountability mechanisms.
• Own PDA's compliance posture on data protection, aligning with the Personal Data Protection Act and international standards.
• Build and lead a Data Governance Division, hiring data architects, policy specialists and standards engineers.
• Represent Pakistan in international data governance forums and bilateral digital cooperation engagements.

Required profile

• 15+ years of progressive experience in data governance, architecture or strategy, with senior leadership tenure.
• Proven track record designing enterprise or national‑scale data governance frameworks.
• Deep knowledge of data standards, metadata management, classification and interoperability protocols.
• Experience advising C‑suite or ministerial level on data strategy.
• Strong understanding of data protection law and regulatory compliance.

Required skills