Guardrisk is the undisputed market leader in cell captive insurance and risk solutions. We are renowned for our innovative approach to cell captive structures and other alternative risk transfer solutions for our clients. Guardrisk offers clients custom‑designed cover and is registered in South Africa as an insurer for all statutory classes of non‑life and life insurance business. Role Purpose The Data Steward at Guardrisk is an operational data quality role responsible for monitoring, validating, and ensuring the reliability of business‑critical data used across Guardrisk operational and downstream processes. The role exists to ensure that data flowing through Guardrisk systems is complete, accurate, timely, and fit for purpose, and to act as the primary point of contact for business teams when data quality issues impact underwriting, claims, finance, reporting, partner integrations, or regulatory processes. This role is hands‑on and operational, embedded in day‑to‑day data processing rather than policy definition, and works closely with data engineering, IT platforms, and business teams to detect, triage, and resolve data quality issues before they impact business outcomes. The role also carries direct accountability for engaging with external data providers, intermediaries, and partners to ensure data quality is addressed at source, not only downstream. This includes building effective working relationships with external stakeholders, holding them accountable for data quality outcomes, and driving corrective action where data defects originate outside Guardrisk systems, in order to protect underwriting, claims, finance, reporting, and regulatory processes. This is achieved while working with the portfolio managers as and where required. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, or a related field. Practical experience in operational data environments is prioritised over purely academic or theoretical qualifications. Certifications or training in data management, data quality, or analytics are advantageous where they support hands‑on execution. Experience 5+ years’ experience working directly with data in operational or production environments, including: Transactional and operational data High‑volume data processing Data ingestion, transformation, and validation Proven experience monitoring data pipelines, feeds, or batch processes, and identifying processing failures, delays, or anomalies. Hands‑on experience identifying, investigating, and resolving data quality issues, including: Completeness, accuracy, and timeliness issues Data reconciliation and validation Root cause analysis Experience working closely with: Data engineering or platform teams Business users consuming operational and reporting data External data providers or integration partners Strong domain experience in insurance (short‑term, life, health, or microinsurance), with an understanding of how data issues impact: Underwriting Claims Finance Reporting and regulatory submissions Practical exposure to Microsoft Azure data technologies and structured database environments Working knowledge of BI or analytical tools (e.g. Power BI) for data investigation and validation, not just reporting Awareness of data governance and compliance tooling (e.g. Purview) as supporting mechanisms, not primary deliverables Soft Skills Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, with a focus on diagnosing data issues under operational pressure. High attention to detail, particularly when validating data used in critical business processes. Clear, confident communicator able to explain data issues in business‑friendly language. Comfortable working across business and technical teams to drive resolution. Accountable and outcomes‑focused, with a bias toward action rather than escalation. Duties & Responsibilities Operational Data Quality Monitoring (Primary Accountability) Monitor critical Guardrisk data flows, feeds, and datasets across operational and analytical platforms to ensure data is processed successfully, completely, accurately, and on time. Actively identify failed, delayed, incomplete, or anomalous data processing that may impact underwriting, claims, finance, reporting, partner integrations, or regulatory processes. Define and maintain operational data quality checks and thresholds (e.g. completeness, accuracy, timeliness, consistency) aligned to Guardrisk business use cases. Proactively surface data quality issues before they are detected by downstream business processes. Data Quality Issue Identification, Triage, and Resolution Trigger, log, and manage data quality issues when operational data quality thresholds are breached. Perform initial investigation and root cause analysis to determine source, scope and severity, and the business and downstream impact. Coordinate resolution activities with data engineering and platform teams, source system owners, and external data partners where applicable. Track data quality issues through to resolution and validate fixes before closure. Provide clear, ongoing communication to affected business teams regarding issue status and remediation progress. Business Enablement and Operational Data Support Act as the primary operational point of contact for business teams experiencing data quality or data availability issues. Support underwriting, claims, finance, actuarial, and reporting teams by explaining data defects, limitations, and anomalies, advising on data fitness for operational, analytical, and regulatory use, and providing assurance once data issues are resolved. Translate technical data issues into clear business impact and risk statements. Downstream Process and Business Impact Protection Ensure that data consumed by downstream processes (e.g. pricing, claims settlement, bordereaux, management reporting, regulatory submissions) meets agreed quality and timeliness standards. Proactively assess data readiness for critical downstream use and raise risks where data quality may impact business outcomes. Identify recurring or systemic data quality issues and recommend preventative improvements to reduce operational risk and rework. Practical Data Documentation and Usage Guidance Maintain practical, business‑focused documentation for key Guardrisk datasets, including data definitions, known data quality constraints, and usage considerations for downstream processes. Ensure documentation supports operational decision‑making, not theoretical completeness. External and Partner Data Quality Management Monitor the quality, completeness, and timeliness of data received from third‑party partners and service providers. Engage partners when data does not meet agreed standards and coordinate remediation. Ensure external data quality issues are identified and resolved before impacting Guardrisk operations. Supporting (Secondary) Governance Activities Support data governance standards, controls, and compliance requirements only where they directly enable operational data quality. Contribute to data governance initiatives as required, without detracting from day‑to‑day operational responsibilities. External Stakeholder Engagement and Data‑at‑Source Remediation Act as the primary operational data quality interface between Guardrisk and external data providers, intermediaries, and integration partners. Build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders to ensure shared understanding of data quality expectations, impacts, and remediation requirements. Proactively engage external parties when data quality issues originate outside Guardrisk systems, clearly articulating: The nature of the data defect Business and downstream impact Required corrective action and timelines Drive resolution of external data quality issues at source, rather than relying on internal workarounds, reprocessing, or manual correction. Validate fixes implemented by external parties and confirm sustained improvement before issue closure. Escalate recurring or unresolved external data quality issues through appropriate operational and commercial channels where required. Operational Data Quality Management Define and apply practical data quality checks aligned to real business use cases. Identify data quality issues early and prevent downstream impact. Manage data quality issues through their full lifecycle, from detection to closure. Analytical And Diagnostic Skills Analyse data to identify patterns, inconsistencies, and anomalies. Perform effective root cause analysis across systems, data flows, and processes. Use SQL or equivalent techniques to investigate issues directly. Business Enablement and Communication Act as the single operational authority on data quality for business teams. Translate technical data problems into clear statements of business impact and risk. Build trust with stakeholders by providing clarity, transparency, and reliable resolution. Collaboration and Ownership Work effectively with data engineers, IT teams, and business users to resolve issues quickly. Takes ownership of data quality outcomes rather than deferring responsibility. Balance multiple issues and priorities in a production data environment. Pragmatic Governance Awareness Understand data governance principles and regulatory requirements relevant to insurance. Apply governance controls only where they directly improve operational data quality and business outcomes. Avoid over‑engineering or theoretical frameworks that do not add operational value. External Stakeholder Engagement and Accountability Engage confidently and constructively with external partners on data quality issues. Hold external stakeholders accountable for data quality outcomes while maintaining productive working relationships. Drive corrective action beyond organisational boundaries to protect Guardrisk business outcomes. #J-18808-Ljbffr