Role Overview
A Data Governance Engineer specializing in Microsoft 365 is responsible for designing, implementing, and operationalizing data governance controls across the M365 ecosystem. This role focuses on SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, Exchange Online, and related compliance services to ensure data protection, retention, classification, and regulatory adherence.
Key Responsibilities
- Architect and deploy data governance frameworks leveraging Microsoft Purview (formerly Microsoft 365 Compliance) including sensitivity labels, retention policies, and data loss prevention (DLP) rules.
- Configure and manage information protection across SharePoint Online sites, OneDrive accounts, and Teams channels using auto-labeling, trainable classifiers, and content explorer.
- Design and enforce records management strategies: retention labels, disposition reviews, and immutable records for legal hold scenarios.
- Implement insider risk management and communication compliance policies to detect risky user activities and policy violations.
- Develop automation scripts using PowerShell, Microsoft Graph API, and Power Automate for governance policy deployment, reporting, and remediation at scale.
- Collaborate with security, legal, and business stakeholders to translate regulatory requirements (GDPR, CCPA, local data sovereignty laws) into technical controls.
- Monitor governance health via Compliance Manager, Audit Logs, and custom dashboards; conduct regular assessments and gap analyses.
- Provide guidance on data lifecycle management, eDiscovery, and information barriers for cross-functional projects and M&A activities.
Requirements
Hard Skills
- Deep hands-on expertise with Microsoft Purview (Information Protection, Data Lifecycle Management, Insider Risk, Communication Compliance, eDiscovery).
- Advanced proficiency in SharePoint Online administration, OneDrive governance, and Teams lifecycle policies.
- Strong scripting ability in PowerShell (Exchange Online, Security & Compliance, Teams, Graph) and familiarity with KQL for audit log analysis.
- Experience with Microsoft Graph API and Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps) for governance automation.
- Knowledge of Azure Information Protection (AIP) unified labeling scanner and on-premises integration scenarios.
- Understanding of data classification methodologies, sensitive information types, and trainable classifiers.
- Familiarity with regulatory frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001) and their mapping to M365 controls.
Soft Skills
- Analytical mindset with ability to translate complex compliance requirements into practical technical solutions.
- Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with legal, privacy, security, and business teams.
- Proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement orientation in evolving regulatory landscapes.
- Detail-oriented with strong documentation habits for audit trails and policy evidence.
Why This Role
This position offers the opportunity to lead enterprise data governance within a Microsoft 365-first organization, shaping how sensitive information is protected, retained, and governed across collaboration workloads. You will work with cutting-edge Microsoft Purview capabilities, drive automation at scale, and directly impact regulatory compliance posture. The role sits at the intersection of security, privacy, and productivity — enabling safe collaboration while meeting legal obligations in a dynamic, cloud-native environment.