ERP Master Data Manager

Position Summary

The ERP Master Data Manager is the enterprise authority responsible for the creation, maintenance, and governance of master data across all business systems. This role safeguards data integrity and alignment with SOX and ISO standards to enable accurate reporting, efficient operations, and fully integrated end-to-end workflows.

By defining robust data quality frameworks, enforcing compliance controls, and unifying on-premises, SaaS, and ERP platforms, this role establishes a single, authoritative source of truth for product and material records—ensuring that engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and finance all operate from consistent, trusted data.

Key Responsibilities

Governance & Compliance

• Define and enforce standards, policies, and procedures for master data creation and management.
• Ensure SOX controls and ISO 9001/13485 compliance are embedded within master data processes.
• Maintain an auditable trail of master data changes, approvals, and exceptions.
• Implement proactive compliance controls within item workflows, embedding SOX and ISO checkpoints directly into approval processes.

Data Stewardship & Quality

• Own the master data domain across ERP, PLM, MES, and SaaS platforms.
• Establish data validation rules, duplicate prevention mechanisms through Poke Yoke (error proofing methods), and automated workflows.
• Partner with audit and compliance teams to prepare for internal and external audits.
• Develop data quality scorecards, dashboards, and KPIs to measure master data lifecycle efficiency, compliance, and accuracy.

Integration & Workflow Enablement

• Collaborate with IT and business units to ensure item data flows seamlessly between systems (ERP, MES, CRM, Quality, Finance and Accounting).
• Align Product "Item" lifecycle management (PLM) with engineering, supply chain, and financial controls.
• Drive automation for cross-system synchronization, minimizing manual rework and errors.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Product Management, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, Finance and Accounting teams to define item attributes and governance checkpoints.
• Educate stakeholders on compliant item creation and management practices.
• Act as the escalation point for master data-related issues, ensuring resolution within SLA.
• Establish and chair a cross-functional Data Governance Council aligning Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, Manufacturing, and Business Systems as one enterprise system.

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor KPIs such as data accuracy, approval cycle time, and compliance exceptions.
• Provide input to enterprise digital transformation initiatives, ensuring data governance and compliance alignment.
• Lead initiatives to enhance master data processes through digital tools, AI/LLM and workflow automation.

Supervision of Personnel

• 2-4 direct reports (Data Stewards / Analysts).
• Oversight of cross-functional data governance councils.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in ERP master data management within manufacturing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with outstanding attention to detail.
• Proven ability to lead projects and collaborate across multiple departments,
• teams along with stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of manufacturing automation technologies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining technical requirements to software developers and translating technical details into clear, user-friendly instructions for end-users.
• Good understanding of SOX, ISO 9001, and related compliance requirements.
• Proven track record of establishing governance frameworks and compliance-driven workflows.
• Experience integrating master data across ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Infor), PLM, Quality and MES systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certifications (CDMP, Six Sigma, ISO Auditor).
• Familiarity with SaaS-based ERP extensions, MDM (Master Data Management) platforms, Life Cycle Management and data quality tools.
• Background in leading cross-functional compliance initiatives.
• Drive roadmap development for broader Master Data Management (MDM), scaling beyond items to BOMs, suppliers, and customers.
• Hands-on experience with Infor SyteLine ERP item master and CADTalk integrations.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional data governance councils or enterprise-wide compliance programs.

Job Location

• The position is fully remote, but up to 25% travel required to IEM facilities, supplier sites, compliance audits or conferences.