What does a data steward do?

As a data steward, you play a key role in managing the data lifecycle. You make sure that all data鈥攅specially geospatial data鈥攊s handled consistently, safely, and with maximum value to the organization.
Your work goes far beyond quality control. You help teams access trustworthy data and support strategic initiatives by aligning data with key business goals.
Your core responsibilities include:
- Ensuring data standards and protocols
You make sure all data follows agreed formats, structures, and guidelines.
- Maintaining and securing data
You protect data from unauthorized access and ensure it meets legal and ethical requirements.
- Supporting data-driven policy
Your data contributes directly to important themes like environmental planning, mobility, and the energy transition.
- Collaborating with analysts and engineers
You work closely with data scientists, GIS professionals, and IT teams to ensure smooth and effective data use.
- Improving data processes
You use tools like Python, SQL, and data modeling techniques to analyze and enhance the flow and quality of information.
Your work helps organizations shift from reactive to proactive decision-making鈥攎aking your role vital in any modern data-driven environment.
Why your work matters
In today鈥檚 world, data is one of the most valuable assets an organization can have. But data is only powerful when it鈥檚 accurate, secure, and well-managed. That鈥檚 where you come in.
Here鈥檚 why your role as a data steward is essential:
- Builds trust
You ensure data is accurate and consistent鈥攇iving decision-makers confidence in the information they rely on.
- Protects data integrity
You enforce security policies and compliance with regulations, keeping sensitive information safe.
- Enables innovation
Clean, accessible data supports new insights and ideas鈥攆ueling better services and smarter solutions.
- Drives impact
You help link data to real-world outcomes, shaping better policies in areas like climate, infrastructure, and mobility.
Your efforts enable organizations to make informed choices, respond to change quickly, and build a reliable foundation for future innovation.
The role of geospatial information in your work
As a Data Steward, geospatial information is a key part of the data ecosystem you manage. From spatial datasets to metadata standards, location-based data requires careful handling to ensure it is usable, trustworthy, and aligned with organizational goals. Here鈥檚 how geospatial information supports your role:
- Maintaining spatial accuracy
You ensure that geographic data is complete, correctly formatted, and aligned with coordinate systems鈥攅nabling reliable mapping and analysis.
- Standardizing and documenting data
You apply clear rules and metadata standards to geospatial datasets so they can be easily understood, shared, and reused across teams.
- Linking data to real-world locations
By managing the connection between spatial features and administrative information, you make data actionable for use in policy, planning, and reporting.
Whether you’re supporting infrastructure projects, sustainability goals, or spatial planning efforts, your stewardship of geospatial data ensures it’s accurate, secure, and ready to drive meaningful decisions.