Retention schedule
A documented mapping from data category and purpose to a specific retention period, a trigger event that starts the clock, and the action (deletion, anonymization, or archiving under a named exemption) that occurs at expiry. Organized by purpose rather than by system, and maintained on a review cadence rather than written once.
Defined in 2 GAGE programs, which carry 2 distinct definitions of it. The wording above is taught in Certified AI Data Governance Professional (CADGP).
How each discipline defines it
The same term does different work depending on who is using it. These are the definitions as each program teaches them, unedited.
A documented mapping from data category and purpose to a specific retention period, a trigger event that starts the clock, and the action (deletion, anonymization, or archiving under a named exemption) that occurs at expiry. Organized by purpose rather than by system, and maintained on a review cadence rather than written once.
A policy, set by counsel in light of applicable recordkeeping law and litigation risk, specifying how long a category of documents must or may be kept before disposal.
Where it is taught
The exact lessons this term appears in. The first module of every program is free with a free account.
- The "we have always had this data" trap: age does not launder a dataset · Consent, Purpose, and the Law of Data, Certified AI Data Governance Professional (CADGP)
- Your Influence Architecture, Documented and Defensible · Compliant Influence Architecture, The AI Lobbyist: Certified AI Policy Strategist
Where it shows up at work
A definition is where Retention schedule starts. The lessons above teach it inside the competencies below, which are what job descriptions ask for and what the GAGE credential records. Every link here is drawn from the same careers map that builds a role's readiness check.
Interviews, facilitates, challenges and secures action across legal, security, product and business teams without owning every decision.
One lesson on this page teach it as a primary outcome.
Roles that hire for it
Each role page shows the full competency set, what the seat decides, and a readiness check against your own evidence.
- VP of AI Governance and Ethicsneeds working knowledge
- Responsible AI Leadneeds it at depth · 7 open postings this week
- AI Program Managerneeds it at depth · 11 open postings this week
- Data Governance Leadneeds it at depth · 2 open postings this week
- AI Governance Coordinatorneeds working knowledge
- AI Incident Response Leadneeds working knowledge · 1 open posting this week
How job descriptions say it
Postings rarely use the textbook word. These are the phrases the careers map reads as asking for the competencies above.
One interview question about it
Legal, engineering and the business want three different things from one AI project. How do you get to a decision everyone will keep?
Asked of candidates for cross-functional facilitation and influence. Answering it in your own words is exactly how a GAGE topic is passed, and the credential records the pass where an employer can check it.
If you come from another field
Some backgrounds already carry this competency, and the readiness check gives credit for it.
- Compliance and regulatory affairs carries it as a claim to back up: Sitting between legal, business and IT is the daily job.
- Nonprofit program and grants oversight carries it as a claim to back up: Translating between program staff, legal and IT is the position an AI governance lead occupies.
- Project and program management carries it as a claim to back up: Cross-functional facilitation is the job.
Terms it appears with
Not an alphabetical neighbourhood: these are the terms taught in the same lessons, ranked by how often they appear together.