Data Architect

Job Description

The role provides client-side leadership across data architecture, solution governance, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning, while supporting the adoption of modern data technologies across cloud, on-premise and as-a-service platforms within Data Platform Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise Data Architecture
• Define, own and maintain enterprise data architecture standards, principles and patterns.
• Ensure data architecture aligns with organisational architecture policies, governance frameworks and delivery methodologies.
• Support the evolution of enterprise data capabilities, including data products, metadata management, data fabric and data virtualisation approaches.
• Architecture Governance and Assurance
• Review proposed solutions and designs to ensure compliance with agreed architecture standards.
• Provide architecture assurance throughout delivery lifecycles.
• Contribute to design authorities and governance forums.
• Support the establishment and operation of effective design governance processes and controls.
• Strategic Planning and Roadmapping
• Develop and maintain strategic roadmaps for enterprise data platforms and data products.
• Assess the impact of business and technology change across the enterprise data landscape.
• Support long-term technology investment planning and capability development.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Engage with Data Platform Services, enterprise architects, programme teams, project managers, security teams, suppliers, vendors and business stakeholders.
• Represent data architecture within business workshops and architecture forums.
• Influence decision-making and support high-level solution design activities.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across technical and non-technical communities.
• Change Enablement
• Support change programmes through the production and review of architecture artefacts and documentation.
• Assess impacts to applications, data assets and business processes.
• Ensure architectural implications of change are understood and appropriately managed.
• Vendor and Supplier Management
• Support supplier engagement and technical governance activities.
• Provide guidance relating to licensing implications and technology adoption.
• Maintain effective engagement with strategic technology partners and vendors.
• Technical Leadership
• Contribute to the Data Architecture Community of Practice.
• Mentor and support architects, engineers and technical teams.
• Promote best practice, innovation and continuous improvement within the organisation.
• Provide expert advice and guidance on architectural and service management matters.
• Transformation and Continuous Improvement
• Support organisational transformation initiatives and strategic change programmes.
• Identify opportunities to improve data management, architecture practices and delivery approaches.
• Contribute to the development of enterprise architecture capabilities and operating models.

Essential Key Skills and Experience

• Strong experience in enterprise data architecture within complex organisations.
• Ability to rapidly understand large-scale IT and data estates spanning on-premise, cloud and SaaS environments.
• Experience assessing and managing the impact of change across enterprise application and data landscapes.
• Knowledge of cloud architecture patterns, particularly AWS and Azure.
• Understanding of data management concepts, including data fabric, data virtualisation, metadata management, data integration and governance.
• Proven experience of architecture governance and design assurance processes.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience working across multiple delivery teams, suppliers and business functions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience operating within regulated or large public-sector environments.
• Knowledge of modern data platform technologies and operating models.
• Experience supporting commercial, procurement or licensing activities.
• Contribution to architecture communities of practice or professional bodies.

Professional Competencies

• Enterprise data architecture and standards
• Architecture governance and assurance
• Strategic planning and roadmapping
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing
• Change impact assessment
• Vendor and commercial management
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Continuous improvement and transformation leadership
• Cloud architecture, particularly AWS and Azure
• Enterprise data management and governance