Senior Data Architect

Senior Data Architect Overview

A leading digital transformation and technology organization is seeking a Senior Data Architect to join its expanding Data & AI practice. This position offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned data architecture professional with a background in the UK Healthcare or Public Sector to take on a senior technical leadership role.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with clients to tackle complex data challenges, develop effective architecture strategies, and ensure that data solutions are scalable, secure, and tailored to meet specific needs. This role encompasses hands-on data architecture, client consulting, technical leadership, and team management, making it ideal for an experienced Data Architect ready to take on greater responsibilities in both technical delivery and the development of other data professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design of robust and scalable data architectures across complex transformation programmes.
• Provide specialist guidance on data modelling, structures, flows, sourcing, transformation, migration, and master data.
• Translate business and technical requirements into practical data architecture solutions.
• Assess existing data environments and identify opportunities for improvement and optimization.
• Ensure architecture assurance throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring solutions meet business, technical, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and promote data architecture standards, methodologies, and best practices.
• Support the resolution of complex data definition, ownership, and information management challenges.
• Contribute to solution-level and enterprise data architecture decisions.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate data technologies and products based on client requirements.
• Work directly with clients to understand their data challenges and strategic objectives.
• Build effective relationships with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior decision-makers.
• Communicate complex data architecture concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Provide independent advice and thought leadership on data architecture and emerging industry practices.
• Facilitate discussions and workshops to help clients establish clear data strategies and architectural direction.
• Act as a trusted advisor, challenging assumptions and assisting clients in making informed technology decisions.
• Help organizations establish effective data governance frameworks and processes.
• Support the definition of information-handling models across heterogeneous data environments.
• Address data quality, ownership, metadata, and master data challenges.
• Contribute to capacity planning and architectural decision-making across multiple data-storage technologies.
• Design and assure solutions across modern data platform environments, including data lakes.
• Maintain awareness of emerging cloud, data platform, analytics, and AI technologies and their application within enterprise environments.
• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of data professionals, supporting their performance and career progression.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior and experienced members of the wider data community.
• Create an environment that encourages knowledge sharing, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What They’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in Data Architecture, along with strong client-facing and technical leadership skills. They should have:

• Professional experience within the UK Healthcare or Public Sector.
• Strong technical expertise across data modelling, data analysis, metadata management, data transformation, data migration, and master data.
• A proven track record of providing technical leadership across data projects and programmes.
• Experience in providing architecture assurance, mentoring, and defining technical standards.
• Strong knowledge of recognized data architecture methodologies, patterns, and best practices.
• Experience in selecting data products and technologies at project or enterprise level.
• Demonstrable ability to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Confidence in providing technical thought leadership to clients and internal teams.
• Strong knowledge of at least three mainstream data technologies, along with an understanding of broader developments in the data technology landscape.
• A proactive approach and the ability to operate effectively in uncertain environments.
• Previous experience managing, coaching, or developing junior data professionals.

Desirable Experience

Experience in the following areas would be advantageous:

• Defining information-handling models across heterogeneous data-storage technologies.
• Capacity planning across complex data environments.
• Establishing and embedding data governance processes and frameworks.
• Designing and implementing data lake architectures.
• Working with solutions built within modern data lake ecosystems.
• Enterprise-level Data Architecture and strategic data planning.
• Experience within highly regulated, complex, or large-scale public-sector environments.
• Awareness of modern cloud data platforms and emerging Data & AI technologies.

Degree Requirement: Not Specified

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