Senior Data Architect

Senior Data Architect Overview

A leading digital transformation and technology organization is seeking an experienced Senior Data Architect to join its expanding Data & AI practice. This permanent position, based in Birmingham, West Midlands, offers a competitive salary of £110,000 GBP and a hybrid working model.

The successful candidate will take on a senior technical leadership role, working closely with clients to address complex data challenges and define effective architecture strategies. This position combines hands-on data architecture, client consulting, technical leadership, and people management, making it ideal for a seasoned Data Architect ready to take on greater responsibilities.

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, meeting business, technical, and regulatory requirements.
• Establish and promote data architecture standards, methodologies, and best practices.
• Support the resolution of complex data definition and ownership challenges.
• Contribute to solution-level and enterprise data architecture decisions.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate data technologies 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.
• Communicate complex data architecture concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Provide independent advice and thought leadership on data architecture and emerging practices.
• Facilitate discussions and workshops to help clients establish clear data strategies.
• Act as a trusted advisor, challenging assumptions and guiding clients in 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 within modern data platform environments, including data lakes.
• Maintain awareness of emerging cloud, data platform, analytics, and AI technologies.
• Manage, coach, and develop a small team of data professionals.
• Create an environment that encourages knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

What They’re Looking For

• Professional experience within the UK Healthcare or Public Sector.
• Strong technical expertise across data modelling, analysis, metadata management, transformation, migration, and master data.
• A proven track record of providing technical leadership across data projects.
• Experience in architecture assurance and defining technical standards.
• Strong knowledge of recognized data architecture methodologies and best practices.
• Experience 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 teams.
• Strong knowledge of at least three mainstream data technologies.
• A proactive approach to navigating uncertain requirements and environments.
• Previous experience managing or developing junior data professionals.

Desirable Experience

• Defining information-handling models across heterogeneous data-storage technologies.
• Capacity planning across complex data environments.
• Establishing 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 in highly regulated 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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