Data Architect

Job Title: Data Architect

Position Role Type: Hybrid

Location:Harlow (Hybrid)

Clearance:SC Eligible

Duration:Fixed Term Contract - 12 months

Hours:Full Time - 37 hours per week

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced Data Architect to help establish a newly created data practice within the Digital Technology function. This is a pivotal role in shaping the foundations of an enterprise-wide data capability, setting direction for data architecture, governance, processes, and technology choices that will underpin a major transformation programme.

You will be aligned to a financial planning transformation programme, and you will help design and implement a new data platform, working closely with enterprise architects, delivery teams, and core platform system owners. You will play a central role in enabling the creation, integration, and consumption of high-quality, compliant, trustworthy data across the organisation to fulfil organisational needs.

This is an opportunity for a strategically minded and hands-on architect who can operate confidently in a highly regulated environment with complex data requirements and regulatory obligations.

Key Responsibilities:

Data Architecture & Platform Design:

• Help define the enterprise data architecture vision, standards, and roadmap.
• Aid in the design the initial data platform to support integration with core systems and future enterprise-scale data needs.
• Evaluate, recommend, and drive the adoption of modern data technologies, tools, and patterns (e.g., data lakehouse, ETL/ELT, event streaming, metadata management).

Data Practice:

• Help establish the foundational processes for data modelling, data quality, metadata, lineage, security, and governance.
• Build and lead a small team of data professionals (e.g., data engineers, analysts, stewards).
• Embed architectural best practices and influence stakeholders across the business to adopt a data-driven approach.

Transformation Delivery:

• Embed in a global ERP transformation programme teams to define data interfaces, and flows whilst keeping security requirements paramount.
• Ensure data solutions integrate effectively with financial and operational systems.
• Provide architectural oversight and assurance across data design and implementation activities.

Regulatory & Risk Management:

• Ensure all data-related solutions comply with relevant regulatory frameworks and internal risk controls.
• Interpret complex regulatory requirements into actionable architectural principles and system designs.
• Champion secure and ethically responsible data management practices.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner closely with the wider Architecture function to align data architecture with enterprise technology strategies.
• Engage senior stakeholders to articulate the need for modern data capabilities.
• Provide expert guidance to business and technology teams on data standards and integration patterns.

Candidate requirements

Essential:

• Proven experience as a Data Architect in a complex, highly regulated environment.
• Track record of designing and implementing enterprise data platforms or large-scale data architectures.
• Strong knowledge of data modelling, integration patterns, data governance, data quality frameworks, and security controls.
• Experience selecting and implementing modern data technologies (cloud data platforms, pipelines, storage layers, catalogues, etc.).
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Comfortable driving a data agenda in environments with legacy systems, evolving requirements, and strong regulatory constraints.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience working with finance systems and associated data structures.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP), especially modern data stack tools.
• Background in enterprise transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of regulatory domains such as GDPR, financial reporting standards, or sector-specific data controls.