Senior Data Architect - MoD - G7

Location

London Main Building, MoD Abbey Wood, MoD Corsham, Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison

About the job

Job summary

The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad.

Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe. 

Working at the MOD 

Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Defence Digital are seeking a creative individual to advance their career in Data & Information Management and help the MoD integrate data-driven changes. You will join the Chief Data Office, Enterprise Data & Information Architecture Team. The team ensures the adoption of data standards and best practices, supporting data architects across the Ministry of Defence. Reporting to the Head of Enterprise Data Architect, you will build our data architecture capability, drive coherence, and reduce inefficiencies. You will also implement best practices and governance, liaising with senior architects and non-technical subject matter experts

We champion the development of coherent data architecture strategies across the nineteen different Defence organisations to ensure that Defence’s data landscape is more than just the sum of its parts, minimising the time-to-data-value for data users and reducing the burden on data producers.

Responsibilities

1. Delivering the data architecture function across the Ministry of Defence:

• Liaising with business areas’ data architecture leads, Data SMEs and supporting them to produce local data architecture strategies, create/update policies and designs & delivery plans
• Provide supporting to data architects in enhancing their technical data skills  
• Working with data architects to continually refine data architecture activities and processes
• Create or Review Conceptual and Logical Data Models to ensure that these models are comprehensive and align with the overall data strategy. They should accurately represent the data requirements and relationships within the organisation.
• Contribute to Creating an Enterprise Data Model for MoD by integrating various data models into a cohesive enterprise-wide model. It should support data consistency, quality, and governance across the organisation.

2.Acting as a key data architecture governance stakeholder

• Supporting data architecture leads to bring their outputs for review and sign-off at the Data Architectural Reference Authority or Technical Design Authority
• Acting as critical friend to lead data architects of different business functions and informally supporting their data & information architectural design work

For more information on the Data Architect role please see the Government Digital and Data Framework; 

Senior Data Architect

Person specification

To be successful in the role of Senior Data Architect you will bring a broad understanding of data management principles and practices from across complex organisations. You will possess a proven ability to develop and implement enterprise-wide data strategies, architectures, and governance frameworks. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills are essential to drive data coherence, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure data assets deliver maximum value across the enterprise.

Application 

When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role.  Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below:   

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in developing data architecture strategies, policies, and designs, and supporting their implementation within complex organisations.
• Proven ability to create and review conceptual and logical data models to ensure alignment with overall data strategy and accurate representation of data requirements.
• Strong understanding of data architecture governance principles and experience acting as a key stakeholder in review and sign-off processes (e.g., Data Architectural Reference Authority).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively liaise with data architecture leads, subject matter experts, and senior stakeholders across different business areas.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Data standards
• Turning business problems into design
• Data governance (data architect)
• Strategic thinking