Data Architect

Our client is seeking an experienced Data Architect to define and evolve scalable data models, structures and governance approaches that enable secure, interoperable and well-managed data-sharing solutions for as leading UK Government Agency.

This is a highly collaborative role working across data, security, architecture, engineering and business teams. You’ll be responsible for establishing a clear understanding of data throughout its lifecycle, including its structures, schemas, attributes, classifications, relationships, metadata, ownership, provenance and lineage.

A key aspect of the role will be supporting the design of policy-based access control (PBAC), translating business, security and governance requirements into appropriate data attributes, classifications and access policies., * Define and deliver data architecture, data modelling and data governance activities.

• Develop conceptual, logical and physical data models covering entities, attributes, relationships and dependencies.
• Define and maintain data schemas, attributes, classifications, taxonomies and controlled vocabularies.
• Establish clear data definitions, ownership, stewardship and authoritative sources of truth.
• Define and manage metadata required to understand, discover and govern data assets.
• Map and document data lineage and provenance, including sources, transformations, dependencies and consumers.
• Design scalable data structures supporting secure and interoperable data-sharing solutions.
• Translate business, security, risk and governance requirements into data models and architecture designs.
• Support the design of policy-based access control (PBAC) using appropriate data attributes and classifications.
• Contribute to data governance frameworks, standards, principles and processes.
• Support data quality, validation, consistency and integrity requirements.
• Support data migration, integration and transformation activities while maintaining lineage and semantic meaning.
• Ensure data architecture supports auditability, traceability, regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure conceptual and logical models are effectively translated into implementation.
• Maintain architecture, data model, metadata, lineage and governance documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve data interoperability, reuse, discoverability and consistency.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, architecture reviews, planning sessions and cross-functional workshops.

NB: The successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic level of security clearance before undertaking the assignment (around one weeks’ lead-time).

The successful candidate will bring strong practical experience in data architecture, modelling and governance, together with the ability to communicate complex data concepts clearly across technical and non-technical stakeholder groups., * Proven experience working as a Data Architect, with strong data architecture and data modelling experience, operating within Agile delivery environments.

• Experience with Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) or Policy-Based Access Control (PBAC) would be very useful; as well as being familiar with data catalogues, metadata management or data governance platforms.
• A strong understanding of data structures, schemas, entities, attributes, relationships and dependencies, developing conceptual and logical data models, defining data classifications, taxonomies, business definitions and governance standards.
• Practical experience with metadata, data catalogues, data lineage and data provenance, with an ability to identify and document authoritative data sources and sources of truth.
• Experience translating business, security and governance requirements into data and architecture designs, with a strong understanding of the data lifecycle, including creation, transformation, sharing, retention and retirement.
• Ability to communicate complex data and architecture concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders, working collaboratively with engineering, security, architecture and business teams.
• Understanding of policy lifecycle management, including authoring, approval, versioning, publication and retirement, whilst defining and managing data lineage and provenance across complex data flows.
• Understanding of standards supporting data interoperability and information exchange, with experience supporting data migration, integration and transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of data quality frameworks, validation and data stewardship, along with experience of supporting audit, regulatory and compliance requirements.
• Experience with APIs, data contracts and schema management, optimising data models, queries and data integrations, designing secure and interoperable data-sharing solutions