Data Architect

We are seeking an experienced Senior Data Architect to support the design and evolution of enterprise-wide data architecture within a large, complex organisation. The role focuses on translating business and user needs into scalable, secure, and standards-driven data solutions, while providing technical leadership across data architecture practices.

This is a senior-level contract position requiring strong stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking, and hands-on architectural expertise across modern data platforms., * Translate business, operational, and user needs into clear and sustainable data architecture designs aligned to organisational strategy.

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to data architects and delivery teams, supporting consistent adoption of data standards and best practices.
• Define, evolve, and promote data architecture principles, patterns, and reusable assets across multiple programmes and domains.
• Collaborate closely with solution architects, engineers, and platform teams to embed data architecture into cloud-native and hybrid solutions.
• Champion data as a strategic asset, supporting approaches such as data-as-a-product and trusted data sharing.
• Design and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models across complex subject areas.
• Lead on metadata management approaches, including the design and improvement of metadata repositories and tooling.
• Ensure data governance, quality, and compliance considerations are built into architectures from the outset.
• Support cross-domain problem solving where data challenges span multiple business areas or systems.

• Proven experience operating as a Senior or Lead Data Architect within large-scale, complex environments.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Expertise in data modelling techniques, standards, and industry-recognised patterns.
• Solid understanding of data governance, data quality, and metadata management.
• Experience designing data architectures for cloud-based and hybrid platforms.
• Ability to analyse existing data landscapes and reverse-engineer data models from live systems.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with experience resolving complex data-related issues across teams.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align architectural decisions to wider organisational goals., * Experience working in highly regulated or public-sector environments.
• Exposure to modern data platforms, analytics ecosystems, and data integration patterns.
• Familiarity with enterprise data strategy and operating models.