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.