Enterprise Data Architect

Legal & General is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor. We’ve been safeguarding people’s financial futures since 1836, aiming to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone and create value for our shareholders. Our Group Functions provide the services that all areas of the business need. This requires a talented and diverse team behind the scenes, who enable everyone at L&G to do what they do best. Joining us means helping to improve the lives of our customers and contributing to the success of the business every day.

We are seeking an Enterprise Data Architect to spearhead the practice of data and information architecture within Group Functions. This role will focus on establishing the right processes, assets, and governance to ensure effective data management within Group Functions and across the Enterprise. The goal is to facilitate the coherent design of our data and information systems. The post holder will be leading the development and implementation of data strategy across group functions, championing best practice data architecture approaches, building out the artefact catalogue, and designing and embedding the necessary controls to uphold the L&G data architecture standard.

What you’ll be doing:

• Spearheading the development and implementation of data architecture and strategy within Group Functions, translating business requirements into robust conceptual and logical data models.
• Ensuring solutions adhere to the highest data architecture standards.
• Crafting and executing strategic plans that enhance data integration, quality, and delivery, driving business initiatives and roadmaps forward.
• Advocating for the critical role of data and information architecture within Group Functions and the broader Enterprise.
• Communicating effectively with stakeholders, including directors, to demonstrate the immense value this capability brings.
• Taking ownership of the Group Functions data strategy, collaborating with various business units.
• Overseeing the data elements of the IT Strategy, guiding change initiatives to achieve strategic goals.
• Directing the definition and adoption of data architecture standards, patterns, policies, and governance processes across Group Functions.
• Collaborating with the Group Architecture function to design and embed repeatable, auditable controls.
• Creating comprehensive enterprise architecture views of the data domain, including data masterhood, flows, models, and alignment with applications and interfaces.
• Establishing architecture guardrails and work with key stakeholders to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Establishing and maintaining regular communication channels with business leaders and senior stakeholders.
• Providing expert data consultancy and executive support, leveraging deep domain expertise.
• Being an integral part of the Group Functions Architecture management team, collaborating with Principal Architects to enhance the effectiveness of the architecture practice.
• Sharing best practices across the organisation.
• Building and supervising a high-performing team of data architects, addressing capability gaps, supporting their activities, and ensuring delivery excellence.
• Managing all aspects of data architect management, ensuring adherence to Group policies and procedures to maximise business performance.

Qualifications

Who we’re looking for:

• Extensive Knowledge of Enterprise Data Architecture and IT Roadmap Design.
• Proficient in Big Data and Data Lake Platforms: Expertise in SaaS (Snowflake), DBaaS (MongoDB Atlas), Cloudera Data Platforms, and cloud-native alternatives.
• Skilled in Dimensional Modelling and Reporting: Strong understanding of the Kimball methodology and tools such as WhereScape, DB2, and Snowflake, as well as Cloudera Data Platform.
• Comprehensive Understanding of Business Ecosystems: Familiar with SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, SOA, API, open data, microservices, event-driven IT, predictive analytics, and business intelligence/analytics.
• Experienced Enterprise Data Architect: Broad technology experience in the finance sector, with a focus on formulating IT and Data Strategy, Governance, Standards, Procedures, and Policies.
• Strategic Thinker: Demonstrated ability to take a broader view of situations, with in-depth knowledge of architecture governance through enterprise architecture artefacts, including principles, policies, views, viewpoints, and building blocks.
• Proven Track Record in IT Roadmap Design: Successfully designed IT roadmaps for multimillion-pound solutions across an enterprise.
• Influential Thought Leader: Experience working with and influencing senior stakeholders as a thought leader in Data Architecture.

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes.
• Generous pension contribution.
• Life assurance.
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only).
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, 26 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday.
• Competitive family leave.
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice (permanent employees only).
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online.
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart.

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future. We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone. If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel. We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs. If you’re open to find out more, we’d love to hear from you.