Head of Operational Data and Integration

This is a great job for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of data, engineering, and enterprise architecture. Someone who can balance big‑picture strategic thinking with hands‑on architectural leadership, and who thrives on simplifying complex operational data estates. If you love modernising legacy integration patterns, shaping API‑driven data flows, and helping diverse teams align around shared standards, this role could be a great fit for you.

This role would suit someone who brings strong technical credibility in APIs, operational data, and master/reference data platforms, and who influences change through collaboration rather than authority. You might be ready for a step up into enterprise‑wide leadership, or already experienced in shaping data and integration architecture at scale. Most of all, you’re motivated by getting operational data right—reducing duplication, improving trust, and enabling digital, business, and AI initiatives to run on clean, well‑governed data.

A bit about the job: This role leads the Operational Data and Integration architectural pillars, helping Aviva shape how data flows across operational systems and into enterprise platforms. You’ll design, govern, and optimise the architecture that underpins consistent, compliant, and scalable data movement across a federated organisation. You’ll also own the architecture for Aviva’s master and reference data platforms, ensuring trusted, authoritative data is available wherever it’s needed. The role partners closely with the Data CIO and Group COO and plays a central part in our Data Case for Change, Data Readiness for AI, and GenAI programmes.

Skills and experience we’re looking for:

• Expert ability to design, govern and optimise operational data — including transactional data modelling, operational data stores (ODS), lineage, data quality controls, and operational data flow patterns.
• Deep expertise in API‑led and event‑driven integration, including REST, asynchronous APIs, canonical schemas, event streams, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Able to define and embed reusable integration standards across the organisation.
• Strong experience architecting and governing enterprise master and reference data platforms — including domain mastering, reference data design, matching/merging rules, golden‑record creation, publish/subscribe distribution models, API‑exposed MDM services, metadata‑driven governance, and integration of MDM with operational systems.
• Able to design platform patterns that scale across Markets and Group functions, ensuring authoritative, trusted data is consistently created and consumed across the enterprise.
• Ability to set enterprise direction, align CIO/CDO/platform/engineering teams, drive standards across federated business units, and influence senior stakeholders to adopt shared operational data and integration patterns.
• Deep knowledge of data quality frameworks, metadata, lineage, data access controls, regulatory alignment, and secure data‑sharing practices — ensuring operational and API‑driven data flows meet Aviva’s compliance and risk standards.

What you’ll get for this role:

• Bonus opportunity – 25% of annual salary. Actual amount depends on your performance and Aviva’s.
• Generous pension scheme - Aviva will contribute up to 14%, depending on what you put in.
• 29 days holiday plus bank holidays, and you can choose to buy or sell up to 5 days.
• Aviva-funded Private Medical Benefit to help you get expert support when you need it.
• Make your money go further - Up to 40% discount on Aviva products, and other retailer discounts.
• Up to £1,200 of free Aviva shares per year through our Matching Share Plan and share in the success of Aviva with our Save As You Earn scheme.
• Brilliantly supportive policies including parental and carer’s leave.
• Flexible benefits to suit you, including sustainability options such as cycle to work.
• Make a difference, be part of our Aviva Communities and use your 3 paid volunteering days to help others.
• We take your wellbeing seriously with lots of support and tools.

Aviva is for everyone: We’re inclusive and welcome everyone – we want applications from all backgrounds and experiences. Excited but not sure you tick every box? Even if you don’t, we would still encourage you to apply. We also consider all forms of flexible working, including part time and job shares. We flex locations, hours and working patterns to suit our customers, business, and you. Most of our people are smart working – spending at least 50% of their time in our offices every week - combining the benefits of flexibility, with time together with colleagues.