Data Architect (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds and London)

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future. Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody. Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems. We're on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime - from birth to old age.

Accomplished Data Architect shaping how Genomics England designs, manages, and leverages data across the organisation. We’re seeking an experienced Data Architect, reporting into the Director of Architecture within the Technology and Product Directorate. You’ll sit at the heart of defining and shaping standards, patterns, and principles while drawing on your deep architectural expertise to ensure data is secure, high quality, and accessible for both healthcare and research teams, fully aligned with our technology strategy and architecture vision. In this critical role, you’ll act as a trusted architectural advisor to senior stakeholders, confidently leading the design and delivery of enterprise-scale data solutions. You’ll drive best practices across data lifecycle management, metadata, integration, and analytics, and contribute to industry standards such as GA4GH and FHIR, keeping Genomics England at the very forefront of genomic research and healthcare.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and evolution of the organisation’s data architecture, including data models, metadata systems, and data integration platforms.
• Ensure that data solutions meet business, research, security, and regulatory requirements, and are deliverable within the constraints of skills, resources, and budget.
• Act as the subject matter expert on data management and modelling, providing guidance across projects and to other architects.
• Develop and maintain data architecture standards, patterns, and reusable artefacts to streamline delivery and ensure consistency.
• Communicate data strategy and roadmaps clearly to senior stakeholders, demonstrating how data architecture supports services, products, and organisational goals.
• Oversee the management of data dictionaries, lifecycle policies, archiving, and decommissioning strategies.
• Ensure squads are aware of and work to the standards set by Information Governance, Security, and the Architecture chapter.
• Collaborate with technology partners and vendors to inform roadmaps and influence enterprise-scale data solutions.
• Contribute to shaping national and international standards relevant to genomics and research, including GA4GH, OMOP, or FHIR.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures in complex, regulated environments.
• Deep expertise in data modelling, metadata management, lifecycle management, and governance practices and standards.
• Deep expertise and proven experience implementing modern data architecture patterns within cloud environments.
• Strong experience engaging with senior stakeholders to influence and implement data strategy.
• Deep expertise in documenting, communicating, and implementing data roadmaps and solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a temperament that builds trust across technical and non‑technical teams.
• Ability to balance strategic and tactical considerations in architecture decisions.
• Experienced in bioinformatics, genomics, healthcare, or research domains.
• Knowledge of cloud and hybrid data architectures, data platforms, or data warehouses.
• Familiarity with GA4GH, FHIR or other relevant industry standards.
• Ability to establish data ownership, and design and implement data lifecycle management policies.
• Experienced working in big data environments (petabyte scale).

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Relevant certifications in data architecture, modelling, or enterprise architecture.
• Experienced applying TOGAF methodologies or equivalent enterprise architecture practices.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics data structures.
• Experienced with attribute‑based access control and supporting tools that underpin this.
• Experienced applying DAMA data architecture practices.
• Practical experience modelling the data structures that underpin and support complex issues such as patient/participant consent within healthcare and research.

If you’re a proven and motivated Data Architect with a demonstrable track record of shaping strategy and delivering enterprise‑scale solutions, this is your chance to use your experience and expertise to make a genuine impact here at Genomics England!

BSc in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience. Relevant architecture or data certifications are desirable; TOGAF certification is highly valuable.

Salary From: £88,600

Closing Date: Tuesday 26th May @ 23:00 (UK time)

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including:

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays, plus additional leave for long service, and also the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family‑Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double‑matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3× salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal opportunities and our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace: Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. Genomics England’s policies of non‑discrimination and equity will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part‑time or employed under a permanent or a fixed‑term contract or any other relevant factor. Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at work. Such behaviour undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity. We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us.

Culture: We have four key behaviours that represent what we would like Genomics England to feel like and the culture we want to encourage, in order for us to achieve our mission. These behaviours help us all work well together, deliver on our outcomes, celebrate our successes and share feedback with each other.

Blended working model: Genomics England operates a blended working model as we know our people appreciate the flexibility that hybrid working can bring. We expect most people to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month. However, this will vary according to role and will be agreed with your team leader. There is no expectation that people will return to the office full time unless they want to, however, some of our roles require full time on site attendance e.g., lab teams, reception team. Our teams and squads have, and will continue to reflect on what works best for them to work together successfully and have the freedom to design working patterns to suit, beyond the minimum.

Onboarding background checks: As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. We therefore require applicants to disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may mean we are unable to proceed with your application due to the nature of our work in healthcare.