Senior Data Architect - UK Hydrographic Office - SEO in Taunton

Location: Taunton

As a Senior Data Architect, you will champion the data architecture strategy, protecting and enhancing the value of UKHO data assets, and delivering improved customer experience for UKHO customers. You will drive the implementation of architecture policy, principles and standards in all business divisions, ensuring UKHO data is supported and enabled by the right platforms and systems, and that data is at the centre of design decisions.

As part of a wider Architecture team, you will work with Enterprise, Business and Solution Architects as well as other data professionals across UKHO to deliver solutions that enhance data quality and support efficient business operations.

The UKHO is a data-driven organisation specialising in global maritime and marine data, supporting Safety of Life at Sea and Defence customers. Data sits at the core of our business, making the Senior Data Architect role critical to achieving best practice in data management and governance, while maximising data value as we transition to a fully digital business.

UKHO is driving digital transformation through improved processes and use of innovative technology. This role offers the opportunity to work with both geospatial data and a complex commercial environment that requires sophisticated relationship management, sales, and reporting capabilities.

Hybrid working: This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK. There will be a requirement to attend the office in line with business need.

Please note our Policy on informal hybrid working applies within the UK and does not extend to working overseas.

Additional information: Part-time hours may be considered for this role (minimum of 30 hours per week).

Job description:

• Lead the data architecture definition for multiple and diverse business areas
• The creation, delivery and evolution of key data Architectural Artefacts, including:
• Conceptual, Logical and Physical data models
• Data flow diagrams
• Metadata models, taxonomies and data dictionaries
• Principles, guidelines and standards
• Working with multiple business and technical stakeholders, identify data lineage, provenance, structure and value for data assets
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the enterprise, encouraging engagement and facilitating collaborative problem solving and decision making.
• Assist in the continuous improvement, evolution and communication of the data architecture process, its outcome, business benefits and ongoing management.
• Provide governance of all data architectural and design elements within a solution, identifying and escalating any significant risks or issues and helping to mitigate and manage these.

Person specification:

• You will bring experience in delivery of data models within data-centric environments.
• You will have experience of communicating complex concepts clearly to a non-technical audience and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• You will have experience of applying the DAMA-DMBOK framework, particularly in data governance, data architecture, data modelling, and metadata management.
• You will demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, handling complex and often ambiguous situations where multiple options must be evaluated.
• You will have experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams, and demonstrate strong collaboration skills, enabling you to balance diverse stakeholder perspectives and drive optimal, pragmatic outcomes.

Technical skills:

• Development of data models - Conceptual, Logical, Physical
• Development of data artefacts and techniques including Data Flow diagrams and State Transition diagrams.
• Utilisation of complex data modelling tools
• Creation of physical models through reverse engineering from source systems
• Creation of schemas from physical models
• Definition and implementation of data standards
• Basic knowledge of Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) technology