Senior Data Architect (Ref: 20739) in Sheffield

Location: Staffordshire, UK; Elgin Ave., London W9 2NR, UK; Scotland; Wales, UK

Salary: 58,511 - 70,725 per year

Employment: Flexible

Category: IT

Posted: 2026-08-04

Valid to: 2026-08-19

Apply: here

Employer: Ministry of Justice

This is a National Role

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

You will be working for the Principal Enterprise Architect, as part of the Digital Architecture, Strategy and Innovation function (DASI). As a Senior Data Architect, you will be responsible for designing the data architecture and ensure that it is in line with the business data strategy, taking into consideration the various data sources, information assets, consumers of it, and the management systems. You will be operating within one of the areas of the business, such as Crime, Civil, Family & Tribunals, Judicial and Operations or Headquarters functions of HMCTS. You’ll have a vision for government services and communicate this to technical and non-technical stakeholders alike. You’ll ensure a project’s overall data design meets user needs and acceptance criteria, whilst conforming to time and budget constraints. You’ll thrive using agile methods and enjoy working collaboratively with Heads of IT Departments and multidisciplinary teams.

Your role as Senior Data Architect will encompass several key responsibilities:

• Develop information models within the business function that you are responsible for and ensure it is aligned with strategy (and other) needs.
• Contribute to the wider HMCTS information model as required.
• Ensure the information model and its metadata is integrated with wider architectures (business, technology, security etc.) needs, within the business function that you are responsible for.
• Advise stakeholders on improvements to information model to gain improvements to their business.
• Understand and assure data operations such as data interfaces within the organisation.
• Gate keeper of data architectural standards, patterns, and modelling techniques.
• Active engagement in information governance to review, approve, communicate and ensure adherence to the Information and Data Strategy.
• Deliver architectural artefacts pertinent to data and information, ranging from high level enterprise architecture to ER modelling, API specifications, and data flow diagrams.
• Support information management colleagues delivering data analytics and other key information capabilities.
• Work closely with the Information Assurance and other members of the Cyber Security team to ensure HMCTS's information is managed safely, securely and legally.
• Assist, and lead where required, Operations or other teams in undertaking sizing exercises and capacity planning focusing on storage.
• Write or contribute to commercial specifications through various procurement vehicles and frameworks.

Essential skills:

• Ability and experience of engaging with senior management and stakeholders.
• Experience of working collaboratively with Senior Heads of Departments and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience and understanding of defining and building information/data models.
• Experience in CASE and data modelling tools (Erwin or similar).
• Profound understanding of data lifecycle, from acquisition to archiving.
• Experience in creating and managing data using RDBMS or No SQL.
• Experience presenting data architecture designs to technical governance forums.

Behaviours we'll assess you against during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits:

• Alongside your salary of 58,511, Ministry of Justice contributes 16,950 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Access to learning and development.
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Annual Leave and Public Holidays.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.

This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth countries, and certain EU nationals.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.