Data Strategy Architect Lead

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to appoint a Senior Information Architect to join the IT Architecture team.

You will work within the existing Information Architecture practice and will be specifically responsible for acting as Lead Architect on the multi-year Data Strategy programme. This leadership role requires a combined business and technical subject matter expertise for the data discipline. The role requires a drive to ensure that the programme delivers the complete suite of change necessary to ensure our information assets are fully managed and supported to achieve the vision and intent described in our Data Strategy.

As a Senior Information Architect you will:

• Operate as a core member of the Data Strategy Programme leadership team in conjunction with the Chief Data Officer, other Product Owners and the lead Project Manager
• Assume responsibility of IT lead on the Data Strategy Programme with responsibility for IT resources and deliverables across the programme and escalation point for IT issues. Provide assurance of technical solutions demonstrating alignment to IT standards and principles
• Act as Product Owner for own specific agile workstream providing the features and requirements to be delivered for specified scope
• Lead and manage the resources assigned to the workstream
• Fulfil an assurance role on deliverables arising from parallel workstreams by acting as reviewer and contributor for all significant project deliverables and associated impact assessments
• Contribute to the shaping/delivery of the future Target Operating Model for managing and leveraging value from our data asset
• Establish relationships with Enterprise Architecture and Business Architecture to collaboratively build an understanding of the strategy’s required target data related capability and the transition steps necessary to achieve end state
• Build relationships with IT/business SMEs and stakeholders to ensure business change is fully adopted and embedded. Assume responsibility for managing specific group of senior stakeholders including Group IT Chief Architect and Head of Enterprise Architecture
• Contribute to the necessary roadmaps, organisation and service designs to manage or exploit our data
• Promote the role of Data Strategy in proactive collaboration with major Change programmes. Be able to champion the vision-value to be achieved by the Data Strategy and the compelling case for change
• Play a significant role in the programme’s governance structures including the programme’s Steering Committee (executive membership), Change Board (programme membership) and Solution Design Authority (IT membership).
• Directly oversee the content/quality and timeliness of work delivered by architects assigned to the Data Strategy programme
• Author architectural discussion papers, patterns and key decisions and progress through appropriate business and IT governance processes

About you

We are seeking an individual with:

• A track record in leading business data change programmes, being able to articulate the case for change and the value being created in the short and longer term
• An effective data practitioner with experience in defining and delivering capabilities encompassing all key data management disciplines including data governance and control, data modelling, MI/BI, reference and master data management, content management, integration and interoperability, data security management, metadata management and data quality management
• Practical experience and understanding of data tools, techniques, methodologies and best practice
• Experience of building effective working relationships across the organisation at all levels of seniority and able to evidence excellent communication and collaboration skills. This will include the ability to explain, persuade and justify decisions to stakeholders
• Experience of managing people, and developing them through coaching and knowledge transfer
• Demonstrable expertise in a relevant consulting or technology area, strong client-facing skills and evidence of continued career progression, with a track record of achievement
• The ability to identify/control both technical and project/commercial risks and facilitate issue resolution, liaising with the Project or Delivery Managers within our own or client organisations as appropriate
• A high degree of personal motivation and resilience to overcome setbacks

Benefits and Rewards

At NFU Mutual we pride ourselves on being “a great place to work” and one of only 39 companies across the globe, and the only organisation with headquarters in the UK, to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2021 award. We were also named in the LinkedIn Top 25 Companies List 2021. When you join our team, you can expect a supportive culture and an attractive range of rewards and benefits including:

• A competitive salary
• Annual bonus (up to 25%)
• Contributory pension scheme (maximum of 12% company contribution)
• 28 days holiday per annum (additional holiday purchase scheme)
• Private medical insurance
• Employee discounts
• Gym subsidy
• Health and wellbeing plan
• Life Assurance cover
• Discounts on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies

NFU Mutual is happy to offer its employees informal homeworking. Our teams is located in Stratford-upon-Avon and it would be expected that on average, 50% of your working time would be located from this office, with the remaining days home based should you wish. Due to COVID-19, our employees continue to work from home and a return to the office is being planned for later in the year.

Working at NFU Mutual

One of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies, NFU Mutual has been meeting our customers’ needs for over 110 years. As an employee you are very important to us. We empower and inspire you to perform, offer opportunities to grow and we recognise and reward you for your contribution.

At NFU Mutual we look for people like you, who have customers at the heart of what you do. You recognise that your customers’ financial lives can only benefit by having a financial plan in place that reflects their circumstances both now and in the future.