At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and govern data structures to enhance information flow and accessibility.
- Company: Join WHSmith, a leading retail and travel brand focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, flexible hours, 25 days holiday, and a competitive salary.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of data management and make a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in Data Architecture and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
At WHSmith our people are at the heart of everything we do. They are the ones that go the extra mile for our customers, the ones that enable our growth. As Data Architect, you’ll play a pivotal part in driving data integrity, governance and reuse in a relevant security context. You will shape how information flows across the business, ensuring clarity, consistency, and accessibility for decision-makers and operational teams.
You will be responsible for designing and governing the structures, standards, and processes that make information meaningful and actionable. Your work will enable WHSmith to deliver trusted insights, improve customer experiences, and support strategic initiatives across retail and travel channels.
What you will be doing
- Define and maintain the Enterprise Information Architecture aligned to business goals, ensuring that information assets are structured for clarity, reuse, and compliance.
- Partner with business stakeholders to understand information needs, pain points, and priorities, translating these into actionable architecture and governance strategies.
- Develop standards for information design, metadata, taxonomies, and classification to ensure consistency across systems and channels.
- Establish governance frameworks for information stewardship, data quality, and lifecycle management, ensuring accountability and transparency.
- Collaborate with technology teams to ensure that information flows and integrations support operational efficiency and decision-making.
- Champion information accessibility and usability, ensuring that business users can easily find, interpret, and trust the information they need.
- Monitor compliance with internal policies and external regulations (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS), working closely with InfoSec and Compliance teams.
- Stay ahead of emerging trends in information management, governance, and digital experience, evaluating their relevance to WHSmith’s business context.
- Drive continuous improvement in how information is captured, enriched, and delivered to support innovation and cost efficiency.
What we are looking for
- Experience in Information Architecture, Data Architecture, Data Governance, or Enterprise Architecture within a business-facing role.
- Proven ability to engage and influence stakeholders across business and technology teams.
- Experience in retail and/or hospitality industry processes and information flows.
- Knowledge of metadata management, taxonomy design, and governance frameworks (DAMA knowledge advantageous).
- Expertise in Data Modelling, in designing and implementing data lakes, master data management and data warehouses.
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills: able to translate technical concepts into business language.
- Knowledge of Oracle and Teradata systems advantageous.
How we reward our teams
- Hybrid Working Model from home and in the office
- 4pm Friday Finish
- Flexible Working
- 25 Days holiday, plus your Birthday off, plus Bank Holidays with an opportunity to buy extra days holiday
- Family Friendly Leave
- Company Pension scheme
- Annual Bonus based on company and personal performance
- Competitive Salary and Car Allowance
- Private Medical
- Staff Discount Card for stores and online
At WHSmith, we’re all about creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace where everyone can be themselves and do their best. No matter your background, age, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, race or ethnicity, marital status, religion, sex, sexual orientation or anything else that makes you, you—you’re welcome here. We’re also open to flexible working where possible, so if that’s something you need, let’s chat. And if you need any adjustments during the selection process, just let our Talent Acquisition team know—we’re happy to help!
Data Architect in London employer: WHSmith Travel
At WHSmith, we prioritise our people, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment that empowers employees to excel. As a Data Architect in our Aldgate Tower office, you'll benefit from a hybrid working model, flexible hours, and a generous holiday allowance, all while contributing to meaningful projects that enhance customer experiences. With a strong focus on professional growth and a commitment to employee well-being, WHSmith is an exceptional employer for those seeking a rewarding career in data architecture.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Architect in London
✨Get Involved in Data Science Meetups
Tap into local data science meetups or workshops to connect with fellow enthusiasts and professionals. These events are goldmines for networking, and sometimes even lead directly to job openings at companies like WHSmith Travel!
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Start building a public portfolio showcasing your data science projects on platforms like GitHub or personal websites. Highlight unique analyses or models you've developed. This not only demonstrates your skills but also gets your name out there for roles like Data Architect at WHSmith Travel.
✨Leverage Professional Networks
Join professional bodies related to data science, like the Data Science Society or similar organisations. Getting involved can lead to mentorship opportunities and insider knowledge about full-time positions at companies like WHSmith Travel.
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We think you need these skills to ace Data Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Projects:In the world of data science, your projects can speak volumes about your skills. Make sure to showcase a few key projects in your CV or portfolio, especially those that highlight your ability to work with data sets, build models, or use relevant tools like Python, R, or SQL. Don’t forget to include links to any GitHub repositories if applicable!
Quantify Your Achievements:Employers love numbers! When drafting your CV, highlight your achievements with quantifiable results. For instance, mention how your data analysis led to a certain percentage increase in efficiency or revenue at a previous job or project. These details can really make your application pop!
Craft a Tailored Cover Letter:For a full-time role at WHSmith Travel, your cover letter should reflect your passion for data science and your excitement about the specific projects or values of the company. Dive into why you’re a good fit, how your skills align with their needs, and any unique perspectives you can bring to the team.
Stand Out with Relevant Courses and Certifications:Although experience talks, relevant courses or certifications can be your ticket to impressing hiring managers at WHSmith Travel. Mention any standout courses you've completed that equipped you with essential skills, such as machine learning certifications or data visualisation courses. This shows your commitment to continuously developing your skills in the field!
How to prepare for a job interview at WHSmith Travel
✨Brush Up on Your Statistics
For a data science role, we need to seriously sharpen our statistics skills. Get ready to tackle technical questions on probability distributions, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. These are often the bread and butter of data science interviews, so don't just skim over them!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Prepare a killer portfolio showcasing your data science projects. We should include details about the datasets used, the tools and techniques applied, and the impact of your findings. If we can walk them through a particularly challenging project or a cool visualisation that had real-world implications, it’ll really make us stand out!
✨Get Comfortable with Python and R
Most data science positions require us to be proficient in programming languages like Python and R. We should practice common libraries like pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn, and be ready for live coding exercises or algorithm questions. Showing off our coding chops can really impress the interviewers at WHSmith Travel!
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to encounter real-world case studies during the interview. We might be asked how we’d approach a data problem or analyse a dataset to extract insights. It's essential to think out loud and demonstrate our problem-solving process so that the interviewer can see our logical thinking in action.
