Data Architecture Section Head- Emirati Talent

Department of Community Development; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Community Development is seeking a Section Head of Data Platforms (UAE National) in Abu Dhabi. This leadership role involves managing data platforms and ensuring compliance with data quality standards. Responsibilities include overseeing design and operation of data systems, contributing to strategic planning, and enabling robust data capabilities within the department. Candidates must have a relevant bachelor's degree and at least 8 years of experience, with preference for those experienced in modern data technologies and platforms like Microsoft Azure and Power BI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; a master's degree is preferred.
• Active role in supervising or leading a team.
• Minimum of 8 years of total full-time experience required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design, development, and operation of data platforms.
• Ensure effective data integration and automation across the social sector.
• Maintain and monitor data quality across datasets and systems.
• Contribute to strategic planning and performance monitoring.
• Enable scalable and governed data platform capabilities.

Skills

Hands-on experience in modern data platform technologies

Knowledge of cloud data ecosystems

Experience with ETL/ELT tools

Data warehousing

Data lakes/lake houses

Data quality solutions

Experience with Microsoft Azure

Experience with Power BI

Knowledge of SQL-based data platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Azure

Power BI

Databricks

Snowflake

SQL-based data platforms

Job description

The Department of Community Development is hiring for the position of Section Head of Data Platforms (UAE National).

About the Role

Responsible for leading the day-to-day activities related to data platforms, data models, and data pipelines to ensure alignment with the organization’s data strategy, data architecture, and analytical requirements.

Responsibilities

• The role oversees the design, development, operation, and continuous improvement of data platforms, including data warehouses, data lakes, ETL/ELT processes, data catalogues, and data quality platforms.
• It also ensures effective data integration, automation, and exchange across the social sector to support analytics products, reporting, and priority data use cases.
• The role is also accountable for maintaining and monitoring data quality across datasets, systems, dashboards, and reports, while ensuring sector entities comply with approved data quality standards and guidelines.
• In addition, the position contributes to strategic planning, performance monitoring, budget management, policy implementation, and people management within the Data Platforms Section.
• It plays a key leadership role in enabling the Department and the social sector’s data agenda through robust, scalable, and governed data platform capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field, Masters preferred.
• Currently on a supervisory/Lead role managing a team.
• Minimum 8 years of total full-time experience.

Required Skills

• Preference will be given to candidates with hands‑on experience in modern data platform technologies, cloud data ecosystems, data warehousing, data lakes/lake houses, ETL/ELT tools, data integration platforms, data cataloguing, metadata management, and data quality solutions.
• Experience with platforms such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Purview, Databricks, Snowflake, SQL-based data platforms, and enterprise data governance tools would be considered an advantage.