Lead Data Architect

Scotiabank; Toronto; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in Toronto is seeking a Lead Data Architect to design and implement modern data architecture. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience with cloud data platforms and data governance. This role focuses on enabling data consumption and requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills. Competitive rewards and a commitment to diversity included.

Benefits

Diversity and Inclusion initiatives

Tuition assistance programs

Flexible vacation and personal days

Community engagement opportunities

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles.
• Proven experience with cloud data platforms such as BigQuery, Databricks, Snowflake.
• Strong understanding of data modeling techniques including dimensional and relational.

Responsibilities

• Architect modern data platforms leveraging cloud technologies.
• Enable business data consumption through usable and self-service analytics.
• Develop and ensure seamless integration of data models across systems.

Skills

Data architecture

Cloud data platforms

Data modeling techniques

Data governance frameworks

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or Information Systems

Tools

BigQuery

Databricks

Snowflake

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Overview

Requisition ID: 236402

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

The Lead Data Architect is a key player within the Global Corporate & Corporate Credit Risk Technology team. The internal and external demand for accurate, consistent and on-demand information from GRM continues to grow. This role is responsible for leading the design and implementation of modern, scalable, and business-centric data architecture. This role will focus on enabling data consumption for business users, ensuring that data is accessible, trusted, and actionable across the organization. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in cloud-native data platforms, data modeling, governance, and data-as-a-product thinking.

Responsibilities

• Architect Modern Data Platforms: Design and evolve enterprise data architecture leveraging cloud technologies (e.g., GCP, Azure), data lakes, lakehouses, and data warehouses. Conduct research and analysis, and accurately and clearly define user requirements and processes for well-defined tasks to assist in the resolution of problems to meet the needs of the business. This may involve participation in rapid prototyping, with requirements and solutions developed on an iterative basis that provides interim deliverables until a final production solution is created
• Enable Business Data Consumption: Build data solutions that prioritize usability, self-service analytics, and semantic layers for business users. Collaborate with business users to obtain data requirements and analyze source systems data, design and develop conceptual, logical and physical data models for the operational and analytical data models
• Data Modeling & Integration: Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models. Ensure seamless integration across systems using APIs, ETL/ELT pipelines, and event-driven architectures. Analysis of source systems data (structured and un-structured) and business requirements, document data flows, identify appropriate data sources, entities, relationships and redundancies
• Data Governance & Quality: Collaborate with data governance teams to define standards for data quality, metadata management, lineage, and access controls. Maintain data assets and data lineage for the domain
• Data Product Design: Champion a data-as-a-product mindset, working with stakeholders to define and deliver high-value, reusable data assets. Define, assess and writes detailed analysis and documentation of Business Requirements for new applications & legacy systems enhancements, to be designed by development groups
• Technology Leadership: Evaluate and recommend tools and platforms for data management, analytics, and visualization. Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies.
• Mentorship & Guidance: Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineers and analysts, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
• Governance & Conduct Risk: Creates an environment in which the team pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles.
• Proven experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., BigQuery, Databricks, Snowflake, Redshift).
• Strong understanding of data modeling techniques (dimensional, relational, NoSQL).
• Experience with modern data stack tools (dbt, Airflow, Kafka, etc.).
• Familiarity with BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker) and enabling semantic layers.
• Knowledge of data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance (e.g., RDARR, SOX).
• Experience with Credit Risk, Corporate Banking, Capital Management is an asset.
• Previous experience in Commerce/Corporate/Investment banking system is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience implementing data mesh or domain-oriented data architecture.
• Knowledge of machine learning pipelines and AI-driven analytics.
• Certifications in cloud platforms or data architecture (e.g., Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate).

What's in it for you?

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Allyship - We strive to create an inclusive culture where every employee is empowered to reach their fullest potential, respected for who they are, and are embraced through bias-free practices and inclusive values across Scotiabank. We embrace diversity and provide opportunities for all employee to learn, grow & participate through our various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that span across diverse gender identities, ethnicity, race, age, ability & veterans.
• Accessibility and Workplace Accommodations - We value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. Scotiabank continues to locate, remove, and prevent barriers so that we can build a diverse and inclusive environment while meeting accessibility requirements.
• Upskilling through online courses, cross-functional development opportunities, and tuition assistance.
• Competitive Rewards program including bonus, flexible vacation, personal, sick days, and benefits will start on day one.
• Community Engagement - no matter where you choose to work from; we offer opportunities for community engagement & belonging with our various programs such as hackathons, contests, cooking with friends, Humans of Digital and much more!

Location(s): Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know. If you require technical assistance, please click here. Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.