Corporate Data Architect

Opus People Solutions Ltd; King's Lynn; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Opus People Solutions Ltd seeks an experienced Corporate Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of enterprise data architecture across the organisation. You will shape data structures, integration, governance and quality to enable strategic decision-making and service delivery.

The role requires strong leadership, TOGAF/CDMP expertise, and deep knowledge of data governance, GDPR and modern data platforms.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Data Science, Analytics, Information Management or Enterprise Architecture.
• 5+ years relevant experience.
• 3+ years architecture leadership experience
• Proven experience in data architecture, including designing enterprise-level data models and platforms
• Strong understanding of data governance, data management and regulatory requirements (e.g. GDPR)
• Ability to translate audit findings into architectural standards and long-term governance structures
• Knowledge of modern data architecture patterns and approaches
• Understanding of local government and the wider public sector environment
• Awareness of emerging technologies including advanced analytics and AI
• Experience of working in complex, multi-system environments
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)/Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on data architecture, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and wider transformation activity.
• Translate audit findings into architectural principles, policies, and standards covering data ownership, classification, retention, metadata, and lifecycle management.
• Identify architectural risks and contribute to prioritised remediation plan.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, translating business needs into clear architectural direction and practical solutions.
• Contribute to corporate planning and decision-making, ensuring data is recognised as a key organisational asset.
• Develop and maintain data standards, principles and governance frameworks to support consistent and effective use of data.
• Support the establishment of appropriate governance forums and decision-making structures for data.
• Build strong relationships across services to support collaboration and shared ownership of data.
• Provide guidance and assurance on data-related initiatives, ensuring alignment with agreed architecture and standards.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards, including data protection and information security requirements.
• Contribute to financial planning by ensuring data solutions are cost-effective and deliver value for money.
• Support organisational resilience by ensuring data is managed, protected and recoverable in line with business needs.
• Design and govern enterprise data platforms, including cloud and hybrid architectures.
• Define data integration standards using APIs, ETL/ELT pipelines, event-driven and streaming architectures.
• Design and maintain data warehouses, lakehouses and modern analytical platforms.
• Define master data management, metadata management and data catalogue approaches.

Skills

Data architecture

TOGAF/CDMP

Data governance

Stakeholder leadership

Cloud and hybrid architectures

API/ETL/ELT data integration

Education

Master's degree in Data Science / Analytics / Information Management / Enterprise Architecture

Job description

We have an opportunity for you as an experienced and technically strong Corporate Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of the enterprise data architecture. This is a critical role that will shape how data is structured, integrated and governed across the organisation, enabling consistent, high-quality data to support strategic decision-making and service delivery.

Duties & Responsibilites:

• Provide strategic leadership on data architecture, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities and wider transformation activity.
• Translate audit findings into architectural principles, policies, and standards covering data ownership, classification, retention, metadata, and lifecycle management.
• Identify architectural risks (e.g., unsupported systems, uncontrolled data stores, unclear ownership) and contribute to the prioritised remediation plan.
• Engage with senior stakeholders, translating business needs into clear architectural direction and practical solutions.
• Contribute to corporate planning and decision-making, ensuring data is recognised as a key organisational asset.
• Develop and maintain data standards, principles and governance frameworks to support consistent and effective use of data.
• Support the establishment of appropriate governance forums and decision-making structures for data.
• Build strong relationships across services to support collaboration and shared ownership of data.
• Provide guidance and assurance on data-related initiatives, ensuring alignment with agreed architecture and standards.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and standards, including data protection and information security requirements.
• Contribute to financial planning by ensuring data solutions are cost-effective and deliver value for money.
• Support organisational resilience by ensuring data is managed, protected and recoverable in line with business needs.
• Design and govern enterprise data platforms, including cloud and hybrid architectures.
• Define data integration standards using APIs, ETL/ELT pipelines, event-driven and streaming architectures.
• Design and maintain data warehouses, lakehouses and modern analytical platforms.
• Define master data management, metadata management and data catalogue approaches.

Experience:

• Master's degree in Data Science, Analytics, Information Management or Enterprise Architecture.
• 5+ years relevant experience.
• 3+ years architecture leadership experience
• Proven experience in data architecture, including designing enterprise-level data models and platforms
• Strong understanding of data governance, data management and regulatory requirements (e.g. GDPR)
• Ability to translate audit findings into architectural standards and long-term governance structures
• Knowledge of modern data architecture patterns and approaches
• Understanding of local government and the wider public sector environment
• Awareness of emerging technologies including advanced analytics and AI
• Experience of working in complex, multi-system environments
• The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)/Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)