Data Architect

Zurich Insurance; Fareham; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider in the UK seeks a skilled Data Architect to join their central data team. The role involves designing data architecture, developing data solutions, and ensuring effective data governance. Ideal candidates have experience with cloud technologies and a strong understanding of data principles. This position offers flexibility in work hours and a competitive benefits package, including a non-contributory pension scheme and private medical insurance.

Benefits

12% non-contributory pension scheme

Annual company bonus

Private medical insurance

Option to buy/sell holiday days

Qualifications

• Proven experience working in a data role, understanding data fundamentals.
• Direct experience with cloud data technologies is beneficial.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Model best practice for data across the organization.
• Lead the design of innovative data strategies.
• Facilitate access to trusted data for customers.

Skills

Data analysis

Data modeling

Cloud data technologies

ETL/ELT processes

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Data Science or related field

Tools

Snowflake

AWS

Azure

SQL Server

NoSQL databases

Job description

Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis.

Location: Fareham, Swindon, Farnbrough or London

Salary: Attractive salary and benefits package

Closing date for applications: 28th January 2026

The opportunity

As an insurance company, Zurich understands that data is the biggest asset we have (other than our people!). If you’re looking for a role that will excite, challenge, and inspire you and you share our passion for data then we have a great opportunity for you to join our award‑winning central data team.

Under our Chief Data Officer, the central data team are connected to almost every part of the business - dedicated to providing innovative and comprehensive solutions and data products right across the organisation. The Data Architecture team are right at the heart of it all - custodians of our strategic data direction, responsible for the end to end data lifecycle. We are currently seeking a skilled and motivated Data Architect to join the central CDO office – a role that requires a strong ability to translate business requirements into workable data solutions, standards and principles.

The ideal candidate will design, develop and manage our data architecture, ensuring efficient and secure handling of data. You’ll use a solid mix of business understanding and deep technical skills to understand requirements and design effective, compliant, scalable and robust data solutions that drive solid customer outcomes.

If you’re truly passionate about data, can think strategically whilst balancing with the pragmatic, if you are prepared to challenge how things get done then you could be a key part of our team.

Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of different ways, including part-time, flexible hours, job share, an element of working from home or compressed hours. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full‑time. Please talk to us at the interview about the flexibility you may need.

What will you be doing?

• Model best practise for data across the organisation.
• Work to embed a data led culture at the heart of our business.
• You will effectively operate as a Data Solutions Architect helping lead the design and implementation of innovative data strategies across our business.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across the UK and Group to learn and influence.
• Work across various domains and teams to translate business needs into effective, robust solutions.
• Develop and maintain reference architecture that optimises ingestion, storage, processing, analytics, reporting, visualisation and data science to best effect.
• Support the CDO and Data Strategy Lead in rollout of the UK Data Strategy, implementing the strategic road map across the business.
• Facilitate and manage the provision of timely, accessible and trusted data which is seen by our customers as a genuine asset
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert – both as a technical go to for the data delivery teams and also offering consultancy across the business and upskilling business data teams
• Own the governance around data; metadata management, reference data management and other architectural artefacts - define and maintain the reference architecture surrounding the data estate
• Keep up to date with tools, frameworks and emerging trends across data and insurance and seek to incorporate them into our thinking where appropriate

What are we looking for?

You’re an ideal candidate if you have:

• Proven practical experience working in a data role, with strong understanding of both the theory and application of data fundamentals – preferably as a data engineer, data scientist, data analyst, data architect, data modeller, or other similar role.
• Ideally you will be passionate about shaping data ecosystems, enabling actionable insights, and driving high‑impact data solutions.
• Direct experience with cloud data technologies such as Snowflake, AWS and / or Azure would be hugely beneficial, though any background including SQL Server, MySQL, Postgres, NoSQL, Oracle or Hadoop would be great to see.
• In depth knowledge of database structures, data analysis and data mining,
• Strong understanding of data warehousing, data lakes, ETL/ELT processes and big data technologies.
• Proficiency in data modelling and data product design as well as associated development, ETL and Visualisation tools.
• Familiar with data management, data governance and data compliance/security needs.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills. We look for people with an enquiring mind and the ability to think critically.
• We deal with people right across the company at all levels, so having excellent communication skills and a passion for technology will be a plus. You’ll be comfortable ‘selling’ the data story to a wide range of business users at all levels across the organisation, and have experience in adapting presentation style from exec summary to detailed technical interaction with the development team.
• Ideally, you’ll have an appreciation of what’s involved in developing a target state and a roadmap to get there.
• Whilst we’d love to find a data architect ‘unicorn’, we know they don’t really exist. Ideally you’ve been practical and hands on in the past, and know what works and what doesn’t in a large organisation - but what’s important is your desire to immerse yourself in data and continually learn new things.

What will you get in return?

Everyone’s different. That’s why at Zurich, we offer a wide range of employee benefits so our people can choose what fits them and their life. Our benefits provide real flexibility so our people can make considered choices and tailor their benefits throughout the year. Our benefits include 12% defined non‑contributory pension scheme, annual company bonus, private medical insurance and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday.

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world and the best global insurer. Together we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet.

With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company who are a long‑standing player in the insurance industry.

We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee; to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.

If you're interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment for a company that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great.

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology