Data Specialist

Randstad Digital; England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A digital consulting firm in the UK is seeking a Lead – Data Specialist to enhance data management capabilities. This role involves driving metadata management, data sourcing, and lineage while collaborating with teams to shape data foundations for strategic transformation. Candidates should have significant experience in metadata management and data sourcing, with expertise in tools like Azure, Solidatus, and Purview. The position is hybrid, requiring two days in the office per week.

Qualifications

• Significant hands-on experience as a Metadata Manager or Data Sourcing Specialist.
• Proven track record in process re-engineering and design improvements.
• Expertise in technical design and user experience for data lineage.

Responsibilities

• Drive the capture and management of metadata.
• Collaborate with business analysts for robust metadata practices.
• Support the definition and governance of critical data elements.

Skills

Metadata Management

Data Sourcing

Data Lineage

Technical Design

Stakeholder Management

Tools

Azure

Solidatus

Purview

Confluence

Job description

Lead – Data Specialist

Contract: 6 months contract

Location: London Hybrid 2 days in office

Department: Data & Analytics

Reports to: Lead, Metadata & Data Management

About the Role

We are hiring a Lead – Data Specialist to drive new data capabilities. This pivotal role involves building and operationalising reference data, data sourcing, data lineage, and integrating data management tooling to support a new enterprise data platform. You will lead the development of business‑critical data management capabilities, ensuring data is trusted, well‑defined, and meets organisational standards. This is a key opportunity to shape the data foundations for a major strategic transformation.

Metadata & Lineage

• Drive the capture and management of metadata as part of change and operational deliverables.
• Maintain metadata repositories and process maps, resolving inconsistencies and escalating issues where needed.
• Collaborate with business analysts and solution designers to embed robust metadata practices.

Enterprise Data Models & Data Sourcing

• Co‑develop enterprise data models alongside data architects and specialists.
• Map workflows, data attributes, and design changes to data models.
• Support logical data modelling and contribute to master data management.
• Document and update models in Confluence and assist with reporting‑related changes.

Critical Data Management

• Support the definition and governance of critical data elements using tools such as Solidatus and Purview.
• Maintain logical lineage for critical data and lead stakeholder discussions to remediate breaks.

Data Management Tools & Platforms

• Support requirements definition for internal / external reference data used in the new platform.
• Contribute to integrating data management tooling across Data and IT teams.
• Enhance metadata and lineage metrics through automation where possible (e.g., Azure).

About You Essential Experience

• Significant hands‑on experience as a Metadata Manager, Reference Data, or Data Sourcing Specialist.
• Proven track record in process re‑engineering and design improvements.
• Expertise in technical design and user experience for data lineage.
• Familiarity with industry best practices (DAMA / EDMC desirable).
• Experience with metadata technologies and logical data modelling.

Highly Desirable

• Experience in Investment / Commercial Bank, Asset / Fund Manager.
• Experience managing mixed (direct / indirect) teams.
• Strong facilitation skills (workshops, backlog management).
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF).

Key Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent process, control, and documentation capabilities.
• Tenacity and resilience in problem‑solving.
• Ability to work effectively in remote or hybrid settings.

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