Enterprise Data & Analytics Platforms Director

Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates; Slough; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food industry seeks a visionary Director of Data Platforms and Architecture to oversee their enterprise-wide data ecosystem. The role involves strategic leadership, driving innovation in data technologies, and ensuring robust governance practices. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in data management and architecture, with a passion for shaping data-driven decision-making frameworks across the organization. Join a forward-thinking team dedicated to leveraging data for strategic advantages and operational excellence.

Benefits

Best-in-class learning and development support

Access to in-house Mars University

Industry competitive salary and benefits package

Company bonus

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering or architecture.
• 5+ years in leadership roles.
• Expertise in modern data platforms and data governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and governance of enterprise-wide data platforms.
• Collaborate with executives to leverage data as a strategic asset.
• Establish data governance practices and secure data architectures.

Skills

Data Governance

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Data Architecture

Cloud Technologies

ETL/ELT Processes

Data Modeling

Big Data Technologies

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Data Engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

Google Cloud

Spark

Kafka

Hadoop

Job description

Job Description:

We are seeking a highly skilled and visionary Director of Data Platforms and Architecture to lead the design, development, and governance of our enterprise-wide Snacking data platform ecosystem. This individual will be responsible for driving platform strategy, fostering innovation, and ensuring robust data architecture that empower multiple products and capabilities to power business decisions, scalability, and operational excellence.

As a strategic leader, the Director of Data Platforms and Architecture will oversee the implementation and optimization of cutting-edge data technologies & solutions, establish best practices in data platforms and governance, and provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams. You will work closely with stakeholders across business, IT, and analytics teams to align data architecture with organizational goals, enabling seamless data acquisition and advanced analytics capabilities.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and drive the long-term vision for enterprise data platforms and architecture, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
• Collaborate with C-level executives and business leaders to identify opportunities for leveraging data as a strategic asset.

Data Platform Oversight:

• Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of modern data platforms, including cloud-native solutions, data lakes, data warehouses, and real-time processing systems.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and high availability of the data ecosystem to support growing business needs.

Architecture Design:

• Define and implement enterprise data architecture standards, including data modeling, integration, and API frameworks.
• Optimize workflows and pipelines to ensure efficient and secure data ingestion, processing, storage, and access.
• Foster a data-driven culture by ensuring architecture supports self-service analytics and business intelligence tools.

Data Governance & Security:

• Establish and enforce robust data governance practices, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Partner with IT security teams to implement secure-by-design data architectures that protect sensitive information and mitigate risks.

Team Management:

• Lead and mentor a team of data architects, platform engineers, and data governance professionals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning within the team.

Emerging Technologies:

• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, tools, and industry trends in data platforms, AI/ML, and big data.
• Proactively evaluate and recommend new technologies that enhance data capabilities and drive business innovation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with IT, analytics, and business teams to identify data needs and translate them into actionable platform solutions.
• Advocate for data democratization by enabling access to clean, high-quality data for decision-making.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, architecture, or platform management roles, with 5+ years in leadership positions.
• Expertise in modern data platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, Google Cloud) and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Hadoop).
• Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), and data security best practices.
• Proven experience in enterprise-level architecture design and implementation.
• Hands-on knowledge of database systems (SQL/NoSQL), ETL/ELT processes, and data modeling techniques.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, agile environments and balance long-term strategy with short-term execution.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certifications in cloud platforms (AWS Certified Data Analytics, Azure Data Engineer, etc.).
• Experience with AI/ML technologies and data science platforms.
• Familiarity with DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#TBDDT

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.