Lead Data Architect

Homes England; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50/50 hybrid working

Pension scheme

Job summary

Homes England is seeking a Lead Data Architect to drive the data architecture for the Help to Buy Programme, ensuring scalable, secure data assets and strong governance across the initiative. You will lead the development, maintenance and documentation of information assets, collaborating with data engineers, analysts and business SMEs to enable data-driven decisions.

You will act as the senior technical authority for data architecture and standards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading data architecture in large scale environments.
• Ability to design and govern standardized information assets.
• Hands-on experience with data models and cross-system integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, maintenance and documentation of high-quality data assets.
• Shape and refine the agency’s data architecture to enable data-driven decision-making.
• Collaborate with data engineers, analysts, and business SMEs across the organisation.
• Act as the senior technical authority for data architecture and ensure governance standards.

Skills

Data architecture leadership

Data modelling

Stakeholder communication

Cloud and on‑premises

Data governance

Education

Degree in data/IT field

Tools

Data modelling tools

Architectural frameworks

Job description

Closing Date: 23rd October 2026

Interviews from week commencing 9th November

12 month Fixed Term Contract/Internal secondment

About the role.

As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, we work with partners to tackle housing challenges and enable the delivery of new homes. Our Data and Analytics Directorate plays a vital role in this mission, providing the data, insights, and intelligence necessary to support both existing operations and new opportunities that make a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

Joining the Data and Analytics Directorate means becoming part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team that is committed to making a tangible impact on the housing landscape in England. We are looking for professionals who are passionate about data, motivated to solve complex challenges, and eager to contribute to the success of one of the nation’s most important public agencies.

As the Lead Data Architect supporting the Help to Buy Programme within Homes England, you will play a pivotal role in enabling the effective management, reporting, and optimisation of one of the Agency’s most significant home ownership initiatives. You will lead the development, maintenance, and documentation of high-quality, standardised information assets that align with architectural principles and data governance standards, ensuring data solutions are scalable, secure, and sustainable. Through your expertise, you will help maximise the value of programme data, support informed decision‑making, and enable the successful delivery of strategic and operational outcomes across the Help to Buy Programme.

You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including data engineers, analysts, and business subject matter experts, to design and manage data models and structures that meet corporate standards and enable seamless integration across internal and external applications. As the senior technical authority for data architecture, you will shape and refine the agency’s data assets, enhancing cross‑system connectivity and supporting data‑driven decision‑making.

This is a unique opportunity to lead the data architecture for one of Homes England’s most significant programmes, delivering high‑quality data solutions that support effective programme management, informed decision‑making, and the successful stewardship of a major home ownership initiative.

About you.

You are an experienced and confident data leader with a strong track record of delivering effective, scalable, and sustainable data architecture in complex and fast‑moving environments. You have deep expertise in data architecture frameworks, tools, and best practices, alongside hands‑on experience designing and building data models and solutions across both cloud and on‑premises platforms.

You understand how to develop data architecture from high‑level concepts through to practical implementation. You know how to govern, maintain, and continuously improve high‑quality, standardised information assets that are secure, accessible, and designed to stand the test of time.

You thrive on collaboration and naturally build strong, trusted relationships with colleagues across technical and non‑technical teams. You are able to explain complex technical ideas in a clear and straightforward way, helping senior stakeholders and business partners understand how data can drive better decisions and deliver real value.

You are proactive, resilient, and solution‑focused. You can manage competing priorities and are always looking for ways to improve, streamline, and strengthen data practices. You are comfortable working in a dynamic environment where things can change quickly, and you are ready to lead through those changes with confidence.

You understand the commercial and operational impact of your work, particularly when supporting high‑profile, socially important programmes like the Help to Buy Programme. You are passionate about the power of data to improve lives and motivated by the chance to make a real difference.

As a Lead Data Architect, you will play a key role in setting direction, guiding others, and embedding a strong, positive data culture across the organisation.

Who are we?

Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency

We believe that affordable, quality homes in well‑designed places are key to improving people’s lives. As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

How? We form long‑term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. We use our influence to champion the creation of sustainable homes, communities and places that are brilliantly designed for the people that live there now, and in the future. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector, helping new entrants in the market, encouraging modern methods of construction and design, and promoting the utmost attention to building safety.

Together with our partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

What we offer.

As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave, we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working. We’ll support you, wherever possible, so that you don’t miss out on what matters to you.

Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.

Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.

If you ever need a bit of extra help, we have a great employee assistance programme, a wide range of healthcare plans, financial wellbeing support and access to many great discounts with leading high street names.

Our range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future.

If you are a member of a professional body, we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you’ll be good to go.

Homes England are a geographically diverse community. We work to a 50/50 office/ home based model. Moving back into our office environments has enabled us to utilise our space and time together in the most collaborative way.

We’re a diverse team of more than 1,000 professionals spanning 17 professions, helping Homes England to be effective, efficient and deliver for communities.

Our people remain at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to building an Agency that not only reflects the diverse communities we serve, but also champions inclusion in how we shape homes and places across the country. For more information about our EDI strategy please see our Homes England equality, diversity and inclusion reports - GOV.UK

You will be required to have the Right to Work in the UK and Homes England do not offer visa sponsorship. If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your Right to Work in the UK at this stage.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by autonomous, etc) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.