Senior Associate, IT Architecture

Ofcom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Ofcom is seeking a Data Solutions Architect to design and govern scalable data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Azure services. You will work with data engineers, scientists and business stakeholders to enable secure, self-service analytics and data-driven decision making.

You will lead architecture across ingestion, transformation, storage, governance and reporting, aligning with enterprise principles and security controls.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale data and analytics solutions.
• Experience producing architecture designs, standards, patterns and roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture and governance.
• Ability to evaluate options and present recommendations to stakeholders.
• Understanding of AI, machine learning and advanced analytics solution patterns including responsible AI, model governance, data ethics and privacy considerations.

Responsibilities

• Translate business and regulatory requirements into end-to-end solution architectures.
• Design scalable data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Azure services.
• Lead the rollout, adoption and optimisation of Microsoft Fabric across Ofcom.
• Partner with Data Engineers and platform teams to design secure, resilient data pipelines.
• Define patterns for ingestion, transformation, ETL/ELT, metadata and master data management.
• Ensure architectures support performance, scalability, recovery and supportability.
• Promote data governance, metadata, lineage and data quality best practice.
• Build relationships across ICT, DDAI, Corporate Services and regulatory groups.

Skills

Enterprise data arch

Stakeholder mgmt

Azure Fabric

Data governance

Security & governance

Tools

Azure Data Factory

Databricks

Azure SQL

Microsoft Fabric

Job description

About Ofcom

Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day. We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.

Our culture is clear - we live by our values: Empowerment; Excellence; Collaboration; Agility and Respect. These define how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. The behaviours which support these values set the path for a fully inclusive and innovative culture at Ofcom.

We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others.

About the Team

Data is central to Ofcom's work. We use data from a wide range of sources to understand regulated sectors and provide insight that informs critical policy, operational and regulatory decisions. As Ofcom's responsibilities continue to expand, the volume, complexity and strategic importance of data continues to grow.

To support this ambition, Ofcom is investing in a modern cloud-based data platform built on Microsoft Azure and the wider Microsoft data ecosystem. We are seeking an experienced Data Solutions Architect to help shape, design and govern solutions that enable secure, scalable and self-service use of data across the organisation.

The successful candidate will work closely with Data Engineers, Data Scientists, Business Analysts, Product Teams, Enterprise Architects and business stakeholders to design and deliver solutions that maximise the value of Ofcom's data assets. This role will play a key part in the adoption and maturity of Microsoft Azure, supporting data ingestion, engineering, analytics, governance and AI-enabled capabilities.

Purpose and scope of the role

The Data Solutions Architect is responsible for translating business requirements into scalable, secure and cost-effective data solutions. The role provides architectural leadership across the full data lifecycle including ingestion, transformation, storage, governance, analytics and reporting.

The architect will work with the Principal Data Solution Architect to design and implementation of solutions leveraging Microsoft Fabric and associated Azure services, ensuring alignment to enterprise architecture principles, governance requirements, security controls and strategic roadmaps.

The role requires strong stakeholder engagement skills, the ability to evaluate competing architectural approaches, and experience delivering enterprise data platforms that enable self-service analytics and data-driven decision making.

The Data Solutions Architect will work closely with, and be guided by, the Principal Data Solutions Architect to ensure solution designs align with Ofcom’s strategic data architecture, standards and governance expectations.

Key responsibilities

Architecture and Solution Design

• Translate business and regulatory requirements into end-to-end solution architectures.
• Work closely with, and be guided by, the Principal Data Solutions Architect to ensure solution designs align with Ofcom’s strategic data architecture, standards and governance expectations.
• Design scalable data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Azure services.
• Assess options and recommend approaches based on cost, risk, complexity and value.
• Produce architecture artefacts, patterns and implementation of roadmaps.

Microsoft Fabric Leadership

• Lead the rollout, adoption and optimisation of Microsoft Fabric across Ofcom.
• Define standards and reference architectures for OneLake, Data Factory, Data Engineering, Data Warehousing, Data Science, Power BI and governance.
• Establish patterns for self-service analytics and data product delivery.
• Support migration from legacy analytics and data platforms where appropriate.

Data Platform and Engineering

• Partner with Data Engineers and platform teams to design secure, resilient data pipelines.
• Define patterns for ingestion, transformation, ETL/ELT, metadata and master data management.
• Design solutions for structured, semi-structured and unstructured data.
• Ensure architectures support performance, scalability, recovery and supportability.

Governance and Security

• Ensure solutions comply with Ofcom security, privacy and governance requirements.
• Promote data governance, metadata, lineage and data quality best practice.
• Support cataloguing and governance capabilities using Microsoft Purview and related tools.
• Ensure controls for data sharing, retention, access management and regulatory compliance.

Stakeholder Management

• Build relationships across ICT, DDAI, Corporate Services and regulatory groups.
• Facilitate architecture workshops and technical design reviews.
• Provide technical leadership to delivery teams including IT suppliers.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Maintain awareness of Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Services, AI and analytics developments.
• Identify opportunities to improve delivery, reduce technical debt and increase reuse.
• Support proofs of concept to validate emerging technologies and approaches.

The skills, knowledge and experience you will need for success

• Experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale data and analytics solutions.
• Experience producing architecture designs, standards, patterns and roadmaps.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture and governance.
• Ability to evaluate options and present recommendations to stakeholders.
• Understanding of AI, machine learning and advanced analytics solution patterns including responsible AI, model governance, data ethics and privacy considerations.

Microsoft Fabric

• Hands‑on experience designing and implementing Microsoft Fabric solutions.
• Experience leading or supporting enterprise Fabric rollout and adoption.
• Strong understanding of OneLake and Fabric workload capabilities.
• Experience implementing Fabric security, governance and operational practices.
• Experience integrating Fabric with Microsoft and Azure ecosystems.

Cloud and Data Technologies

• Strong understanding of warehousing, datalakes, ETL/ELT, integration, analytics and reporting patterns.
• Experience with Azure Data Factory, Databricks, Azure SQL, Azure Storage and related services.
• Experience with APIs and system integrations.

Grade-Based Skills

• Articulating Ideas: Ability to present technical and security concepts in layman’s terms and impart knowledge to key stakeholders and support functions.
• Owning Accountabilities: Working unsupervised, self‑motivated, demonstrating flexibility/ adaptability and resilience
• Forming Relationships: An ability to build consensus between diverse and often conflicting interests, working with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to achieve agreement on technical plans especially when the business need is opaque or obscure

Qualifications

• Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (preferred).

Inclusive hiring at Ofcom

At Ofcom, our mission is clear: to make communications work for everyone. To achieve that, our people must reflect the diversity of the UK, in background, identity and experience.

We believe innovation thrives when difference is valued and everyone feels empowered to contribute their ideas and perspectives. That’s why we welcome colleagues of all ethnicities and races, sexes, genders and gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with apparent and non‑apparent disabilities. We value socio‑economic diversity, life experience and neurodiversity too. Whether you’re a carer, a parent, a veteran, or re‑entering work after time away, your voice and perspective matter here.

Flexibility is at the heart of how we work because we want you to thrive in a way that suits you best. Most roles can therefore be adapted for part‑time hours, job shares, or other flexible arrangements. Learn more about our Rewards, Benefits and Wellbeing on our careers page.

Our recruitment process is intentionally designed to be open and accessible. If you need adjustments, information in a different format or an alternative way to apply, contact us at [e-mail] or 0330 912 1378.

As a proud Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role. You can read more about this commitment here.

Whoever you are, whatever your story, you belong at Ofcom.