Senior Data Architect

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension

Annual leave 25 days

Bank Holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Career development

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Department for Transport (DfT) in the United Kingdom seeks a Senior Data Architect to shape the data architecture that underpins innovation, insight and better outcomes across DfT. The role is hybrid with locations including Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, London and Swansea.

You will lead designing enterprise-scale data models, standards and architectures, ensuring data is structured, governed and managed to support digital transformation and evidence-based decision making.

Qualifications

• Interpret an organisation’s needs, providing oversight and advice, designing data models and producing data artefacts.
• Design and support the management of data assets.
• Ensure teams follow established data architecture standards.
• Develop data architecture strategies, policies, and designs, and support their implementation within complex organisations.
• Create and review conceptual and logical data models to ensure alignment with overall data strategy and accurate representation of data requirements.

Responsibilities

• Being responsible for all data architecture within DfT providing designs for data solutions and understanding the interdependencies between different data stacks.
• Developing DfT’s data architecture strategy, roadmap and plans, working closely with data engineering teams to ensure delivery plans are aligned and that the underlying data architecture supports the goals of the department and government overall.
• Leading and developing DfTc’s data architecture to support a growing data eco-system with multiple analyst users and third-party builders.
• Influencing data decisions throughout policy lifecycles through demonstrating technology value, risk and opportunity.

Skills

Data modelling

Data architecture

Stakeholder collaboration

Policy alignment

Job description

Location: Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, London, Swansea (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

Join us as a Senior Data Architect and shape the data architecture that supports innovation, insight and better outcomes across DfT.

As a Senior Data Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the Department for Transport's data architecture, ensuring data is structured, governed and managed to support innovation, digital transformation and better decision-making across the organisation. You'll lead the design and development of enterprise-scale data models, standards and architectures that enable the effective use of data across a growing and diverse digital ecosystem.

Working within the Advance Service Line, you'll collaborate with architects, analysts, engineers and senior stakeholders to develop data solutions that support advanced tooling, digital services and emerging technologies. You'll provide expert advice and assurance, ensuring data architecture aligns with organisational priorities, industry best practice and wider government standards.

Top Responsibilities

• Being responsible for all data architecture within DfT providing designs for data solutions and understanding the interdependencies between different data stacks.
• Developing DfT’s data architecture strategy, roadmap and plans, working closely with data engineering teams to ensure delivery plans are aligned and that the underlying data architecture supports the goals of the department and government overall.
• Leading and developing DfTc’s data architecture to support a growing data eco-system with multiple analyst users and third-party builders.
• Influencing data decisions throughout policy lifecycles through demonstrating technology value, risk and opportunity.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Interpret an organisation’s needs, providing oversight and advice, designing data models and producing data artefacts
• Design and support the management of data assets
• Make sure that your teams are working to the standards set for the organisation
• Work with technical architects to make sure that the organisation’s systems are designed in accordance with the appropriate data architecture
• Develop data architecture strategies, policies, and designs, and support their implementation within complex organisations.
• Create and review conceptual and logical data models to ensure alignment with overall data strategy and accurate representation of data requirements.

Additional Information

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £59,816. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £19,700.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 10th November 2026