Strategic Data Architect & AI Platform Lead (Hybrid)

Co-op; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension 10% employer

Private healthcare

Onsite gym

Product discount 30%

Stream early access

Virtual healthcare

24/7 support

Career development

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Co-op in Manchester is hiring a Principal Data Architect to lead the enterprise data strategy, shape architectures and guide data transformation across the organisation.

This senior role blends strategic vision with hands-on design, collaborating with engineering and business teams to deliver secure, scalable data solutions while coaching a growing community of data professionals.

You will work in a hybrid setup, with office presence in Manchester and flexible remote days.

Qualifications

• Experience designing enterprise-scale data architectures.
• Proven ability to govern data strategy and ensure compliance.
• Hands-on with MDM and metadata management.
• Experience leading large programmes and cross-functional teams.
• Strong coaching and mentoring abilities.

Responsibilities

• Shape Co-op’s enterprise data architecture across conceptual, logical and physical models.
• Define data platform strategy and governance aligned to business goals.
• Provide architectural leadership on major data initiatives and programmes.
• Collaborate with engineering, platform and solution architects to deliver scalable data solutions.
• Coach data architects and grow the data architecture community.
• Influence long-term data platform investments and design decisions.
• Design data and AI platform solutions including logical and low-level designs.

Skills

Enterprise data architecture

Data modelling

Governance & compliance

MDM & metadata management

Stakeholder leadership

Coaching & mentoring

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Tools

Databricks

Lakehouse

Job description

Co-op in Manchester is hiring a Principal Data Architect to lead the enterprise data strategy, shape architectures and guide data transformation across the organisation.

This senior role blends strategic vision with hands-on design, collaborating with engineering and business teams to deliver secure, scalable data solutions while coaching a growing community of data professionals.

You will work in a hybrid setup, with office presence in Manchester and flexible remote days.