Head of Data Architecture

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Head of Data Architecture to lead the design, governance, and evolution of our enterprise data architecture strategy. This role will be responsible for defining and implementing scalable, secure, and future-ready data platforms that enable advanced analytics, AI, reporting, and Business Intelligence capabilities across the organisation.

The successful candidate will combine strong strategic leadership with hands-on architecture expertise, particularly across modern Microsoft data technologies, and will work closely with business stakeholders, technology teams, and data governance functions to establish best-in-class data management practices.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Data Architecture

• Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture roadmap aligned to business objectives.
• Design scalable and resilient data architectures supporting analytics, AI, reporting, and operational workloads.
• Establish architecture standards, patterns, and best practices across the data estate.
• Ensure alignment between business strategy, data strategy, and technology architecture.

Microsoft Fabric Architecture

• Lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale Microsoft Fabric platforms.
• Architect solutions across:
• Fabric Data Engineering
• Fabric Lakehouse
• Fabric Data Warehouse
• Fabric Real Time Analytics
• Semantic Models
• Drive adoption of Microsoft Fabric capabilities and establish architectural standards for the platform.
• Provide guidance on performance optimisation, scalability, security, and governance within Microsoft Fabric environments.

Data Modelling & Integration

• Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models across enterprise domains.
• Establish metadata-driven architecture principles and reusable integration patterns.
• Design enterprise integration solutions across internal and external systems.
• Define standards for data ingestion, transformation, storage, and consumption.

Data Governance & Management

• Partner with Data Governance teams to implement:
• Data Quality frameworks
• Data Lineage
• Metadata Management
• Master Data Management (MDM)
• Data Cataloguing
• Ensure compliance with data security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive consistent data standards and ownership across the organisation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

• Collaborate with senior business and technology stakeholders to shape data initiatives.
• Provide architectural leadership across multiple programmes and projects.
• Mentor architects, engineers, and analysts within the wider data function.
• Present architecture roadmaps, recommendations, and governance decisions to executive leadership.

Required Experience

• Significant experience in Data Architecture leadership roles.
• Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data platforms.
• Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Fabric.

Deep understanding of:

• Data Architecture
• Data Modelling
• Data Governance
• Metadata Management
• Data Lineage
• Master Data Management (MDM)
• Experience delivering cloud-based data platforms within Microsoft Azure.
• Strong understanding of data warehousing, lakehouse architectures, and modern analytics platforms.
• Experience establishing enterprise architecture standards and governance frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Technical Skills

Essential

• Microsoft Fabric
• Fabric Lakehouse
• Fabric Data Warehouse
• Fabric Data Engineering
• Fabric Real Time Analytics
• Semantic Models
• Azure Data Platform
• Azure Data Lake Storage
• Azure Data Factory
• SQL
• Data Modelling
• Metadata Management
• Data Governance
• Master Data Management (MDM)
• Enterprise Integration Architecture

Desirable

• Microsoft Purview
• Databricks
• Power BI
• AI and Advanced Analytics platforms
• Data Mesh architecture
• Event-Driven Architecture
• TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and roadmap development
• Enterprise architecture governance
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
• Team leadership and mentoring
• Problem solving and decision making
• Change and transformation leadership

This position offers the opportunity to shape the future direction of a modern enterprise data platform and play a key role in driving data-driven decision making across the organisation.