The National Audit Office (NAO) seeks a hands-on Data Governance Manager to lead the data framework, metadata, and quality tooling. You will steward data assets and act as the central point for data stewards and owners, ensuring secure, compliant and high-quality data across the organisation. You will bridge business and technical teams, documenting processes and leading governance boards. This role sits in the change and transformation team and reports to the Head of Business Architecture.
06/08/2026
Full time
The National Audit Office (NAO) seeks a hands-on Data Governance Manager to lead the data framework, metadata, and quality tooling. You will steward data assets and act as the central point for data stewards and owners, ensuring secure, compliant and high-quality data across the organisation. You will bridge business and technical teams, documenting processes and leading governance boards. This role sits in the change and transformation team and reports to the Head of Business Architecture.
Job description Job Title: Data Governance Manager Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£56,875; London Salary -c£65,000 more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO is seeking a highly hands on, operational Data Governance Manager. This role requires a proactive, hands on individual to take full responsibility for data documentation, metadata, and data quality tooling. You will serve as the primary engine for keeping our data house in order, acting as the orchestrator for data stewards and owners to ensure maximum data fidelity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Main purpose of the role A critical component of this role is coordinating the smooth operational flow across a data operating model. By doing so, you will take hands on responsibility for ensuring that the data is managed as a strategic asset while remaining secure, compliant, high quality and fit for purpose. You will be fully responsible for documenting it once defined and ensuring the day to day processes run seamlessly. You will bridge the gap between business users and technical teams, engaging the data engineering team when specific technical expertise or pipeline actions are required. In this role, you will: Take full, hands on responsibility for the daily administration of our metadata management and data quality tools Author and maintain comprehensive documentation of our data assets, metadata, and the broader data operating model. Engage, coordinate, and act as the central point of contact for data stewards and data owners to enforce data quality and resolve issues at their root cause This role reports into the Head of Business Architecture in the change and transformation team. Main responsibilities Data Governance Framework Develop and maintain the NAO's Data Governance Framework Establish data policies, standards, principles and procedures Work with key stakeholders to ensure that governance requirements are embedded into business processes and technology solutions Lead the implementation of data ownership and stewardship models across the NAO Data Quality Management Define and oversee NAO data quality standards and measures Accountable for monitoring data quality performance and working collaboratively with Data Stewards and the Data engineering team to orchestrate the remediation of complex data quality flaw Establish process for identifying, reporting and resolving data quality issues Data Ownership & Stewardship Establish critical data assets and accountability for them Review and refine where appropriate the roles of Information Asset Owners, Data Owners and Data Stewards Work with IAOs, DOs and DSs to maintain asset inventories and catalogues Support areas in managing data throughout it's lifecycle Strategy, Architecture & Metadata Contribute to NAO Data Strategy development, lead data maturity assessments Work with the Enterprise & Data Architects to define and implement a blueprint from NAO Enterprise Data Architecture Oversee metadata management standards Maintain data definitions, classifications, and business glossaries Support master data management and reference data processes Champion the discoverability and re-use of NAO data assets Stakeholders, Literacy & Culture Chair or support data governance boards and working groups Provide expert advice on data governance matters Promote understanding of data ownership and accountability, encouraging good data management practices across the NAO Deliver training & awareness activities, support the development of a strong data culture Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness; working; practitioner; expert): Communicating analysis & insight: you can turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories, share data communication skills with the team and across government, present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages, communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders, give tactical and strategic recommendations (Skill level: Practitioner) Communicating between Technical & non-technical: you can listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations, manage active and reactive communication, support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Ethics and privacy: you can work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns, demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context, research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes, assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Governance: you can implement and monitor data governance using standard, methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation, meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation, take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Innovation: You can test and evaluate the feasibility of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, as well as apply familiar technologies in new data contexts, share insights with the organisation including potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations, and recommend, design, and implement innovative data solutions aligned to organisational objectives, user needs, and operational constraints. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Life Cycle: You can apply data governance principles across the full data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each stage, demonstrate knowledge of relevant industry standards, drive continuous improvement to optimise governance processes, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen organisational data governance capability. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Literacy Improvement: You can promote the importance of data literacy across all organisational levels, and identify training opportunities and initiatives to improve data skills and foster a data-driven culture. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Management: You can promote effective data governance and management policies across teams, monitor and enhance data management practices, and contribute to the development and adoption of tools, procedures, and methods that align with governance requirements. Data Maturity: You can lead the adoption of data best practices, identify and communicate opportunities to improve data maturity, and drive initiatives to monitor and enhance maturity across the organisation. Data Standards: You can develop data standards across subject areas and ensure senior leaders understand their importance, collaborate with subject matter experts to implement best practices, monitor compliance, and recommend appropriate actions to address any breaches. (Skill level: Practitioner) Enabling and Informing Risk-Based Decisions: You can assess more complex or higher-impact risks, provide guidance on impact and alignment with risk tolerance, and apply appropriate risk methodologies proportionate to the situation. Stakeholder Relationship Management: You can support the development of stakeholder understanding and communication strategies, identify and resolve issues, effectively influence stakeholders, and build strong, long term relationships through clear and consistent engagement. (Skill level: Practitioner) Strategic Thinking: You can define strategies and policies, guide others in applying them within a strategic context, and evaluate existing approaches to ensure business needs are met and opportunities for improvement are realised. (Skill level: Practitioner) Essential criteria Proven, hands on experience in data governance or data management roles, specifically focused on execution rather than high level strategy. Significant experience administrating data governance tools (e.g., data catalogues, metadata management, and data quality platforms). Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining clear, comprehensive data documentation, business glossaries, and operating model process flows. Experience coordinating decentralized networks of data stewards, owners, or business subject matter experts to resolve data quality exceptions. Demonstrated experience translating governance policies into actionable, day to day tasks and workflows for business users. To apply candidates should provide: An up-to-date CV A covering letter outlining briefly how you meet the essential criteria and why you are a good fit for the role. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August . click apply for full job details
06/08/2026
Full time
Job description Job Title: Data Governance Manager Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£56,875; London Salary -c£65,000 more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO is seeking a highly hands on, operational Data Governance Manager. This role requires a proactive, hands on individual to take full responsibility for data documentation, metadata, and data quality tooling. You will serve as the primary engine for keeping our data house in order, acting as the orchestrator for data stewards and owners to ensure maximum data fidelity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Main purpose of the role A critical component of this role is coordinating the smooth operational flow across a data operating model. By doing so, you will take hands on responsibility for ensuring that the data is managed as a strategic asset while remaining secure, compliant, high quality and fit for purpose. You will be fully responsible for documenting it once defined and ensuring the day to day processes run seamlessly. You will bridge the gap between business users and technical teams, engaging the data engineering team when specific technical expertise or pipeline actions are required. In this role, you will: Take full, hands on responsibility for the daily administration of our metadata management and data quality tools Author and maintain comprehensive documentation of our data assets, metadata, and the broader data operating model. Engage, coordinate, and act as the central point of contact for data stewards and data owners to enforce data quality and resolve issues at their root cause This role reports into the Head of Business Architecture in the change and transformation team. Main responsibilities Data Governance Framework Develop and maintain the NAO's Data Governance Framework Establish data policies, standards, principles and procedures Work with key stakeholders to ensure that governance requirements are embedded into business processes and technology solutions Lead the implementation of data ownership and stewardship models across the NAO Data Quality Management Define and oversee NAO data quality standards and measures Accountable for monitoring data quality performance and working collaboratively with Data Stewards and the Data engineering team to orchestrate the remediation of complex data quality flaw Establish process for identifying, reporting and resolving data quality issues Data Ownership & Stewardship Establish critical data assets and accountability for them Review and refine where appropriate the roles of Information Asset Owners, Data Owners and Data Stewards Work with IAOs, DOs and DSs to maintain asset inventories and catalogues Support areas in managing data throughout it's lifecycle Strategy, Architecture & Metadata Contribute to NAO Data Strategy development, lead data maturity assessments Work with the Enterprise & Data Architects to define and implement a blueprint from NAO Enterprise Data Architecture Oversee metadata management standards Maintain data definitions, classifications, and business glossaries Support master data management and reference data processes Champion the discoverability and re-use of NAO data assets Stakeholders, Literacy & Culture Chair or support data governance boards and working groups Provide expert advice on data governance matters Promote understanding of data ownership and accountability, encouraging good data management practices across the NAO Deliver training & awareness activities, support the development of a strong data culture Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness; working; practitioner; expert): Communicating analysis & insight: you can turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories, share data communication skills with the team and across government, present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages, communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders, give tactical and strategic recommendations (Skill level: Practitioner) Communicating between Technical & non-technical: you can listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations, manage active and reactive communication, support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Ethics and privacy: you can work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns, demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context, research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes, assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Governance: you can implement and monitor data governance using standard, methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation, meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation, take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Innovation: You can test and evaluate the feasibility of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, as well as apply familiar technologies in new data contexts, share insights with the organisation including potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations, and recommend, design, and implement innovative data solutions aligned to organisational objectives, user needs, and operational constraints. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Life Cycle: You can apply data governance principles across the full data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each stage, demonstrate knowledge of relevant industry standards, drive continuous improvement to optimise governance processes, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen organisational data governance capability. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Literacy Improvement: You can promote the importance of data literacy across all organisational levels, and identify training opportunities and initiatives to improve data skills and foster a data-driven culture. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Management: You can promote effective data governance and management policies across teams, monitor and enhance data management practices, and contribute to the development and adoption of tools, procedures, and methods that align with governance requirements. Data Maturity: You can lead the adoption of data best practices, identify and communicate opportunities to improve data maturity, and drive initiatives to monitor and enhance maturity across the organisation. Data Standards: You can develop data standards across subject areas and ensure senior leaders understand their importance, collaborate with subject matter experts to implement best practices, monitor compliance, and recommend appropriate actions to address any breaches. (Skill level: Practitioner) Enabling and Informing Risk-Based Decisions: You can assess more complex or higher-impact risks, provide guidance on impact and alignment with risk tolerance, and apply appropriate risk methodologies proportionate to the situation. Stakeholder Relationship Management: You can support the development of stakeholder understanding and communication strategies, identify and resolve issues, effectively influence stakeholders, and build strong, long term relationships through clear and consistent engagement. (Skill level: Practitioner) Strategic Thinking: You can define strategies and policies, guide others in applying them within a strategic context, and evaluate existing approaches to ensure business needs are met and opportunities for improvement are realised. (Skill level: Practitioner) Essential criteria Proven, hands on experience in data governance or data management roles, specifically focused on execution rather than high level strategy. Significant experience administrating data governance tools (e.g., data catalogues, metadata management, and data quality platforms). Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining clear, comprehensive data documentation, business glossaries, and operating model process flows. Experience coordinating decentralized networks of data stewards, owners, or business subject matter experts to resolve data quality exceptions. Demonstrated experience translating governance policies into actionable, day to day tasks and workflows for business users. To apply candidates should provide: An up-to-date CV A covering letter outlining briefly how you meet the essential criteria and why you are a good fit for the role. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August . click apply for full job details
The National Audit Office (NAO) seeks a hands-on Data Governance Manager to lead the data framework, metadata, and quality tooling. You will steward data assets and act as the central point for data stewards and owners, ensuring secure, compliant and high-quality data across the organisation. You will bridge business and technical teams, documenting processes and leading governance boards. This role sits in the change and transformation team and reports to the Head of Business Architecture.
06/08/2026
Full time
The National Audit Office (NAO) seeks a hands-on Data Governance Manager to lead the data framework, metadata, and quality tooling. You will steward data assets and act as the central point for data stewards and owners, ensuring secure, compliant and high-quality data across the organisation. You will bridge business and technical teams, documenting processes and leading governance boards. This role sits in the change and transformation team and reports to the Head of Business Architecture.
Job description Job Title: Data Governance Manager Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£56,875; London Salary -c£65,000 more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO is seeking a highly hands on, operational Data Governance Manager. This role requires a proactive, hands on individual to take full responsibility for data documentation, metadata, and data quality tooling. You will serve as the primary engine for keeping our data house in order, acting as the orchestrator for data stewards and owners to ensure maximum data fidelity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Main purpose of the role A critical component of this role is coordinating the smooth operational flow across a data operating model. By doing so, you will take hands on responsibility for ensuring that the data is managed as a strategic asset while remaining secure, compliant, high quality and fit for purpose. You will be fully responsible for documenting it once defined and ensuring the day to day processes run seamlessly. You will bridge the gap between business users and technical teams, engaging the data engineering team when specific technical expertise or pipeline actions are required. In this role, you will: Take full, hands on responsibility for the daily administration of our metadata management and data quality tools Author and maintain comprehensive documentation of our data assets, metadata, and the broader data operating model. Engage, coordinate, and act as the central point of contact for data stewards and data owners to enforce data quality and resolve issues at their root cause This role reports into the Head of Business Architecture in the change and transformation team. Main responsibilities Data Governance Framework Develop and maintain the NAO's Data Governance Framework Establish data policies, standards, principles and procedures Work with key stakeholders to ensure that governance requirements are embedded into business processes and technology solutions Lead the implementation of data ownership and stewardship models across the NAO Data Quality Management Define and oversee NAO data quality standards and measures Accountable for monitoring data quality performance and working collaboratively with Data Stewards and the Data engineering team to orchestrate the remediation of complex data quality flaw Establish process for identifying, reporting and resolving data quality issues Data Ownership & Stewardship Establish critical data assets and accountability for them Review and refine where appropriate the roles of Information Asset Owners, Data Owners and Data Stewards Work with IAOs, DOs and DSs to maintain asset inventories and catalogues Support areas in managing data throughout it's lifecycle Strategy, Architecture & Metadata Contribute to NAO Data Strategy development, lead data maturity assessments Work with the Enterprise & Data Architects to define and implement a blueprint from NAO Enterprise Data Architecture Oversee metadata management standards Maintain data definitions, classifications, and business glossaries Support master data management and reference data processes Champion the discoverability and re-use of NAO data assets Stakeholders, Literacy & Culture Chair or support data governance boards and working groups Provide expert advice on data governance matters Promote understanding of data ownership and accountability, encouraging good data management practices across the NAO Deliver training & awareness activities, support the development of a strong data culture Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness; working; practitioner; expert): Communicating analysis & insight: you can turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories, share data communication skills with the team and across government, present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages, communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders, give tactical and strategic recommendations (Skill level: Practitioner) Communicating between Technical & non-technical: you can listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations, manage active and reactive communication, support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Ethics and privacy: you can work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns, demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context, research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes, assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Governance: you can implement and monitor data governance using standard, methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation, meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation, take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Innovation: You can test and evaluate the feasibility of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, as well as apply familiar technologies in new data contexts, share insights with the organisation including potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations, and recommend, design, and implement innovative data solutions aligned to organisational objectives, user needs, and operational constraints. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Life Cycle: You can apply data governance principles across the full data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each stage, demonstrate knowledge of relevant industry standards, drive continuous improvement to optimise governance processes, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen organisational data governance capability. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Literacy Improvement: You can promote the importance of data literacy across all organisational levels, and identify training opportunities and initiatives to improve data skills and foster a data-driven culture. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Management: You can promote effective data governance and management policies across teams, monitor and enhance data management practices, and contribute to the development and adoption of tools, procedures, and methods that align with governance requirements. Data Maturity: You can lead the adoption of data best practices, identify and communicate opportunities to improve data maturity, and drive initiatives to monitor and enhance maturity across the organisation. Data Standards: You can develop data standards across subject areas and ensure senior leaders understand their importance, collaborate with subject matter experts to implement best practices, monitor compliance, and recommend appropriate actions to address any breaches. (Skill level: Practitioner) Enabling and Informing Risk-Based Decisions: You can assess more complex or higher-impact risks, provide guidance on impact and alignment with risk tolerance, and apply appropriate risk methodologies proportionate to the situation. Stakeholder Relationship Management: You can support the development of stakeholder understanding and communication strategies, identify and resolve issues, effectively influence stakeholders, and build strong, long term relationships through clear and consistent engagement. (Skill level: Practitioner) Strategic Thinking: You can define strategies and policies, guide others in applying them within a strategic context, and evaluate existing approaches to ensure business needs are met and opportunities for improvement are realised. (Skill level: Practitioner) Essential criteria Proven, hands on experience in data governance or data management roles, specifically focused on execution rather than high level strategy. Significant experience administrating data governance tools (e.g., data catalogues, metadata management, and data quality platforms). Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining clear, comprehensive data documentation, business glossaries, and operating model process flows. Experience coordinating decentralized networks of data stewards, owners, or business subject matter experts to resolve data quality exceptions. Demonstrated experience translating governance policies into actionable, day to day tasks and workflows for business users. To apply candidates should provide: An up-to-date CV A covering letter outlining briefly how you meet the essential criteria and why you are a good fit for the role. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August . click apply for full job details
06/08/2026
Full time
Job description Job Title: Data Governance Manager Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£56,875; London Salary -c£65,000 more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO is seeking a highly hands on, operational Data Governance Manager. This role requires a proactive, hands on individual to take full responsibility for data documentation, metadata, and data quality tooling. You will serve as the primary engine for keeping our data house in order, acting as the orchestrator for data stewards and owners to ensure maximum data fidelity without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Main purpose of the role A critical component of this role is coordinating the smooth operational flow across a data operating model. By doing so, you will take hands on responsibility for ensuring that the data is managed as a strategic asset while remaining secure, compliant, high quality and fit for purpose. You will be fully responsible for documenting it once defined and ensuring the day to day processes run seamlessly. You will bridge the gap between business users and technical teams, engaging the data engineering team when specific technical expertise or pipeline actions are required. In this role, you will: Take full, hands on responsibility for the daily administration of our metadata management and data quality tools Author and maintain comprehensive documentation of our data assets, metadata, and the broader data operating model. Engage, coordinate, and act as the central point of contact for data stewards and data owners to enforce data quality and resolve issues at their root cause This role reports into the Head of Business Architecture in the change and transformation team. Main responsibilities Data Governance Framework Develop and maintain the NAO's Data Governance Framework Establish data policies, standards, principles and procedures Work with key stakeholders to ensure that governance requirements are embedded into business processes and technology solutions Lead the implementation of data ownership and stewardship models across the NAO Data Quality Management Define and oversee NAO data quality standards and measures Accountable for monitoring data quality performance and working collaboratively with Data Stewards and the Data engineering team to orchestrate the remediation of complex data quality flaw Establish process for identifying, reporting and resolving data quality issues Data Ownership & Stewardship Establish critical data assets and accountability for them Review and refine where appropriate the roles of Information Asset Owners, Data Owners and Data Stewards Work with IAOs, DOs and DSs to maintain asset inventories and catalogues Support areas in managing data throughout it's lifecycle Strategy, Architecture & Metadata Contribute to NAO Data Strategy development, lead data maturity assessments Work with the Enterprise & Data Architects to define and implement a blueprint from NAO Enterprise Data Architecture Oversee metadata management standards Maintain data definitions, classifications, and business glossaries Support master data management and reference data processes Champion the discoverability and re-use of NAO data assets Stakeholders, Literacy & Culture Chair or support data governance boards and working groups Provide expert advice on data governance matters Promote understanding of data ownership and accountability, encouraging good data management practices across the NAO Deliver training & awareness activities, support the development of a strong data culture Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness; working; practitioner; expert): Communicating analysis & insight: you can turn complex data into compelling, clear and actionable stories, share data communication skills with the team and across government, present analysis and visualisations in clear ways to communicate complex messages, communicate negative and positive information to stakeholders, give tactical and strategic recommendations (Skill level: Practitioner) Communicating between Technical & non-technical: you can listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations, manage active and reactive communication, support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Ethics and privacy: you can work with stakeholders to identify and address ethical and privacy concerns, demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context, research developments in data ethics and privacy to improve compliance and processes, assess and constructively challenge proposed data ethics policies. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Governance: you can implement and monitor data governance using standard, methodology throughout the data life cycle, within a large organisation, meet the requirement for relevant data governance accreditation, take responsibility for specific parts of a data governance framework within the organisation (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Innovation: You can test and evaluate the feasibility of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, as well as apply familiar technologies in new data contexts, share insights with the organisation including potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations, and recommend, design, and implement innovative data solutions aligned to organisational objectives, user needs, and operational constraints. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Life Cycle: You can apply data governance principles across the full data life cycle, ensuring best practice at each stage, demonstrate knowledge of relevant industry standards, drive continuous improvement to optimise governance processes, and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen organisational data governance capability. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Literacy Improvement: You can promote the importance of data literacy across all organisational levels, and identify training opportunities and initiatives to improve data skills and foster a data-driven culture. (Skill level: Practitioner) Data Management: You can promote effective data governance and management policies across teams, monitor and enhance data management practices, and contribute to the development and adoption of tools, procedures, and methods that align with governance requirements. Data Maturity: You can lead the adoption of data best practices, identify and communicate opportunities to improve data maturity, and drive initiatives to monitor and enhance maturity across the organisation. Data Standards: You can develop data standards across subject areas and ensure senior leaders understand their importance, collaborate with subject matter experts to implement best practices, monitor compliance, and recommend appropriate actions to address any breaches. (Skill level: Practitioner) Enabling and Informing Risk-Based Decisions: You can assess more complex or higher-impact risks, provide guidance on impact and alignment with risk tolerance, and apply appropriate risk methodologies proportionate to the situation. Stakeholder Relationship Management: You can support the development of stakeholder understanding and communication strategies, identify and resolve issues, effectively influence stakeholders, and build strong, long term relationships through clear and consistent engagement. (Skill level: Practitioner) Strategic Thinking: You can define strategies and policies, guide others in applying them within a strategic context, and evaluate existing approaches to ensure business needs are met and opportunities for improvement are realised. (Skill level: Practitioner) Essential criteria Proven, hands on experience in data governance or data management roles, specifically focused on execution rather than high level strategy. Significant experience administrating data governance tools (e.g., data catalogues, metadata management, and data quality platforms). Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining clear, comprehensive data documentation, business glossaries, and operating model process flows. Experience coordinating decentralized networks of data stewards, owners, or business subject matter experts to resolve data quality exceptions. Demonstrated experience translating governance policies into actionable, day to day tasks and workflows for business users. To apply candidates should provide: An up-to-date CV A covering letter outlining briefly how you meet the essential criteria and why you are a good fit for the role. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August . click apply for full job details
National Audit Office in London or Newcastle is seeking an Enterprise Architect to bridge business strategy and technology execution. You will map the current tech stack, reduce complexity, and govern architecture to align with organisational priorities, reporting to the Head of Audit Technology. The role supports the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy and ensure a coherent, secure, scalable technology landscape across programmes and change initiatives.
04/08/2026
Full time
National Audit Office in London or Newcastle is seeking an Enterprise Architect to bridge business strategy and technology execution. You will map the current tech stack, reduce complexity, and govern architecture to align with organisational priorities, reporting to the Head of Audit Technology. The role supports the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy and ensure a coherent, secure, scalable technology landscape across programmes and change initiatives.
National Audit Office in London or Newcastle is seeking an Enterprise Architect to bridge business strategy and technology execution. You will map the current tech stack, reduce complexity, and govern architecture to align with organisational priorities, reporting to the Head of Audit Technology. The role supports the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy and ensure a coherent, secure, scalable technology landscape across programmes and change initiatives.
04/08/2026
Full time
National Audit Office in London or Newcastle is seeking an Enterprise Architect to bridge business strategy and technology execution. You will map the current tech stack, reduce complexity, and govern architecture to align with organisational priorities, reporting to the Head of Audit Technology. The role supports the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy and ensure a coherent, secure, scalable technology landscape across programmes and change initiatives.
Job description Job Title: Enterprise Architect Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£61,250; London Salary -c£70,000more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO's Digital Services (DS) function is seeking an Enterprise Architect responsible for bridging the gap between our business strategy and technology execution. This pivotal role involves overseeing the organisation's technology landscape, ensuring that systems, data, and processes align seamlessly to support the NAO's overarching goals. The Enterprise Architect will be instrumental in mapping the current tech stack, reducing technical complexity, and establishing robust architecture governance. Main purpose of the role Crucially, this role will support the Data and AI team by providing the enterprise architecture standards, patterns, and integration guidance needed to help deliver the data strategy. The postholder will work collaboratively with Data and AI leadership, taking strategic direction on domain-specific requirements while ensuring the wider technology landscape remains coherent, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational priorities. In this role, you will: Align overarching technology strategy with the NAO's business goals and objectives. Develop and maintain the architectural roadmap, mapping the transition from current state to future state. Audit existing technology stacks to reduce complexity, identify redundancies, and consolidate tools where appropriate. Establish, mature, and govern the rules, frameworks, standards, processes, and practices for how technology is acquired, designed, built, reviewed, and deployed across the organisation, including through wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities. Partner closely with the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy, taking their lead on domain-specific requirements to provide supportive enterprise-level architecture. Continuously scan the horizon for emerging technologies (e.g., advanced cloud capabilities) to assess their value for the organisation. This role reports into the Head of Audit Technology. Main responsibilities Developing and maintaining comprehensive enterprise architecture models, diagrams, and target-state designs. Aligning technology investments with business strategy to ensure value delivery and operational efficiency. Auditing the current technology stack to identify redundancies, opportunities for consolidation, and areas to reduce technical debt. Establishing and applying architectural standards, governance frameworks, and best practices across technology domains. Partnering with the Data & AI team to support their data strategy. Evaluating emerging technologies to determine their potential value and applicability to the NAO's objectives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams-including solution architects, developers, security, and business stakeholders-to ensure cohesive enterprise solutions that meet organisational needs. Taking an active role in wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities, providing architectural governance, assurance, challenge, and oversight across programmes and change initiatives. Maturing the NAO's enterprise architecture processes, practices, artefacts, and engagement model so that architectural guidance is practical, proportionate, repeatable, and embedded in delivery ways of working. Working with the Data Architect to produce and publish an enterprise data architecture blueprint that aligns data management, integration, governance, and platform choices with the NAO's wider enterprise architecture standards. Support the Data and AI team to align the data strategy with the broader business and technology strategy, ensuring that data architecture decisions are consistent with enterprise standards, security expectations, and delivery priorities. Working with the Data Architect to design and configure the central data management repository, ensuring it supports architecture documentation, data governance, lineage, ownership, and reuse across the organisation. Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness, working, practitioner, expert): Architect for the whole context: You can assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation; work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards; anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work; coach others in identifying important trends. (Skill Level: Expert) Architecture communication: You can communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques; mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions; gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity; coach and support others in architecture communication. (Skill Level: Expert) Commercial perspective: You can identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches; identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Community collaboration: You can work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others; adapt feedback to ensure its effective and lasting; use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them; identify issues through Agile 'health checks' with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Enterprise architecture: You can design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives; work with others across the organisation to ensure your design is used to achieve the organisation's objectives. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Making architectural decisions: You can make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by medium risk and complexity; identify and address architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains; use architectural governance and assurance to make design decisions and manage technical risks at the appropriate level; contribute to the development of architectural governance and assurance. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Problem definition and shaping: You can lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created; coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions; help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options. (Skill Level: Expert) Strategy design: You can define and connect strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government; enable the implementation of strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government, for example, by advocating for resources and removing blockers. (Skill Level: Expert) Essential criteria Proven experience working as an Enterprise Architect or Lead Solution Architect in a complex organisational environment. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing enterprise-wide technology strategies, cloud adoption (e.g., Azure), and governance frameworks. Demonstrated experience auditing technology landscapes, consolidating systems, and successfully reducing technical debt. Experience working collaboratively with specialised teams. You must have a track record of enabling and supporting specific domain strategies rather than dictating technical direction. Demonstrated experience communicating complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August Selection process Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend 1st stage interview which will be held online on 2-4th September. Second-stage interviews will be held in person and will take place on 9-11th September. Nationality Requirements: UK nationals nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals from the EU,EEAor Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Equal opportunities and diversity Disability and Reasonable Adjustments: Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme should confirm this whensubmittingtheir application. Under this scheme we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets theminimumrequirements for the role. You should also let our HR team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process (HR Service Desk ( ). We are committed to fair and open recruitment. All applications will be assessed on merit against the requirements of the role . click apply for full job details
03/08/2026
Full time
Job description Job Title: Enterprise Architect Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£61,250; London Salary -c£70,000more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO's Digital Services (DS) function is seeking an Enterprise Architect responsible for bridging the gap between our business strategy and technology execution. This pivotal role involves overseeing the organisation's technology landscape, ensuring that systems, data, and processes align seamlessly to support the NAO's overarching goals. The Enterprise Architect will be instrumental in mapping the current tech stack, reducing technical complexity, and establishing robust architecture governance. Main purpose of the role Crucially, this role will support the Data and AI team by providing the enterprise architecture standards, patterns, and integration guidance needed to help deliver the data strategy. The postholder will work collaboratively with Data and AI leadership, taking strategic direction on domain-specific requirements while ensuring the wider technology landscape remains coherent, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational priorities. In this role, you will: Align overarching technology strategy with the NAO's business goals and objectives. Develop and maintain the architectural roadmap, mapping the transition from current state to future state. Audit existing technology stacks to reduce complexity, identify redundancies, and consolidate tools where appropriate. Establish, mature, and govern the rules, frameworks, standards, processes, and practices for how technology is acquired, designed, built, reviewed, and deployed across the organisation, including through wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities. Partner closely with the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy, taking their lead on domain-specific requirements to provide supportive enterprise-level architecture. Continuously scan the horizon for emerging technologies (e.g., advanced cloud capabilities) to assess their value for the organisation. This role reports into the Head of Audit Technology. Main responsibilities Developing and maintaining comprehensive enterprise architecture models, diagrams, and target-state designs. Aligning technology investments with business strategy to ensure value delivery and operational efficiency. Auditing the current technology stack to identify redundancies, opportunities for consolidation, and areas to reduce technical debt. Establishing and applying architectural standards, governance frameworks, and best practices across technology domains. Partnering with the Data & AI team to support their data strategy. Evaluating emerging technologies to determine their potential value and applicability to the NAO's objectives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams-including solution architects, developers, security, and business stakeholders-to ensure cohesive enterprise solutions that meet organisational needs. Taking an active role in wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities, providing architectural governance, assurance, challenge, and oversight across programmes and change initiatives. Maturing the NAO's enterprise architecture processes, practices, artefacts, and engagement model so that architectural guidance is practical, proportionate, repeatable, and embedded in delivery ways of working. Working with the Data Architect to produce and publish an enterprise data architecture blueprint that aligns data management, integration, governance, and platform choices with the NAO's wider enterprise architecture standards. Support the Data and AI team to align the data strategy with the broader business and technology strategy, ensuring that data architecture decisions are consistent with enterprise standards, security expectations, and delivery priorities. Working with the Data Architect to design and configure the central data management repository, ensuring it supports architecture documentation, data governance, lineage, ownership, and reuse across the organisation. Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness, working, practitioner, expert): Architect for the whole context: You can assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation; work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards; anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work; coach others in identifying important trends. (Skill Level: Expert) Architecture communication: You can communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques; mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions; gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity; coach and support others in architecture communication. (Skill Level: Expert) Commercial perspective: You can identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches; identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Community collaboration: You can work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others; adapt feedback to ensure its effective and lasting; use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them; identify issues through Agile 'health checks' with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Enterprise architecture: You can design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives; work with others across the organisation to ensure your design is used to achieve the organisation's objectives. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Making architectural decisions: You can make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by medium risk and complexity; identify and address architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains; use architectural governance and assurance to make design decisions and manage technical risks at the appropriate level; contribute to the development of architectural governance and assurance. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Problem definition and shaping: You can lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created; coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions; help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options. (Skill Level: Expert) Strategy design: You can define and connect strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government; enable the implementation of strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government, for example, by advocating for resources and removing blockers. (Skill Level: Expert) Essential criteria Proven experience working as an Enterprise Architect or Lead Solution Architect in a complex organisational environment. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing enterprise-wide technology strategies, cloud adoption (e.g., Azure), and governance frameworks. Demonstrated experience auditing technology landscapes, consolidating systems, and successfully reducing technical debt. Experience working collaboratively with specialised teams. You must have a track record of enabling and supporting specific domain strategies rather than dictating technical direction. Demonstrated experience communicating complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August Selection process Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend 1st stage interview which will be held online on 2-4th September. Second-stage interviews will be held in person and will take place on 9-11th September. Nationality Requirements: UK nationals nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals from the EU,EEAor Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Equal opportunities and diversity Disability and Reasonable Adjustments: Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme should confirm this whensubmittingtheir application. Under this scheme we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets theminimumrequirements for the role. You should also let our HR team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process (HR Service Desk ( ). We are committed to fair and open recruitment. All applications will be assessed on merit against the requirements of the role . click apply for full job details
Job description Job Title: Enterprise Architect Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£61,250; London Salary -c£70,000more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO's Digital Services (DS) function is seeking an Enterprise Architect responsible for bridging the gap between our business strategy and technology execution. This pivotal role involves overseeing the organisation's technology landscape, ensuring that systems, data, and processes align seamlessly to support the NAO's overarching goals. The Enterprise Architect will be instrumental in mapping the current tech stack, reducing technical complexity, and establishing robust architecture governance. Main purpose of the role Crucially, this role will support the Data and AI team by providing the enterprise architecture standards, patterns, and integration guidance needed to help deliver the data strategy. The postholder will work collaboratively with Data and AI leadership, taking strategic direction on domain-specific requirements while ensuring the wider technology landscape remains coherent, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational priorities. In this role, you will: Align overarching technology strategy with the NAO's business goals and objectives. Develop and maintain the architectural roadmap, mapping the transition from current state to future state. Audit existing technology stacks to reduce complexity, identify redundancies, and consolidate tools where appropriate. Establish, mature, and govern the rules, frameworks, standards, processes, and practices for how technology is acquired, designed, built, reviewed, and deployed across the organisation, including through wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities. Partner closely with the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy, taking their lead on domain-specific requirements to provide supportive enterprise-level architecture. Continuously scan the horizon for emerging technologies (e.g., advanced cloud capabilities) to assess their value for the organisation. This role reports into the Head of Audit Technology. Main responsibilities Developing and maintaining comprehensive enterprise architecture models, diagrams, and target-state designs. Aligning technology investments with business strategy to ensure value delivery and operational efficiency. Auditing the current technology stack to identify redundancies, opportunities for consolidation, and areas to reduce technical debt. Establishing and applying architectural standards, governance frameworks, and best practices across technology domains. Partnering with the Data & AI team to support their data strategy. Evaluating emerging technologies to determine their potential value and applicability to the NAO's objectives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams-including solution architects, developers, security, and business stakeholders-to ensure cohesive enterprise solutions that meet organisational needs. Taking an active role in wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities, providing architectural governance, assurance, challenge, and oversight across programmes and change initiatives. Maturing the NAO's enterprise architecture processes, practices, artefacts, and engagement model so that architectural guidance is practical, proportionate, repeatable, and embedded in delivery ways of working. Working with the Data Architect to produce and publish an enterprise data architecture blueprint that aligns data management, integration, governance, and platform choices with the NAO's wider enterprise architecture standards. Support the Data and AI team to align the data strategy with the broader business and technology strategy, ensuring that data architecture decisions are consistent with enterprise standards, security expectations, and delivery priorities. Working with the Data Architect to design and configure the central data management repository, ensuring it supports architecture documentation, data governance, lineage, ownership, and reuse across the organisation. Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness, working, practitioner, expert): Architect for the whole context: You can assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation; work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards; anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work; coach others in identifying important trends. (Skill Level: Expert) Architecture communication: You can communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques; mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions; gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity; coach and support others in architecture communication. (Skill Level: Expert) Commercial perspective: You can identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches; identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Community collaboration: You can work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others; adapt feedback to ensure its effective and lasting; use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them; identify issues through Agile 'health checks' with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Enterprise architecture: You can design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives; work with others across the organisation to ensure your design is used to achieve the organisation's objectives. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Making architectural decisions: You can make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by medium risk and complexity; identify and address architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains; use architectural governance and assurance to make design decisions and manage technical risks at the appropriate level; contribute to the development of architectural governance and assurance. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Problem definition and shaping: You can lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created; coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions; help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options. (Skill Level: Expert) Strategy design: You can define and connect strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government; enable the implementation of strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government, for example, by advocating for resources and removing blockers. (Skill Level: Expert) Essential criteria Proven experience working as an Enterprise Architect or Lead Solution Architect in a complex organisational environment. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing enterprise-wide technology strategies, cloud adoption (e.g., Azure), and governance frameworks. Demonstrated experience auditing technology landscapes, consolidating systems, and successfully reducing technical debt. Experience working collaboratively with specialised teams. You must have a track record of enabling and supporting specific domain strategies rather than dictating technical direction. Demonstrated experience communicating complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August Selection process Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend 1st stage interview which will be held online on 2-4th September. Second-stage interviews will be held in person and will take place on 9-11th September. Nationality Requirements: UK nationals nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals from the EU,EEAor Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Equal opportunities and diversity Disability and Reasonable Adjustments: Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme should confirm this whensubmittingtheir application. Under this scheme we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets theminimumrequirements for the role. You should also let our HR team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process (HR Service Desk ( ). We are committed to fair and open recruitment. All applications will be assessed on merit against the requirements of the role . click apply for full job details
03/08/2026
Full time
Job description Job Title: Enterprise Architect Contract type: Permanent Location: London or Newcastle with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office in line with our hybrid working policy. Salary: Newcastle: Salary- c£61,250; London Salary -c£70,000more may be available for exceptional candidates Role overview The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's main public sector audit body. Independent of government, we have responsibility for auditing the accounts of various public sector bodies, examining the propriety of government spending, assessing risks to financial control and accountability, and reviewing the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programmes, projects, and activities. The NAO's Digital Services (DS) function is seeking an Enterprise Architect responsible for bridging the gap between our business strategy and technology execution. This pivotal role involves overseeing the organisation's technology landscape, ensuring that systems, data, and processes align seamlessly to support the NAO's overarching goals. The Enterprise Architect will be instrumental in mapping the current tech stack, reducing technical complexity, and establishing robust architecture governance. Main purpose of the role Crucially, this role will support the Data and AI team by providing the enterprise architecture standards, patterns, and integration guidance needed to help deliver the data strategy. The postholder will work collaboratively with Data and AI leadership, taking strategic direction on domain-specific requirements while ensuring the wider technology landscape remains coherent, secure, scalable, and aligned to organisational priorities. In this role, you will: Align overarching technology strategy with the NAO's business goals and objectives. Develop and maintain the architectural roadmap, mapping the transition from current state to future state. Audit existing technology stacks to reduce complexity, identify redundancies, and consolidate tools where appropriate. Establish, mature, and govern the rules, frameworks, standards, processes, and practices for how technology is acquired, designed, built, reviewed, and deployed across the organisation, including through wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities. Partner closely with the Data & AI team to operationalise the data strategy, taking their lead on domain-specific requirements to provide supportive enterprise-level architecture. Continuously scan the horizon for emerging technologies (e.g., advanced cloud capabilities) to assess their value for the organisation. This role reports into the Head of Audit Technology. Main responsibilities Developing and maintaining comprehensive enterprise architecture models, diagrams, and target-state designs. Aligning technology investments with business strategy to ensure value delivery and operational efficiency. Auditing the current technology stack to identify redundancies, opportunities for consolidation, and areas to reduce technical debt. Establishing and applying architectural standards, governance frameworks, and best practices across technology domains. Partnering with the Data & AI team to support their data strategy. Evaluating emerging technologies to determine their potential value and applicability to the NAO's objectives. Collaborating with cross-functional teams-including solution architects, developers, security, and business stakeholders-to ensure cohesive enterprise solutions that meet organisational needs. Taking an active role in wider Architecture Review Board and Design Authority activities, providing architectural governance, assurance, challenge, and oversight across programmes and change initiatives. Maturing the NAO's enterprise architecture processes, practices, artefacts, and engagement model so that architectural guidance is practical, proportionate, repeatable, and embedded in delivery ways of working. Working with the Data Architect to produce and publish an enterprise data architecture blueprint that aligns data management, integration, governance, and platform choices with the NAO's wider enterprise architecture standards. Support the Data and AI team to align the data strategy with the broader business and technology strategy, ensuring that data architecture decisions are consistent with enterprise standards, security expectations, and delivery priorities. Working with the Data Architect to design and configure the central data management repository, ensuring it supports architecture documentation, data governance, lineage, ownership, and reuse across the organisation. Key skills / competencies required The skill sets listed also include the corresponding skill level (awareness, working, practitioner, expert): Architect for the whole context: You can assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation; work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards; anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work; coach others in identifying important trends. (Skill Level: Expert) Architecture communication: You can communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques; mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions; gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity; coach and support others in architecture communication. (Skill Level: Expert) Commercial perspective: You can identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches; identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Community collaboration: You can work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others; adapt feedback to ensure its effective and lasting; use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them; identify issues through Agile 'health checks' with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Enterprise architecture: You can design an architecture that defines the technology, people, process and other elements needed to achieve organisation objectives; work with others across the organisation to ensure your design is used to achieve the organisation's objectives. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Making architectural decisions: You can make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by medium risk and complexity; identify and address architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains; use architectural governance and assurance to make design decisions and manage technical risks at the appropriate level; contribute to the development of architectural governance and assurance. (Skill Level: Practitioner) Problem definition and shaping: You can lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created; coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions; help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options. (Skill Level: Expert) Strategy design: You can define and connect strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government; enable the implementation of strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government, for example, by advocating for resources and removing blockers. (Skill Level: Expert) Essential criteria Proven experience working as an Enterprise Architect or Lead Solution Architect in a complex organisational environment. Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing enterprise-wide technology strategies, cloud adoption (e.g., Azure), and governance frameworks. Demonstrated experience auditing technology landscapes, consolidating systems, and successfully reducing technical debt. Experience working collaboratively with specialised teams. You must have a track record of enabling and supporting specific domain strategies rather than dictating technical direction. Demonstrated experience communicating complex technical concepts to executive leadership and non-technical stakeholders. The closing date for applications is23:59on Sunday16th August Selection process Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend 1st stage interview which will be held online on 2-4th September. Second-stage interviews will be held in person and will take place on 9-11th September. Nationality Requirements: UK nationals nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals from the EU,EEAor Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Equal opportunities and diversity Disability and Reasonable Adjustments: Applicants with a disability who wish their application to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme should confirm this whensubmittingtheir application. Under this scheme we guarantee an interview to an applicant with a disability who meets theminimumrequirements for the role. You should also let our HR team know if you wish us to consider any Reasonable Adjustments at any stage of the process (HR Service Desk ( ). We are committed to fair and open recruitment. All applications will be assessed on merit against the requirements of the role . click apply for full job details
