Data Architect

Job Title Data Architect - Strategy & Architecture

Permanent

Grade 7 - £66,627 - £85,845

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5 hours per week

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment

Are you passionate about data and its potential to transform organisations? Do you thrive on creating robust data strategies and architectures that enable business success? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Data Architect at Birmingham City Council.

As a Data Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our data landscape, driving data strategy, and unlocking the immense value hidden within our vast data reserves. You will be at the forefront of leveraging data lakes, master data, and data modelling to enable our organisation to make informed decisions and deliver exceptional services to our citizens.

We are embarking on a transformative journey towards becoming a truly data driven organisation. This involves establishing a clear and coherent enterprise approach to how data is structured, governed and used across services, platforms and functions.

As a Data Architect, you will play a key role in enabling this transformation by supporting the development of a consistent data operating model and ensuring strong alignment between Digital & Technology Services, the Data & Insight function, and service areas.

• Data-Driven Mindset: We place data led decision making at the centre of everything we do
• Collaboration: We work across teams, functions and services to deliver joined up data outcomes
• Integrity: We uphold the highest standards in data protection, governance and security
• Continuous Improvement: We continually enhance our data practices, platforms and approaches

• Strategic Thinking: Designing data architectures aligned to organisational goals
• Collaboration and Communication: Working with stakeholders to understand needs and deliver value
• Problem Solving: Developing practical solutions to complex data challenges
• Adaptability: Keeping pace with evolving data technologies and practices

As a Data Architect at Birmingham City Council, your work will encompass a range of strategic and delivery focused activities:

• Data Strategy and Governance: Supporting the development and implementation of a coherent data strategy and governance framework aligned to organisational objectives
• Data Operating Model Design: Contributing to the definition and implementation of a clear data operating model, ensuring roles, responsibilities and ways of working are aligned across Digital & Technology, Data & Insight and service areas
• Enterprise Data Architecture: Designing and maintaining enterprise wide data architectures across lines of business, ensuring consistency, reuse and alignment of data structures across systems and services
• Target State Architecture and Roadmapping: Defining target state data architectures and developing clear, phased roadmaps to transition from current to future state
• Data Architecture Design: Designing robust data architectures using the Microsoft toolset, enabling scalable, secure and accessible data across systems and applications
• Microsoft Fabric Architecture: Designing scalable Microsoft Fabric based data platforms, including the effective use of OneLake, Lakehouse patterns and medallion data models to support enterprise data and analytics
• Data Modelling and Information Architecture: Developing and maintaining conceptual, logical and physical data models, alongside clear information architecture structures that support both operational and analytical use
• Master Data Management / Single View: Supporting the development of master data capabilities and single view approaches, enabling trusted, consistent and reusable data across the organisation
• Data Quality Frameworks: Establishing and embedding scalable data quality frameworks and standards to ensure accuracy, consistency and trust in organisational data
• AI and Analytics Architecture: Supporting the design of analytics and AI architectures, ensuring alignment with responsible AI principles, governance standards and organisational risk appetite
• Integration and Data Flow: Ensuring data flows effectively across systems, reducing fragmentation and enabling end to end visibility
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Working with service areas, analysts, architects and technical teams to understand requirements and deliver aligned data solutions
• Vendor and Cross Functional Design Leadership: Leading technical design activity with internal teams, Heads of Service and external partners, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture and strategic outcomes

You will play a critical role in shaping and transforming our data landscape. Your expertise and strategic mindset will be instrumental in driving our data initiatives forward.

• Design and implement scalable data architectures using the Microsoft toolset, including Microsoft Fabric and modern data platform patterns
• Develop and maintain conceptual, logical and physical data models to support organisational insight and service delivery
• Define and support target state data architectures and roadmaps aligned to strategic objectives
• Establish and embed data governance, data quality and data management practices across the organisation
• Support master data management and single view approaches to improve consistency and trust in organisational data
• Collaborate with stakeholders across services, technology and data functions to translate requirements into deliverable solutions
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the organisation's data strategy and enterprise data architecture
• Stay current with emerging technologies, best practices and trends in data architecture

As a Data Architect, you bring a strong combination of strategic thinking, technical expertise and collaborative working.

• Analytical Thinker: Able to break down complex data challenges and design effective solutions
• Strategic Mindset: Understands how data architecture supports wider organisational outcomes
• Technical Expertise: Strong experience across data modelling, data architecture, data integration and data governance, with practical knowledge of Microsoft technologies including Azure Data Services, Power BI, Fabric and SQL Server
• Data Governance and Quality Focus: Understands how to manage data as a reliable and trusted asset
• Collaboration and Communication: Able to engage effectively with both technical and non technical stakeholders
• Continuous Learner: Keeps pace with evolving data technologies and practices
• Problem Solver: Delivers pragmatic, implementable solutions
• Results Driven: Focused on delivering outcomes that create tangible value

• An environment that values curiosity, autonomy and working in the open
• Engaged and supportive leadership with a clear vision
• Training and development opportunities to support your growth
• An inclusive workplace reflecting the communities we serve
• A benefits package supporting a strong work life balance
• Exposure to a wide range of digital and technology services across the Council

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities we serve. Our data tells us that for this level of role, ethnic minorities are underrepresented and therefore we will use positive action to support us to achieve diverse shortlists. This may mean that recruitment times are a little longer, but we think this is worth it to achieve our aim.

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining and developing all of our people.

We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

For any informal enquiries please contact the Resourcing Team

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken.

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You can view the Corporate Safeguarding Policy here.