Lead Data Architect, Chief Technology Office (CTO) - HO - G7

Location

Croydon, Manchester, Sheffield

About the job

Job summary

As a Lead Data Architect, you will create and uphold data architecture across critical Home Office systems, enabling secure, data-driven services that keep the country safe. Working under the vision set by the Principal Data Architect, you’ll design robust data models, metadata systems, and governance frameworks to serve diverse stakeholders.

Your leadership will span strategic planning, mentoring junior data architects, and aligning technical decisions with business objectives.

If you thrive on architecting solutions that integrate emerging technologies such as cloud-native platforms, data lakehouses, streaming data pipelines and AI-powered analytics while collaborating with multi disciplinary teams, this role offers you the chance to elevate how the Home Office exploits data for maximum public impact.

Due to business requirements this post is available on a full time/flexible working basis. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.   

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition.

Job description

In this role, you will translate strategic data vision into tangible designs and solutions, ensuring data assets are secure, well-structured, and aligned with evolving Home Office priorities.

Partnering with Technical Architects, Principal Data Architects, and various data teams, you will evaluate existing platforms, identify gaps, and recommend optimisations whether via cloud-native services, large-scale distributed data platforms, or modern data warehouses.

You’ll oversee how data catalogues, metadata systems, and governance frameworks are implemented, championing best practices across multiple programs. By leading data design reviews, you’ll ensure alignment with department-wide standards, while also balancing performance, scalability, and compliance needs.

Additionally, you will serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, translating business requirements into actionable architecture patterns and reference models. You will collaborate with and guide multiple stakeholders on data-centric initiatives in the Home Office. You’ll also mentor less-experienced data architects, sharing emerging trends in scalable data technologies and building a resilient, future-proof data estate.

Ultimately, your expertise will help streamline Home Office workflows, promote consistent data usage, and foster innovative ways to harness critical data at scale.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

Design and maintain data models, metadata systems, and data flows that align with the overarching data strategy.
Advise and guide data professionals on implementing best practices for data modelling, governance, and metadata management.
Collaborate with Technical Architects to ensure system designs meet data architecture standards, championing performance, security, and regulatory compliance.
Oversee data catalogues and lineage, embedding governance processes for consistent and trustworthy data usage.
Contribute to the selection and assessment of data platforms (on-premise, cloud, or hybrid), recommending strategies to optimise costs and resources.
Mentor and coach junior architects, offering guidance in areas like data integration, real-time analytics, and emerging tools/technologies.
Engage with stakeholders at various levels to reconcile differing views, building consensus on data architectural decisions.

Essential Skills:

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for data architecture, with the following key abilities or experience:

Deep technical expertise in at least one data ecosystem (e.g. Oracle, SQL Server, Cloud Data platforms) plus real-time data streaming/ processing technologies (Kafka, Spark).
Data modelling and governance proficiency, covering conceptual, logical, and physical architectures, metadata management.
Cloud data technologies: experience architecting solutions on AWS, Azure, or GCP, optimising cost, performance, and security.
Proven ability to design and implement data governance tools and data literacy programs, fostering a responsible, data-savvy culture.
Analysis and design of data-driven projects, ensuring data quality, integration, and scalability.
Communication & collaboration skills: able to simplify complex data concepts for varied audiences, build consensus, and mentor peers.
Awareness of industry advances in analytics tools, scalable data solutions, or data manipulation products to inform strategic decisions.

SFIA capability framework  

Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework:  All skills A - Z English (sfia-online.org)  

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.  

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role: 

SFIA Technical skills:

Strategy and Architecture

Strategy and Planning

Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
Information Management (IRMG) – Level 4
Innovation (INOV) – Level 4
Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 4

Advice and Guidance

Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 3

Development and Implementation

Data and Analytics

Data Modelling and Design (DTAN) – Level 4

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
Information Management (IRMG) – Level 4
Innovation (INOV) – Level 4
Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 4
Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 3
Data Modelling and Design (DTAN) – Level 4