Data Architect

Job Title: Data Strategy Consultant / Data Architect
Location: London, UK (Hybrid)

About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced Data Strategy Consultant / Data Architect to lead and deliver data strategy initiatives focused on discovery, governance, and integration within complex Merger and Demerger (M&A) environments. The ideal candidate will combine strong technical expertise in data architecture with strategic consulting skills to design and implement data strategies that enable business continuity, compliance, and value realization during organizational transitions.

Key Responsibilities:
Lead the data strategy and architecture workstream for merger/demerger projects, aligning data initiatives with overall business transformation goals.
Conduct data discovery and assessment activities to identify data sources, quality issues, dependencies, and integration needs.
Develop and implement data governance frameworks, ensuring compliance, consistency, and control across systems and entities.
Define target data architectures and transition roadmaps to support the separation or integration of systems.
Partner with business stakeholders, IT, and program leads to translate business requirements into actionable data strategies.
Provide thought leadership on data management, governance, and analytics best practices.
Support design and delivery of data migration and data quality improvement initiatives.
Create and maintain data models, dictionaries, lineage documentation, and related artefacts.
Advise on data platform choices (on-premises or cloud) to optimize performance, scalability, and compliance.

Key Skills & Experience:
Proven experience (8+ years) as a Data Architect, Data Strategy Consultant, or similar role.
Strong understanding of data governance, data management, metadata management, and data quality principles.
Demonstrated experience delivering data strategies for M&A or corporate restructuring (merger/demerger) projects.
Expertise in data discovery, data lineage, and data mapping activities.
Familiarity with data frameworks and standards such as DAMA-DMBOK, DCAM, or EDM Council best practices.
Hands-on experience with data platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP), data cataloging tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Informatica), and ETL/Integration solutions.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence both business and technical teams.
Strong analytical, documentation, and presentation abilities.