Principal Data Architect - HO - G6

In this role, you will own the data strategy for the Home Office, ensuring systems and solutions align with enterprise data architecture principles. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll define how data is modelled, integrated, and governed across diverse business domains. As the top-level authority on data, you'll set policies for naming, structuring, securing, and formatting data — championing consistent standards and ways of working across government. 

By collaborating with technical teams, you'll ensure that conceptual, logical, and physical data models are fit for purpose, leveraging next-generation cloud technologies, metadata solutions, and best-in-class analytics. You'll also advise on advanced topics like master data management and data lifecycle strategies, helping project teams handle complexity at scale. Beyond guiding system design, you'll nurture a culture of data excellence, coaching Lead Data Architects and facilitating knowledge-sharing to keep teams on the cutting edge. This role is critical in establishing a solid foundation for data management within an organisation, ensuring that data is organized, accessible, secure, and aligned with business objectives. Ultimately, your leadership and vision will unify data practices across Home Office programs and transform how we unlock insights and value from critical data assets. 

Key Responsibilities

• Define and drive the enterprise data architecture vision, aligning with Home Office priorities to store, manage, and integrate data effectively. 
• Set data policies and standards for modelling, governance, security, and lifecycle management, ensuring consistent adherence across teams. 
• Lead and mentor a team of Data Architects (G7 and below), overseeing performance, professional development, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 
• Oversee the creation of conceptual, logical, and physical data models, assuring they meet high-level requirements for availability, scalability, and compliance. 
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders to develop technical roadmaps, evaluating emerging tools (cloud data platforms, analytics frameworks) for strategic adoption. 
• Champion data architecture within cross-government forums, setting collaborative benchmarks and encouraging best practices. 
• Provide expert guidance to project teams, ensuring they follow industry-recognized patterns and apply data governance principles throughout the project lifecycle. 
• Own meta data architecture solutions and master data management strategies, ensuring a holistic view of data assets. 
• Liaise with other parts of Home Office in the use and sharing of Oracle Metis data sets across the estate.  
• Support data quality initiatives and data governance of the Oracle Metis data sets. 

  Other day to day activities:

  You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities: 

  • Engage with senior business and technical stakeholders to understand emerging needs and shape data-driven solutions. 
  • Assess departmental changes or technology upgrades, advising on data impact and mitigating potential risks. 
  • Lead cross-government or industry collaborations to stay informed of evolving standards and influence wider data architecture practice. 

    Working Pattern

    Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available. 

    Person specification

    Essential Criteria

    You'll have a demonstrable passion for enterprise-scale data architecture, with the following key abilities or experience: 

    • Deep expertise in multiple database technologies, data integration, metadata management, and advanced analytics, exploiting data across complex technical domains. 
    • Data leadership: guiding cross-functional teams in good data modelling, database management, and governance principles. 
    • Strategic planning: defining and maintaining technical roadmaps, tracking industry advances (e.g., digital analytics, data manipulation products). 
    • Standards and policies: identifying and applying industry-recognized data patterns, ensuring robust naming, securing, and formatting conventions. 
    • Modelling authority: leading conceptual, logical, and physical designs for distributed databases and driving MDM and metadata architectures. 
    • Cloud data: architecting solutions in public or hybrid cloud environments, optimizing for scale, performance, and cost-efficiency. 
    • Stakeholder engagement: communicating effectively with diverse audiences and forging consensus on data architectural decisions. 
    • Driving value of our data in modelling best practice Analytics capabilities and future AI use cases.  

      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 levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:  
      
      Strategy and Architecture

      • Strategy and Planning  
        1.    Strategic Planning (ITSP) - Level 5  
        2.    Information Management (IRMG) - Level 4  
        3.    Innovation (INOV) - Level 4  
        4.    Solution Architecture (ARCH) - Level 4 
        
        • Advice and Guidance
          1. Consultancy (CNSL) - Level 4 

             Development and Implementation  

             • Data and Analytics  
               1.    Data Modelling and Design (DTAN) - Level 5 
               
               

               Desirable Criteria

               Ideally you will also have the following skills or some experience in: 

               • HR management experience, such as interviewing, hiring, or conducting performance assessments to build strong data teams. 
               • Awareness of advanced data ethics frameworks, ensuring secure, responsible data usage for all deployed solutions. 
               • Experience with Oracle Fusion related datasets and Cloud products including EPM and FDI and integration services

                 Qualifications

                 • A bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, or related field is desirable but not essential. 
                 • Data certification like CDMP is desirable. 
                   Behaviours

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

                   • Seeing the Big Picture
                   • Making Effective Decisions
                     Technical skills

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

                     • Knowledge of Oracle systems