D365 CE/CRM - Data Architect

D365 CE/CRM Data Architect

Contract Length: Initial 15 months
IR35 Status: Outside IR35

Remote working

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Data Architect to define and lead the target data architecture for a significant CRM, data and analytics transformation programme.

The organisation is implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform while developing a modern data and analytics capability to bring together information currently held across multiple disconnected systems.

As the client-side data design authority, you will establish the architectural foundations needed to ensure data is trusted, governed, integrated, traceable and reusable across operational and analytical platforms.

You will own key architectural decisions spanning data models, master data, the Golden Record, system-of-record ownership, data migration, data governance and data-platform design. Working collaboratively with enterprise architecture, engineering, analytics, business data owners and delivery partners, you will provide clear direction and assurance throughout the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and maintain the target data architecture and transition roadmap across operational and analytical platforms.
• Define conceptual, logical and canonical data models, identifiers, master data and reference data standards.
• Lead architectural decisions on authoritative sources, system-of-record ownership and permitted data replication.
• Define the architecture for a Golden Record and single customer and supporter view, including identity resolution, matching, survivorship and reconciliation.
• Establish standards for data movement, integration patterns, data contracts, mappings, transformations, lineage, retention and classification.
• Shape and assure data-platform architecture, including Microsoft Azure data services, Microsoft Fabric and Lakehouse or warehouse patterns.
• Define architectural principles for data quality, metadata, data cataloguing, business glossaries and stewardship.
• Lead the architectural approach to data migration, including profiling, cleansing, deduplication, transformation, validation, reconciliation, cutover and rollback.
• Establish clear boundaries between operational integration and analytical reporting platforms.
• Ensure data architecture supports CRM, preference management, volunteer management, reporting and future analytical capabilities.
• Work with Information Governance, data protection and Cyber Security colleagues to embed privacy, consent, retention, access controls and UK GDPR requirements by design.
• Provide design assurance across CRM, integration, migration and connected-system workstreams before build or migration commitments.
• Define architecture-level requirements for monitoring, observability, alerting and operational support of critical data flows.
• Maintain architecture documentation, decision records, risks, exceptions and technical debt.
• Present architectural options, recommendations and risks through formal governance, escalating decisions where required.
• Collaborate with data engineers, migration specialists, analysts, business data owners and suppliers to ensure designs are practical, sustainable and supportable.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Substantial experience working as a Data Architect on complex, multi-system transformation programmes.
• Proven ownership of target data architecture spanning operational and analytical platforms.
• Strong architectural experience in CRM data modelling, master data, identity resolution and significant data migration.
• Experience designing modern data and analytics platforms and governed data products.
• Strong knowledge of conceptual, logical and canonical data modelling, metadata, lineage and data governance.
• Experience defining Golden Record, matching, survivorship and system-of-record patterns.
• Expertise in data migration architecture, including mapping, transformation, cleansing, deduplication, reconciliation, cutover and rollback.
• Architectural knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Dataverse data models.
• Understanding of Microsoft Azure data services, Microsoft Fabric and Lakehouse architecture patterns.
• Knowledge of data quality, retention, classification, access controls and UK GDPR requirements.
• Experience assuring supplier designs from a client-side architectural perspective.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience facilitating architectural decisions, challenging assumptions constructively and working through formal governance.

Desirable Experience

• Familiarity with Microsoft Cloud for Nonprofit and Apteco.
• Experience with consent and preference data, retail, E-commerce or contact-centre data.
• Experience in charity, fundraising, supporter, volunteering or membership environments.
• Recognised data or architecture certification, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience establishing data architecture and governance within organisations where data capability has previously been fragmented.