Data Architect

We are looking for an experienced Data Architect for an 18-month fixed-term contract to act as the vital link between our business teams to understand what we need to do, our technology teams to drive the right strategic technology decisions for the Council and our Transformation teams to make that a reality.

We want to be the leading local council in digital innovation. To achieve this, we need the right people inputting into the technology roadmap, ensuring the technology strategy is aligned to the business strategy.

The ideal candidate will have recent experience of implementing data standards, data governance, data principles and policies into another government organisation. You would have prior experience in data modelling and translating complex data problems into data designs. You would have a working knowledge on reference and master data management, metadata management as well as data quality assessment and experience. You would be versed in data profiling and source systems analysis. Is this you? If so, we’d like to hear from you.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28 days annual leave per year, 29 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Payment of professional subscription / membership - If your job description requires that you are registered with or a member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

As the Data Architect you will design data models to fulfil the strategic data needs of the organisation and support the Council’s services. You’ll collaborate with stakeholders to design and deliver the data management strategy ensuring this aligns with WNC policies and Data Architecture Principles.

You will be supporting to deliver a vast portfolio of work supporting key strategic projects in parallel to fixing data foundations as well as translating the organisations data strategy into designs, working closely with various business areas, understanding their data needs and future integration.

Day to day, your job will look like:

• YOU are the Lead Consultant for Data Architecture when engaging with senior stakeholders including up to Director Level across the business. You need to get under the skin of their service provision and ensure that the data architecture is aligned to their service goals and needs.
• You are producing the data architecture artefacts as required to model and document the business area you are supporting.
• Thinking about what is best for the organization you will balance the needs of the stakeholders and the most efficient data architecture.
• Contribute to and help maintain the Enterprise Architecture repository of information.
• Collaborate with the Enterprise and Solution Architects as well as the Information Governance Team to ensure seamless working practices and collaboration.
• Lead on data governance and production of data architectural principles, roles, policies and standards.
• Mentor and develop junior architects in the team.
• Being a proactive thinker, do-er and challenger, so that we can do our best work.

Ideally you will have previous experience as a Data Architect or Solution Architect with experience of operating in a large and complex organisation. You would have prior experience in data modelling and translating complex data problems into data designs. You would have a working knowledge on reference and master data management, metadata management as well as data quality assessment and experience. Demonstrable experience in data profiling and source systems analysis.

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email careers@westnorthants.gov.uk for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.