Lead Data Platform Architect

Job Description:

As the Lead Data Platform Architect in the Enterprise Data & Platform team, your key responsibilities are as follows:

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY AND LEADERSHIP

• Lead the definition and execution of data architecture strategies across multiple business domains and data platforms.
• Drive the development of scalable, integrated data models and architectures across raw, trusted, and harmonized zones.
• Define and execute the data product strategy for assigned business areas in collaboration with analytics and business teams.
• Act as a thought leader and trusted advisor, supporting teams in understanding business objectives, data requirements, processes, and enabling technologies.
• Ensure all data architecture efforts are aligned with the broader business vision and strategic priorities and provide architectural oversight across delivery initiatives.
• Collaborate with other data architects to ensure consistent and integrated use of data assets across the organization.
• Identify cross-segment and cross-function data dependencies or issues and lead resolution efforts.
• Provide strategic guidance on data domains, process analysis, data analysis, and modelling techniques.
• Mentor and coach solution / data architects and engineers to build internal data architecture capability.
• Advocate for best practices, tools, and methods related to data architecture.
• Ensure understanding and compliance of data protection policies, security policies, and GDPR

DELIVERABLE INVOLVEMENT & OWNERSHIP

• Reference Architectures: Own and maintain reusable architectural patterns
• High-Level Designs (HLDs): Review and approve HLDs from Solution Architects and 3rd parties
• Key Design Decisions (KDDs): Own and govern major architectural decisions for alignment with the Architecture Review Board and beyond
• Architecture Option Assessments: Lead decisioning on tooling, modelling, and patterns

DATA & PLATFORM ARCHITECTURE OWNERSHIP

• Develop and maintain current and future state data architectures, models, and roadmaps.
• Promote awareness and understanding of data architectures across the organization.
• Review and validate high-level models and reference architecture libraries
• Approve changes to shared or enterprise-wide data models

LEARNING & GROWTH

• Collaborate with the team to learn and apply the best practices in data architecture.
• Actively participate in projects, gaining experience in developing high-quality, scalable, and sustainable data solutions.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies and trends in data architecture, contributing to the team's knowledge base by sharing insights and ideas.
• Guide the development of data solutions within the Enterprise Analytics data platform as the senior team member.
• Support the maintenance of a semantic and intelligent data layer to contribute to the comprehensive leadership of the data solution within the environment and for consumption by analytical and AI solutions

COLLABORATION & COMMUNICATION

• Collaborate closely with data engineers, solution architects, data scientists, and other team members
• Maintain effective communication with the Enterprise Data & Platform Director, actively participating in team discussions and sharing ideas to improve platform excellence.

Context

The Lead Data Platform Architect is instrumental in delivering scalable, repeatable and agile data and platform architectures to unlock and drive business value across Finance, Commercial, R&D, MGS Labs and Innovation:

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

·       Collaborates closely with leaders across MGS functions and Enterprise Analytics to align data and platform architectures and initiatives with core business objectives and co-create strategic priorities.

TRUSTED PARTNER & PROGRAM DISCIPLINE

·       Acts as an organisational authority for the Enterprise Analytics Data Platform, serving as a dependable single point of contact for all related matters.

NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY WITH OWNERSHIP

·       Operates with a high level of autonomy, navigating ambiguity and organisational complexity through a results-driven and proactive approach.

ESSENTIAL:

• Previous experience as a Senior Data or Platform Architect essential
• Proven experience as a senior data or platform architect, or similar leadership role in data & platform strategy.
• Strong background in data modelling, architecture frameworks, and modern data integration methods.
• Deep understanding of cloud-based data platforms (Azure) and tools (Databricks, SQL, ADF etc) as well as analytics solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and align across business and technology functions.
• Experience building and evolving data & platform architectures that scale and adapt to changing business needs.
• Passion for coaching and enabling others with a collaborative leadership approach.
• Knowledgeable in Data Source systems (eg. SAP) and Data Lake technology
• Stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Fluent in writing and speaking English

DESIRED:

• Previous experience in CPG industry would be ideal
• Experience at operating in a complex global matrix organisation
• Experience at collaborating with cross-functional partners
• High drive for results and an ability to work with minimum input