Enterprise Data Architect - Contractor

Company Description

Civica's Central Government & Defence (CGD) business helps government organisations transform the services that matter most. We design, build and manage secure digital services, data platforms and modern applications that improve outcomes for citizens and public servants. Combining public sector expertise with capabilities in digital, data, AI and cloud, we work alongside our clients to deliver intelligent solutions and lasting impact.

Travel Requirements:

• 4 days per week in London

Role Description

The Enterprise Data Architect is responsible for defining, governing, and maintaining the organisation's enterprise data architecture, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives, operational requirements, information management, and technology delivery. The role provides architectural leadership across data domains, data governance, data platforms, metadata management, and AI-enabling capabilities.

Working closely with business stakeholders, data governance, engineering teams, enterprise architects, and delivery teams, the Enterprise Data Architect ensures that data assets are managed as strategic organisational resources and are aligned with enterprise architecture frameworks and military direction.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Data Architecture

• Define, maintain, and evolve the enterprise data architecture roadmap and target-state architecture.
• Develop and maintain architectural artefacts using ArchiMate, Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA), NAF, and TOGAF methodologies.
• Ensure alignment between business strategy, military objectives, operational requirements, and enterprise data capabilities.
• Create and manage conceptual, logical, and physical data architecture models.
• Establish traceability between strategic objectives, business capabilities, information requirements, data assets, and technical solutions.

Data Strategy and Governance

• Work with the Data Governance function to understand the information needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Support the development and implementation of enterprise data policies, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Define and enforce data standards, reference data models, naming conventions, and architectural principles across data domains.
• Ensure compliance with organisational, regulatory, security, and information management requirements.
• Act as the primary architectural authority for enterprise data governance decisions.

Collaboration with Enterprise Architecture Teams

• Collaborate with Headquarters enterprise, technical, business, and military architects to ensure coherence across the overall enterprise architecture.
• Maintain data enterprise architecture artefacts within Sparx EA using NAF/NATO taxonomies and standards.
• Ensure data architecture requirements drive and inform technical architecture decisions.
• Support architecture review boards and governance forums.

Data Platforms and Data Engineering

• Work closely with Data Engineering teams to develop and organise enterprise data assets.
• Support the delivery of the organisation's target data platform architecture.
• Ensure data assets are catalogued, classified, labelled, and managed according to agreed standards.
• Promote modern architectural patterns including data products, data mesh, data fabric, and cloud-based data platform capabilities where appropriate.
• Support integration architecture and enterprise-wide data interoperability.

Metadata Management and Data Catalogue

• Define, implement, and continuously improve enterprise metadata standards.
• Ensure enterprise data catalogues provide comprehensive visibility and discoverability of data assets.
• Establish metadata governance processes and ownership models.
• Enhance enterprise knowledge graph capabilities to improve data discoverability, lineage, impact analysis, and AI readiness.
• Ensure metadata models support reusable enterprise information assets.

Data Quality Management

• Work with Data Quality teams to define and monitor data quality metrics and standards.
• Support the implementation of data quality monitoring, reporting, and remediation processes.
• Ensure critical data elements are identified, measured, and governed effectively.
• Drive continuous improvement of data quality practices across the organisation.

AI and Advanced Analytics Enablement

• Ensure enterprise data architecture supports Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and advanced analytics initiatives.
• Develop architectural standards that enable trusted, discoverable, and high-quality data for AI applications.
• Ensure knowledge graph and metadata capabilities are sufficiently mature to support AI and knowledge management use cases.
• Promote responsible and governed use of enterprise data for AI solutions.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with senior business, operational, military, and technical stakeholders.
• Translate complex business and operational requirements into data architecture deliverables.
• Provide architectural leadership and guidance to project and delivery teams.
• Facilitate workshops and architecture design sessions across multiple stakeholder groups.

Essential Skills and Experience

Technical Skills

• Enterprise Data Architecture
• Data Modelling (Conceptual, Logical, Physical)
• Metadata Management
• Data Governance Frameworks
• Data Quality Management
• Data Catalogue Platforms
• Master Data Management (MDM)
• Data Warehousing and Analytics
• Data Platform Architecture
• Knowledge Graph Architecture
• Information Management
• AI/Data Enablement Architectures
• Architecture Repository Management

Architecture Frameworks & Tools

• ArchiMate
• TOGAF
• NAF (NATO Architecture Framework)
• Sparx Enterprise Architect (EA)
• UML/BPMN
• Confluence
• Jira

Ways of Working

• Agile Delivery
• Architecture Governance
• Stakeholder Management
• Workshop Facilitation
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management

Essential Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Data Science, or related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• TOGAF Certified (or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification).
• Demonstrable experience developing enterprise-scale data architectures.
• Experience operating within complex government, defence, military, or highly regulated environments.

Desirable Qualifications

• Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
• DAMA Data Management certification
• ArchiMate Certification
• NAF/MODAF experience
• Cloud Architecture certifications (Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud)
• Security and Information Assurance certifications

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Enterprise Architecture Leadership
• Data Governance Expertise
• Analytical Problem Solving
• Excellent Communication Skills
• Influencing and Negotiation
• Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Decision Making
• Attention to Detail
• Continuous Improvement Mindset

Benefits

At Civica, we are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We believe that a variety of perspectives drives innovation and excellence, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristic. Our recruitment process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency, so every candidate has an equal chance to contribute to our mission.

If you need any adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process, please let us know. We are here to support you.