Data Architect

Permanent

Grade 7 - £62,986- £81,154

Consultation grade - subject to formal evaluation under the Pay Equity Review

Working 36.5  hours per week

Job Overview 

Are you passionate about data and its potential to transform organizations? Do you thrive on creating robust data strategies and architectures that enable business success? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Data Architect at Birmingham City Council. 

As a Data Architect, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our data landscape, driving data strategy, and unlocking the immense value hidden within our vast data reserves. You will be at the forefront of leveraging data lakes, data mastery, and data modelling to enable our organization to make informed decisions and deliver exceptional services to our citizens. 

What we are about  
We are embarking on a transformative journey towards establishing ourselves as a truly data-driven organisation. As a Data Architect, you will play a pivotal role in driving this change by upholding our core values, embodying key behaviours, and contributing to a wide range of impactful work. 

Our Values: 
Data-Driven Mindset: We are committed to fostering a culture where data-driven decision-making is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in leveraging data to gain insights, drive efficiency, and deliver exceptional services to our community. 

• Collaboration: We value collaboration and teamwork, recognizing that successful data initiatives require cross-functional partnerships and the collective efforts of diverse expertise. 
• Integrity: We uphold the highest standards of integrity in managing and protecting data, ensuring privacy, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements. 
• Continuous Improvement: We embrace a culture of continuous improvement, constantly seeking ways to enhance our data management practices, tools, and processes. 
• Strategic Thinking: You will apply strategic thinking to analyse complex business requirements and develop data architectures that align with our organization's goals, leveraging the Microsoft toolset. 
• Collaboration and Communication: Effective collaboration and communication skills are essential as you work closely with stakeholders to understand their data needs, provide insights, and facilitate informed decision-making. 
• Problem Solving: You will use your problem-solving skills to tackle data-related challenges, identify opportunities, and design innovative solutions using Microsoft technologies. 
• Adaptability: We value adaptability, as you will need to stay current with evolving Microsoft toolset features and best practices, ensuring we leverage the full potential of the technology stack. 

 
As a Data Architect at Birmingham City Council, your work will encompass a variety of impactful tasks, including: 

• Data Strategy and Governance: Developing and implementing a comprehensive data strategy and governance framework that aligns with our organizational objectives, ensuring data integrity, quality, and security. 
• Data Architecture Design: Designing robust data architectures using Microsoft toolset, enabling seamless data integration, scalability, and accessibility across systems and applications. 
• Data Modelling and Analysis: Creating and maintaining data models to represent complex data structures, facilitating data-driven decision-making, and supporting business intelligence initiatives. 
• Microsoft Technology Implementation: Leveraging the Microsoft toolset, including Azure Data Services, Power BI, SQL Server, and others, to implement data solutions that enable efficient data storage, processing, analysis, and visualization. 
• Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with cross-functional teams, business stakeholders, and IT professionals to understand their data requirements, provide technical guidance, and drive the adoption of a data-driven mindset. 

 

What you will do 
You will play a critical role in shaping and transforming our data landscape. Your expertise and strategic mindset will be instrumental in driving our data initiatives forward. With a focus on data modelling, data mastery, and the utilization of data lakes and the Microsoft toolset, you will be responsible for designing and implementing robust data architectures that enable us to make informed decisions and extract maximum value from our data assets. 

As a Data Architect you will: 

• Design and implement data architectures: Create and implement scalable and efficient data architectures using the Microsoft toolset, ensuring seamless integration and data flow across systems and applications. 
• Conduct data modelling: Develop and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models that accurately represent complex data structures and support data-driven decision-making processes. 
• Foster data mastery: Define and implement data governance frameworks, standards, and best practices, ensuring data quality, integrity, and compliance across the organization. 

• Utilize data lakes: Leverage data lakes as a central repository for storing and processing large volumes of structured and unstructured data, enabling advanced analytics, data exploration, and machine learning initiatives. 
• Implement Microsoft toolset: Utilize the Microsoft toolset, including Azure Data Services, Power BI, SQL Server, and other relevant technologies, to build data solutions that support data ingestion, storage, processing, analysis, and visualization. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders: Work closely with business stakeholders, IT teams, and data professionals to understand their requirements, gather insights, and translate them into practical and scalable data solutions. 
• Drive data strategy: Contribute to the development and implementation of a comprehensive data strategy that aligns with business objectives, fosters a data-driven culture, and supports organizational growth and innovation. 
• Stay updated with industry trends: Continuously monitor emerging trends, best practices, and technological advancements in the field of data architecture and apply them to enhance our data management capabilities. 

Who you Are 

You will have the opportunity to showcase your aptitude for data architecture and make a significant impact in our organization. As a Data Architect, you possess a unique combination of skills, qualities, and experience that sets you apart. Here's who you are: 

• Analytical Thinker: You have a natural ability to analyse complex data challenges, identify patterns, and generate innovative solutions. Your keen eye for detail allows you to develop precise and accurate data models that meet the needs of our organization. 
• Strategic Mindset: You possess a strategic mindset and can see the bigger picture when it comes to data architecture. You understand how to align data strategies with business objectives, ensuring that our data solutions drive tangible value and enable informed decision-making. 
• Technical Expertise: You have a strong foundation in data architecture principles, methodologies, and best practices. Your expertise spans data modelling, data integration, and data governance, and you are proficient in using the Microsoft toolset, including Azure Data Services, Power BI, SQL Server, and other relevant technologies. 
• Data Mastery: You are passionate about data and are committed to fostering data mastery within our organization. You possess a deep understanding of data quality, data governance, and data management principles, ensuring that our data assets are accurate, reliable, and secure. 
• Collaboration and Communication: You thrive in collaborative environments and can effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Your ability to build strong relationships and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams enables you to gather requirements, drive consensus, and deliver successful data solutions. 

• Continuous Learner: You have a growth mindset and a passion for continuous learning. You stay updated with the latest trends, technologies, and advancements in data architecture, allowing you to bring new ideas and innovative approaches to our organization. 
• Problem Solver: You excel at solving complex data challenges and have a natural inclination towards finding creative solutions. Your problem-solving skills enable you to navigate obstacles, optimize data processes, and ensure that our data architecture meets evolving business needs. 
• Results-Driven: You are motivated by results and take ownership of your work. You consistently strive for excellence and are dedicated to delivering high-quality data solutions that drive tangible business outcomes. 
• As a Data Architect, you bring your aptitude for data architecture to the forefront, utilizing your analytical thinking, strategic mindset, technical expertise, and collaborative nature to design and implement robust data solutions that empower our organization to make data-driven decisions and thrive in the digital era. 

We will support you with  

• An environment that values curiosity, autonomy and working in the open  
• An engaged and supportive leadership with a clear vision  
• Training and development opportunities to help you progress and be the best you can be  
• An inclusive workplace committed to reflecting the public we serve  

• A benefit package designed to promote a great work life balance   
• Exposure to all digital and technology teams and services areas across the council 

About us 

This is an exciting time to be joining Birmingham City Council’s Digital and Technology Services Department. We are Europe’s largest local authority, and with unprecedented investment in people and digital, a solid strategy, empowering leadership and a newly redesigned service to get behind, we are building digital services centred on the needs of our citizens, business and communities that will deliver on Birmingham’s bold ambitions for the city of today and tomorrow. 

We are a multidisciplinary team at the heart of transforming public services for the UK’s second largest city. We create, develop, deliver and operate an exceptionally diverse range of services that have a direct impact on improving the lives of 1.2m residents every day. 

We are embracing and promoting a truly digital, human centred approach for the whole organisation, underpinned by collaboration, openness and innovation. We take advantage of unparalleled access to data, doing things at scale and using technology creatively to re-imagine the way services are delivered and build the digital council of the future. 

Method of interviews (virtual or in person): 
An in-person assessment day will take place and shall comprise of a technical assessment and panel interview. 

If you require this document in an accessible format, please contact the Culture & Capability Team (DTSCultureandCapability@birmingham.gov.uk) 

You must upload a Supporting Statement and CV via the attachments part of your application. This is required for shortlisting; you need to describe how your experience and skills fit the essential criteria for the role as specified in the Person Specification. If you do not attach your Supporting Statement and CV, your application will not be considered.

For any informal enquires please contact:  Robert Walker (robert.walker@birmingham.gov.uk)

Closing date 6th October 2024 at 23:59

Ref: BCC1493

We welcome applications from people with caring responsibilities and flexible working options will be considered.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken

Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Job Description and Person Specification

1493 - Data Architect - GR7 JDPS.docx