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Form of workWork for an organisation steeped in history with a front row seat for the rise of Fintech and digitalisation of the financial sector. A core organisational strength, with the team at our centre, Technology enables the Bank to deliver its mission by providing a hugely diverse set of technical solutions and platforms. From supporting critical systems that underpin the UK economy, to evolving data analytics, transform our online presence, and introducing a fully digital workplace, join a function that's constantly evolving, just like our industry.
We take pride in our people, with backgrounds and experiences as diverse as the solutions they provide. You'll enjoy flexible working opportunities, a strong sense of community and well-being, and a collective mission to promote the good of the people of the UK. All of which add up to make the Bank a hugely rewarding place to work.
Department Overview
The Technology Directorate helps enable the Bank to deliver on our collective mission to promote the good of the people of the UK by maintaining monetary and financial stability. In Technology, we support a large diverse set of technical solutions and platforms to deliver services to both the Bank and external users. These include critical systems and services that underpin the UK economy, financial supervision, evolving data analytics, collaboration and research.
This role sits within the Technology Strategy and Architecture (TSA) division in the Technology Directorate who are accountable for technical strategy, you'll work with team who is passionate about the setting the direction for strategic change. Working in a creative team as a trusted partner across the organisation, you will focus on the future of technology within the organisation. You will collaborate closely with key partners throughout the Bank and colleagues in Technology to help understand the organisation's business outcomes, define roadmaps and shape our future landscape.
Job Description
The Architecture team within TSA is responsible for developing and maintaining an enterprise architecture practise that supports the Technology directorate and the wider Bank in achieving its strategic objectives. The Lead Data Architect role reports into a Principal Architect within the architecture team, and provides technical thought leadership, with the autonomy to make key design decisions. The role requires technical breadth and depth as well as a proven track record of working at an experienced level.
Key Responsibilities
As a senior member of the Team, you will be:
- Taking a leading role on programmes and projects, understanding business imperatives and developing data solutions that deliver against the requirements aligned to business and technology strategies
- Responsible for translating business strategic goals and objectives into supporting enterprise-wide technology and data strategies
- Understanding the enterprise and strategic direction, developing supporting roadmaps for data capabilities with a focus on rationalisation, simplification and decommissioning
- Responsible for developing Data Architecture artefacts including conceptual and logical data models, data flow diagrams, interface models, data migration strategies that are aligned to architecture standards, principles and patterns taking into consideration the impact to the enterprise, technology and business
- Establishing enterprise scale data principles, policies, standards, data governance policies, data catalogues and definitions
- Ensuring the Data Architecture capability is mature and is "fit for purpose" for the changing technology landscape and aligns with the Bank's cloud first approach
- Contributing to the development and enhancement of the architecture strategy and roadmaps for data and analytics
- Guiding and supporting programmes and projects in delivery and implementation of end-to-end data and analytics solutions including the adoption of data governance standards and best practice across the data lifecycle
- Responsible for ensuring architectural artefacts are governed and maintained through the appropriate review boards within Technology
- Being a technology ambassador, representing architecture and technology at governance forums and being an advocate for the solutions, strategies and roadmaps produced by the team
- Seeing opportunities for technology-driven innovation and shaping proposals that delivers quick-win and business benefit within the boundary of platform and product roadmap
- Responsible for contributing to the development and maintenance of the architecture building blocks, architecture repository and continuous improvement initiatives
- Helping to improve architecture processes and mentor junior architects within the team
- Responsible for managing a team of Data Architects, supporting the appraisal process and career aspirations of the direct reports
Role Requirements
- Experience in enterprise Data Architecture, developing Data Architecture artefacts to support enterprise requirements for large projects/initiatives.
- Demonstrated domain expertise and design experience of operational and real time data services, data distribution, and data management solutions delivering on high levels of performance, security, scalability, and reliability requirements
- Expert knowledge of Data Architecture, data governance and architecture design patterns e.g. medallion architecture
- Excellent knowledge of Master and Reference Data Management (MDM/RDM) and demonstrable experience of application of MDM policies and standards in projects.
- Excellent knowledge of wider data management capabilities like metadata, data governance, data catalogues.
- Extensive experience of working with data models, primarily conceptual and logical data models.
- Excellent documentation skills and ability to produce high quality architecture artefacts, technical specifications documents and architectural guardrails and standards
- Demonstrable experience of Data Architecture best practices and interdisciplinary understanding across data, security, and infrastructure
- Superb communication skills, including articulating and negotiating complex solutions across a variety of stakeholders, senior management and at governance forums across IT and business
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, ability to build relationships and influence across teams and organisational boundaries
- Proven track record of defining, implementing and driving technical change through innovation, architectural evolution, simplification, and capability exploitation
- Working knowledge of quality standards, legislation, and best practice e.g., GDPR
- Critical thinking, including the ability to research and provide summarised results and recommendations
- Ability to adapt and prioritise, work under stress and meet timelines
- Ability to anticipate problems, issues and act appropriately
- Collaborative self-starter, able to quickly absorb new information and deal with ambiguity, pro-active and self-motivated
Desirable Criteria
- Good understanding of XML and any knowledge of standards such as XBRL, SDMX, FIBO, ISO20022
- Knowledge of DAMA-DMBOK
- Prior experience of using a data modelling tool like Sparx Enterprise Architect.
- Knowledge of data and analytics services on Big data and Cloud platforms e.g. Cloudera, Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks and Unity Catalog, Purview
- Knowledge of Data warehouse/ETL technologies
- Experience working with architectural methodologies and frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, Zachman).
- Cloud architect/Data Architect certifications
- Good understanding of Financial Services and the challenges of working on projects or programmes in a regulated business environment
- Knowledge and exposure of financial regulation is highly desirable
- Awareness of wider Enterprise Architecture Skills: - technical reference model development, building block design, applications and role design, systems integration, etc.
- Awareness of industry trends across wider technology e.g. RegTech, Cloud, Big data & Analytics, and Cyber security etc.
- Experience of working in a public, private Enterprise or FTSE 100 organisation
Our Approach to Inclusion
The Bank values diversity, equity and inclusion. We play a key role in maintaining monetary and financial stability, and to do that effectively, we believe we need a workforce that reflects the society we serve.
At the Bank of England, we want all colleagues to feel valued and respected, so we're working hard to build an inclusive culture which supports people from all backgrounds and communities to be at their best at work. We celebrate all forms of diversity, including (but not limited to) age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. We believe that it's by drawing on different perspectives and experiences that we'll continue to make the best decisions for the public.
We welcome applications from individuals who work flexibly, including job shares and part time working patterns. We've also partnered with external organisations to support us in making adjustments for candidates and employees in the recruitment process where they're needed.
For most roles where work can be carried out at home, we aim for colleagues to spend half of their time in the office, with a minimum of 40% per month. Subject to that minimum requirement, individuals and managers should work together to find what works best for them, their team and stakeholders.
Finally, we're proud to be a member of the Disability Confident Scheme. If you wish to apply under this scheme, you should check the box in the 'Candidate Personal Information' under the 'Disability Confident Scheme' section of the application.
Salary and Benefits Information
We encourage flexible working, part time working and job share arrangements. Part time salary and benefits will be on a pro-rated basis as appropriate.
In addition, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package as detailed below:
- A non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/95th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/50th) or decrease (to 1/120th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year.
- A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
- A 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
- 26 days' annual leave with option to buy up to 12 additional days through flexible benefits.
- Private medical insurance and income protection.
National Security Vetting Process
Employment in this role will be subject to the National Security Vetting clearance process (and typically can take between 6 to 12 weeks post offer) and the passing of additional Bank security checks in accordance with the Bank policy. Further information regarding the vetting and security clearance requirements for the role will be provided to the successful applicant, and information about how the Bank processes personal data for these purposes, is set out in the Bank's Privacy Notice.
The Application Process
Important: Please ensure that you complete the 'work history' section and answer ALL the application questions fully. All candidate applications are anonymised to ensure that our hiring managers will not be able to see your personal information, including your CV, when reviewing your application details at the screening stage. It's therefore really important that you fill out the work history and application form questions, as your answers will form a critical part of the initial selection process.
The assessment process will comprise of two stages.
Please apply online, ensuring that you complete your work history and answer ALL the application questions fully and in detail as your application will not be considered if all mandatory questions are not fully completed.
