DDAT - Lead Data Architect – Data Fabric Strategy
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 20th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.
We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.
Defence Digital forms part of Strategic Command which manages the MOD’s joint capabilities for the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy.
Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The Enterprise Data Architecture Team has primary responsibility for ensuring the best use of data across the Department, supporting and overseeing the work of data architects across the Ministry of Defence’s complex business landscape. We champion the development of coherent data architecture strategies across the nineteen different Defence organisations to ensure that Defence’s data landscape is more than just the sum of its parts, minimising the time-to-data-value for data users and reducing the burden on data producers.
Reporting to the Chief Data Architect, the Lead Data Architect will have specific responsibility for developing our data fabric, including the enterprise Defence Data & Analytics Platform (DDAP), across the whole Defence enterprise, including front line operations, suppliers and the various public sector Defence organisations. You will engage with data teams and data users across the Defence enterprise to understand the user needs of the organisation. You will push us to improve our data landscape and champion the use of the right technology to reduce the time-to-value for data users. You will have a relentless focus on productivity and efficiency and ensure the various federated data teams across the Defence enterprise can develop products that give decision makers timely and secure access to high quality data.
As a core member of the data architectural leadership team, you will be key to our data architectural governance, reviewing and refining data architectural outputs from individual Defence organisations, and acting as formal reviewer through your role as member of the Data Architectural Reference Authority, with a specific focus on data management technology. You will support lead data architects in different parts of Defence to develop data architectural plans for their area and champion the importance of data architecture to senior leaders to ensure the continual improvement of Defence’s data landscape.
Responsibilities
1. Ongoing design and adoption of Defence’s data fabric:
- Developing, championing and communicating conceptual and logical designs for the data fabric and DAPP to senior and peer stakeholders across Defence
- Overseeing procurement and solution design for individual data fabric and DAPP components and supporting their rapid deployment and adoption.
- Liaising with business areas and understanding their data product landscape
- Overseeing the design of data products/services for a range of Defence data users.
2. Acting as a key data architecture governance stakeholder
- Ensuring projects across the Defence enterprise publish data to and consume data from the fabric
- Managing a small team Data Architects to support you in Data Fabric design
- Supporting and developing civil servant data architects
- Managing external resources to provide surge capacity in the team
Working alongside Head of Enterprise Data Architecture (peer) to actively review data architecture strategies across the Defence enterprise
3. Managing a small team Data Architects to support you in Data Fabric design
Supporting and developing civil servant data architects
- Managing external resources to provide surge capacity in the team
For more information on the Data Architect profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework;
https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-architect#chief-data-architect
Person specification
To be successful in this role you would have experience or knowledge in these areas;
- Deep understanding of data architecture principles: Proven expertise in designing and implementing data architecture in complex, enterprise-scale environments.
- Strong technical knowledge: Solid grasp of data management technologies, including data warehousing, data lakes, data pipelines, and data quality tools.
- Business acumen: Ability to understand the strategic objectives of a large organisation and translate them into data-driven solutions.
- Excellent communication skills: Effective communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership.
- Leadership and team management: Experience leading and mentoring data architects and data teams.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Data governance (data Architect)
- Data Innovation
- Strategic thinking
- Turning business problems into data design
Benefits
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms
• A highly competitive pension scheme.
Discover my benefits for more information
This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy.
Learning & Development
In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing –
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
To apply, please complete the CV and personal statement template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard. It is essential that your personal statement includes evidence of the following essential criteria and is no more than 1250 words.
Each one will be scored 1-7 and make up part of your overall score to assess your suitability to be invited to interview.
Your personal statement should provide a paragraph on each of the following, detailing your experience and suitability for each:
Essential Criteria
- Demonstrate your experience in designing data management platforms at enterprise scale
- Demonstrate your experience in managing teams of data architects to deliver data management software and data products/services
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical Skills:
- Data governance (Data Architect)
- Data Innovation
- Strategic thinking
- Turning business problems into data design
Interview
If invited to interview you will be expected to deliver a short presentation on an architecture related topic. The subject of this will be advised nearer the interview time.
Equality and Diversity
Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.
Hybrid Working
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
AI Usage in Job Applications
We encourage the use of technology to streamline the job application process. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be helpful in generating ideas, improving writing style, and increasing efficiency. However, it is essential that any content submitted as part of a job application is truthful, accurate, and a genuine reflection of the applicant’s qualifications and experiences. Any use of AI should be supplementary to your own knowledge and abilities. Ultimately, the application should demonstrate your unique skills and suitability for the role.
Professional Framework Statement
Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing. Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.
Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team
- Email : ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
