Group Data Architect

Who are we?

First Rail Holdings is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.

About the team

The First Group is a complex organisation of largely independent transport and associated businesses. We are currently looking for a Group Data Architect to join the newly created Strategy and Architecture team reporting to the Group Strategy and Architecture Director

About the job

The purpose of the role is to lead the mapping exercise of data across the group organisations, leading to the definition of the enterprise data model and future data platform. This will be accompanied by the set of architectural data principles, policies and design patterns that will guide the enterprise's data decisions, and end-to-end data architecture solutions.

The ideal candidate will have in-depth experience developing and delivering data platforms in AWS together with other technologies to exploit data to the benefit of the organisation e.g. advanced analytics and data visualisation, range of AI solutions, IOT, MDM. Additional experience of Azure will be desirable.

Finally, a key purpose of the role is actively support and deliver the IT Governance framework across the group and its organisations, ensuring alignment to the defined data policies, architectures, mandatory regulatory requirements and ensuring that data investment delivers value for IT.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Be accountable for supporting and aligning to the organisation's data strategy
• Defining and communicating a shared data vision across the group organisations. Developing enterprise data architecture roadmaps, including 'as is', 'to be' and transitional states
• Defining the data platform strategy, setting up/enhancing the organisation's data platform capabilities, creating and managing as required 'data processes' to meet the organisation's needs
• design, support and provide guidance for the upgrade, management, decommission and archive of data in compliance with data policies.
• Oversee the design of multiple data models and data dictionaries and have a broad understanding of how each model fulfils the needs of the organisation. Ensuring information is maintained and managed regularly and it is kept up to date.
• Identify and help set up master data sets and 'single versions of truth' for core Data objects and entities across the organisation
• Define and maintain the data technology architecture, including metadata, integration and business intelligence or data warehouse architecture
• Actively lead the design / provide strategic guidance in the design stages of data projects and assure the development of data products
• Help define the IT Governance Framework establishing data architectural principles, policies and standards. Active member in architectural boards, ensuring that the organisation's systems are designed in accordance with the enterprise data architecture.
• Making technical decisions regarding data and explaining how these decisions will impact the organisation, ensuring that multiple business teams, domain architects and suppliers are aligned to the delivery of the data designs.
• Champion data architecture both internally and through collaborating and communicating at the most senior levels across government
• Performing data audits on existing organisations, solutions, third parties and potential new ventures
• Act autonomously and actively bringing forward ideas and recommendations to improve the organisation's data and integration landscape.
• Develop the data architecture community, setting the standards, inspiring other architects, BI teams, data scientists, coaching and helping them and other IT teams understand how to meet organisational data goals
• Carry out horizon scanning across industry, identifying emerging trends and their potential impact and opportunity for the organisation e.g. AI, data visualisation and advanced data analytics

This is a hybrid role, with a mix of remote and office presence required.

As a minimum, you will need to have:

• Proven background as a Data Architect at group/enterprise level, serving as an Enterprise Data Architect in an organisation with at least an equivalent or greater scale than First Group
• Setting up and managing governance structures and controls for data, (structured and un-structured) and digital solutions for exploitation of the data including artificial intelligence.
• Evidence of strong data skills and knowledge of a wide range of enterprise data solutions: Data platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure), analytics (Power BI, Tableau) and advanced analytics, real time data analysis and visualisation, AI data exploitation etc.
• Extensive management (matrix and direct) experience of data teams (architects, engineers, BI, data scientists and others)
• Evidence of Artificial intelligent governance and controls for business initiatives. Researching trends and identifying use cases for to pilot for value. Managing governance of these pilots to construct business cases for roll-out
• Having worked on large scale data programmes. An extensive track record of shaping, designing and delivering data components to provide long-lasting business value across organizations.
• Development and maintenance of data architecture deliverables using recognized modelling standards and enterprise architecture/ data modelling tools.
• Using leadership skills to develop and motivate people, including senior managers and executive members, to shape, define and design the delivery of data solutions that address the most complex business challenges.
• A high degree of logic and structured thinking coupled with advanced analysis and problem-solving techniques delivery focused view.
• Inquisitive mind, endless curiosity and passion for learning about customers, industries and new approaches to doing things. How end users perform their jobs. Industry challenges and solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of a customer's technology organization: COO/CIO to business manager to administrator.
  Qualifications: Educated to degree level in Computer Science, Data Science or equivalent. AWS, Azure and other data industry professional certifications / qualifications

About the location

8th Floor, The Point, 37 North Wharf Road, London, E2 1AF

We all belong at First Rail Holdings . FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.