Data Architect

It’s never been a more exciting time to join Vistra.

At Vistra our purpose is progress. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world and to do great things for global progress, and we exist to remove the friction that comes from the complexity of global business – to help our clients achieve progress without friction.

But progress only happens when people come together and take action. And we’re absolutely committed to building a culture where our people can do just that. 

Our goal is to make this a great place to work where all our people can thrive. We hope you join us on this exciting journey!

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as Data Architect.  

Purpose Of The Role

The person appointed will be an integral member of the Architecture Team and will be responsible for the design and implementation of the enterprise wide data strategy, ensuring the strategy supports the current and future business needs.

The role will involve collaborating with Business and IT stakeholders at all levels to ensure the enterprise data strategy and associated implementation is adding value to the business.

Scope

• A Data Architect will:
• Develop and implement an overall organizational data strategy that is in line with business processes. This strategy must include data model designs, database development standards, implementation and management of data warehouses and data analytics systems.
• Identify data sources, both internal and external, and working out a plan for data management that is aligned with organizational data strategy.
• Decide how our data is captured, stored, processed, consumed, integrated, secured, reported on, and managed by business teams and technology systems.
• Coordinate and collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and vendors for the smooth functioning of the enterprise data system.
• Plan and execute a big data solution using standard and state-of-the-art technologies.
• Manage end-to-end data architecture, selecting the platform, designing the technical architecture, and governing the development of the application.
• Integrating technical functionality, ensuring data accessibility, accuracy, and security.
• Create and maintain a range of architecture documents including architectural designs, business glossaries, data catalogues, data flow diagrams, data models, data profiling, governance and monitoring controls, interface designs, message definitions, process maps, reporting specifications, security group definitions, traceability matrices, quality rules, and more.  
• Take a lead role and be responsible for translating the functional and non-functional requirements into the Data Architecture for the solution.
• Conduct a continuous audit of data management system performance, refine whenever required, and report immediately any breach or loopholes to the stakeholders.
• Ensure the Data Architecture aligns with Enterprise Architecture roadmaps and adheres to Enterprise Architecture principles.
• Provide peer-review leadership for other Architects in the wider team.
• In addition to Data Architect responsibilities, also consistently approach problems with an open mind and challenge to ensure appropriate pragmatic clean designs.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with non-technical business users.
• Designing data infrastructure to meet business needs. Determining the cost implications of various solution options.
• Developing plans to show how options will work and discussing these in an understandable way.
• Continuously improving data infrastructure
• Adhering to security and regulatory compliance norms
• Working with a team and working with third party suppliers
• Defining data governance policies
• Identifying gaps or problems in computer systems.
• Understanding the way in which different parts of the business model work together, including operating systems and application architectures.
• Working on the changeover from an existing system to a new one and ensuring that the improved version works with existing systems.
• Making sure that the new solution meets industry regulation specifications.
• Giving technical advice and maintaining ongoing relationships.
• Providing feedback in a timely manner to the supplier(s) to ensure that product development or modification meets the business needs.

Attributes / Technical Skills

• Extensive knowledge of data management tools and frameworks.
• Highly desirable to have soft skills like effective communication, team management, problem-solving, and leadership.
• Knowledge of systems development, including system development life cycle, project management approaches and requirements, design and testing techniques
• Proficiency in data modelling and design, including SQL development and database administration.
• Understanding of predictive modelling, NLP and text analysis, artificial intelligence (AI) and its subsets.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking capabilities
• Metadata management skills
• Understanding of programming languages (to ensure that solutions are adapted to meet the need of a specific programming language)
• Extensive understanding of common data management and reporting technologies, as well as columnar and NoSQL databases, data visualization, unstructured data, and predictive analytics
• Ability to create data models.
• Above-average understanding of business operations.
• Project management and teamwork skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical information in layman's terms.
• The ability to provide superb customer service and to be positive.
• Ability to multi-task.

Relevant Experience

• Minimum 7 years technology experience, the latest 2 of which have been as a data architect.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to lay audiences.
• Results oriented with ability to produce solutions that deliver organizational benefit.
• Experience collaborating cross-team to ensure successful delivery of solutions.
• Strong analytical skills with demonstrated outside-the-box problem solving skills.
• Experience in assessing a broad range of IT solutions particularly in the financial and business sector.

Education And Professional Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree in related and relevant subject.
• Higher degree preferred.
• Qualifications in Data Architecture (e.g. TOGAF, Certified Data Architect, or equivalent)

If you are excited about working with us, we encourage you to apply or have a confidential chat with one of our Talent Acquisition team members. Our goal is to make this a great place to work where all our people can thrive. We hope you join us on this exciting journey!