Job Description

London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham, Salford (may require occasional travel to other DBT offices)

About the organisation

The recently created Department for Business and Trade is at the heart of the UK\'s relationship with the global economy. We have five key responsibilities but in essence, we are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

Data, innovation, and data-centric decision making underpin the work of the department and in particular the way that digital services to support the businesses and the economy are delivered. Professionals like you will enable the department to continue to deliver at pace and achieve the ambitious departmental goals.

About the team

To enable the work of the department you will join our Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) team of over 400 colleagues working across the full spectrum of the DDaT specialisms, in a modern, user-centric, agile way.

You will join the team that build and operate innovative tools and services such as great.gov.uk that support businesses in the UK and overseas. Our public-facing services are visited millions of times each year and the tools we develop for our staff, across the globe, help them be more efficient in their daily working lives.

This is possible due to the state-of-the-art data infrastructure our teams build and maintain. We work on critical national infrastructure that powers trade at the UK border and innovative data projects looking at global supply chains and future ways of trading.

We believe in creativity, curiosity, diversity of thought, entrepreneurship, delivery focus and collaboration. We embody the DBT values to be excellent, connected, confident and collaborative. These values have helped us become a high performing team that continuously delivers high quality outputs.

About the role

As a Data Architect, you will help to implement our data vision for how we want to collect, manage, use and dispose of our data. You will take part in the design of data solutions to ensure they meet not only the end-users\' needs, but also that they adhere to standards, follow good practices, and meet our obligations. You will support more senior Data Architects to ensure the teams are working to the standards set by the Chief Data Architect.

It is a hands-on role. You will work with cross-functional, agile teams to see projects through from early conceptual designs to implementation and delivery. The teams will rely on your expertise in analytical problem solving, data modelling, and design skills as well as on your knowledge of available standard solutions to data problems. You will also take active part in the implementation of your designs to ensure they work well and to allow you to refine the designs as the team\'s understanding of the problem develops.

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

Find out about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our recruitment video, visiting our website or reading our blog!

Responsibilities

As a Data Architect, you will

• Design data architecture that addresses specific business problems and aligning the solutions with wider standards and principles
• Design data solutions that are resilient, reliable, and scale easily. Solutions which are built for interoperability and work well within the ecosystem of existing services.
• Effectively translate and accurately communicate across technical and non-technical professions and stakeholders
• Understand and implement data governance, help with assurance and compliance of data solutions to the relevant standards and frameworks.
• Be a key contributor in an Agile and cross-functional team

Essential Skills and Experience

You will need to have demonstrable skills and experience of:

• Communication skills (data). You can effectively translate and accurately communicate across technical and non-technical stakeholders as well as facilitate discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics. You can advocate for the team externally and can manage differing perspectives.
• Data governance. You understand what data governance is required. You can take responsibility for the assurance of data solutions and make recommendations to ensure compliance. You understand data protection policies and principles and ensure they are embedded in the solutions you design.
• Data innovation. You recognise opportunities to make better use of available data and identify new data sources which can help the organisation to function more effectively.
• Data modelling. You can explain the concepts and principles of data modelling and can produce, maintain and update relevant data models for specific business needs. You can reverse-engineer data models from a live system.
• Data standards. You know how to develop data standards for a specific component. You can analyse where data standards have been applied or breached and undertake an impact analysis of that breach
• Data technology. You can apply data models using database technology. You understand and apply appropriate data design principles to achieve performant and secure databases. You are aware of general trends in data technology.
• Problem resolution (data). You respond to problems in databases, data processes, data products and services as they occur. You initiate actions, monitor services and identify trends to resolve problems. You determine the appropriate remedy and assist with implementation of it as well as preventative measures.
• Strategic thinking (data architecture). You work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals.
• Turning business problems into data design. You design data architecture by dealing with specific business problems and aligning it to enterprise-wide standards and principles. You work within the context of well understood architecture and can identify appropriate patterns.
• Security Clearance. The successful candidate will have to hold or be able to obtain security clearance.

Desirable Skills and Experience

These and are not necessary but would be ideal if you:

• Metadata management. You are able to use metadata repositories in your job area and are able to describe the information necessary to keep them updated.
• Cloud solutions. Understanding of available typical cloud solutions to common data problems.
• Specific technology and tools. Good knowledge of Python, SQL or other programming and data languages. Knowledge of data formats. Good knowledge of architectural patterns, especially in the field of data and software integration.

Personal Attributes and Skills

The ideal candidate will be

• a flexible problem solver with interest in data and digital technology
• a team player able to collaborate on solutions with other professions
• eager to learn more and share what they know with others
• with ability to make effective decisions
• with ability to work within agile framework

Benefits

• Extensive learning and development tailored to your role, with budget for training, qualifications or professional membership of a recognised body
• An environment with flexible, hybrid working options such as condensed hours
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual leave starting at 25 days per annum plus statutory bank holidays rising to 30 days with service
• Three paid volunteering days a year
• Employee benefits programme offering retail discounts, a season ticket loan for public transport, and a cycle to work scheme

How to Apply

Unless otherwise specified, all interviews are currently being held online. Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing: 29/09/2023

Interviews will take place week commencing: 9/10/2023

Please notes these dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV and complete a personal statement outlining your experience, skills and fit for the role.

.At the sift stage for this role, we will assess your CV and personal statement against the essential skills and experience listed above, so please ensure these documents evidence these criteria. Your personal statement must be a maximum of 500 words. You can use bullet points and subheadings if you prefer. As well as evidencing the criteria you should also touch upon why you\'re interested in DBT and in this role.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct a \'short sift\' and read one element of your application. For this campaign a short sift would be conducted based on:Personal Statement.

How We Interview . click apply for full job details

Department for International Trade