Senior Data Architect (UKSV)

Job summary

As a Senior Data Architect within UKSV, you will lead the design and implementation of data architectures underpinning the UK’s single provider of National Security Vetting (NSV). You will architect highly secure, privacy-centric data pipelines and risk-aggregation platforms that process sensitive background checks, financial histories, and cross-government intelligence. Your work will modernise the national security vetting infrastructure while safeguarding highly classified data assets. You’ll be responsible for defining the data strategy, architecture, data model and governance of the digital services in UKSV.

As a Senior Data Architect (DA), you’ll be responsible for the data architecture of the digital services within UKSV. You’ll communicate this to technical and non-technical audiences alike. As a Senior Data Architect, you will be responsible for the technical data design of systems and services.

Please note that all roles with UK Security Vetting are reserved posts and therefore open to UK nationals only. For full information on Eligibility, please refer to the attached Job Pack.

Job description

Your daily duties will include but not be limited to:

• Design architecture solutions and lead the work to design a data strategy in line with the long term objectives of the Cabinet Office and UKSV
• Design a data strategy
• Influence the design of data infrastructure that supports complex data analytics services
• Help maintain the integrity of the UKSV critical databases
• Develop an expert understanding of UKSV, tailoring offerings accordingly
• Consult and advise on digital delivery programmes, liaising with stakeholders and communicating architectural concepts clearly and accurately
• Support the adoption of the enterprise assets repository, establish a process to ensure data quality of the repository
• Support the business units with their digital roadmaps to improve conformance with architecture principles
• Form trusted relationships with external suppliers and technical stakeholders

Person specification

As a Senior Data Architect within UK Security Vetting, we are looking for people who have the following expertise and attributes:

• A data expert with an eye for data design and communication with data
• Curious and inquisitive with the ability to learn new technologies and spot trends
• A collaborative person who enjoys working with technical and non-technical people
• Someone who can use data and data models to innovate
• Hands on with data using SQL, XML and data analytics tools

Essential

• Experience of architecture design for example data infrastructure, data models, enterprise data management, reusable technology components and reference architectures
• Experience delivering modern data platforms (cloud/hybrid), data integration patterns, lakes/warehouses, and API-driven architectures
• Experience in defining technical governance principles, strategies and standards
• Hands on experience with SQL, XML and data analytics tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to explain difficult concepts to anyone who needs to understand
• Demonstrated ability to implement data classification frameworks, handling controls, and secure sharing mechanisms that scale across classification boundaries without compromising agility
• Strong working knowledge of Government Security frameworks e.g. - Secure by Design, NCSC Cloud Security Principles.

Desirable

• Technical architecture experience in public sector or similarly complex and regulated organisations
• Experience of legacy migration and re-platforming of digital services
• Interest in forming government best practices, standards and policies
• Experience in managing commercial suppliers to deliver digital services
• Knowledge of architecture or engineering framework, such as TOGAF, ITIL
• Proven experience designing and securing data architectures for both OFFICIAL and SECRET classified information, in line with the UK Government Security Classification Policy (GSCP)
• Working knowledge of different software delivery practices including agile delivery

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Communicating between technical/non technical, Communicating data, Data analysis/synthesis, Data governance, Data innovation, Data modelling, Data standards, Metadata, Problem and Strategic Management, Turning business problems into data design

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,207, Cabinet Office contributes £17,152 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

To assess experience you will be asked to providea 750 word Personal Statement and CV.You will also be asked to provide a 250-word statement on the Behaviours Changing and Improving and Making Effective Decisions.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

A Statement of Suitability should provide a summary of your skills and achievements to show that you have the relevant experience, skills and attributes required for the role. Please detail your experience relevant to the role and carefully consider the essential criteria listed in the person specification.

At the sift stage you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Experience elements of the Success Profiles.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift ma