Senior Data Architect

Job summary

As a Senior Data Architect you will champion the data architecture strategy, protecting and enhancing the value of UKHO data assets, and delivering improved customer experience for UKHO customers. You will drive the implementation of architecture policy, principles and standards in all business divisions, ensuring UKHO data is supported and enabled by the right platforms and systems, and that data is at the centre of design decisions.

As part of a wider Architecture team, you will work with Enterprise, Business and Solution Architects as well as other data professionals across UKHO to deliver solutions that enhance data quality and support efficient business operations.

Why join us?

The UKHO is a data-driven organisation specialising in global maritime and marine data, supporting Safety of Life at Sea and Defence customers. Data sits at the core of our business, making the Senior Data Architect role critical to achieving best practice in data management and governance, while maximising data value as we transition to a fully digital business.

UKHO is driving digital transformation through improved processes and use of innovative technology. This role offers the opportunity to work with both geospatial data and a complex commercial environment that requires sophisticated relationship management, sales, and reporting capabilities.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK.

There will be a requirement to attend the office in line with business need.

Please note our Policy on informal hybrid working (arrangements available as agreed with the line manager) applies within the UK and does not extend to working overseas.

Additional information

Part-time hours may be considered for this role (minimum of 30 hours per week).

Job description

• Lead the data architecture definition for multiple and diverse business areas
• The creation, delivery and evolution of key data Architectural Artefacts, including:
  • Conceptual, Logical and Physical data models
  • Data flow diagrams
  • Metadata models, taxonomies and data dictionaries
  • Principles, guidelines and standards
• Working with multiple business and technical stakeholders, identify data lineage, provenance, structure and value for data assets
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the enterprise, encouraging engagement and facilitating collaborative problem solving and decision making.
• Assist in the continuous improvement, evolution and communication of the data architecture process, its outcome, business benefits and ongoing management.
• Provide governance of all data architectural and design elements within a solution, identifying and escalating any significant risks or issues and helping to mitigate and manage these.

Person specification

• You will bring experience in delivery of data models within data-centric environments.
• You will have experience of communicating complex concepts clearly to a non-technical audience and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• You will have experience of applying the DAMA-DMBOK framework, particularly in data governance, data architecture, data modelling, and metadata management.
• You will demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, handling complex and often ambiguous situations where multiple options must be evaluated.
• You will have experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams, and demonstrate strong collaboration skills, enabling you to balance diverse stakeholder perspectives and drive optimal, pragmatic outcomes.

Technical skills

• Development of data models – Conceptual, Logical, Physical
• Development of data artefacts and techniques including Data Flow diagrams and State Transition diagrams.
• Utilisation of complex data modelling tools
• Creation of physical models through reverse engineering from source systems
• Creation of schemas from physical models
• Definition and implementation of data standards
• Basic knowledge of Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) technology

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Experience of creating data models at differing levels of detail
• Experience of delivering data models in a data-centric organisation
• Experience of working with at least one data modelling tool

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,746, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £14,121 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).

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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.

How to Apply:

When you click "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page, you will be required to attach your anonymised CV for information, together with a 750 word supporting statement on the experience criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 12th July 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 20th July 2026
• Interviews: w/c 3rd August 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:

• Experience of creating data models at differing levels of detail
• Experience of delivering data models in a data-centric organisation (lead criteria used in the event of a high volume of applications)
• Experience of managing non-technical stakeholder engagement

Please ensure that you cover all the above criteria in your CV and 750 word supporting statement.

Interview Criteria:

Experience:

• Experience of managing non-technical stakeholder engagement

Technical:

• Experience of creating data models at differing levels of detail
• Experience of delivering data models in a data-centric organisation (lead criteria used in the event of a tie at interview)
• Experience of working with at least one data modelling tool

Civil Service Behaviours (SEO level):

• Changing and Improving

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approximately 45 minutes.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Residency Requirements:

SC – non reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years.

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

20210309 additional pay info Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)UKHO Candidate Information Pack - Tech Opens in new window (pdf, 5887kB)