Senior Data Architect

Job summary

Across government, data architecture has become a critical capability in enabling organisations to unlock the value of their data, support informed decision making and deliver high-quality, joined-up services. As data ecosystems grow in scale and complexity, there is an increasing need for strong architectural leadership to ensure that data is structured, governed and integrated effectively. Modern data architecture is central to ensuring interoperability, enabling analytics and innovation, and supporting secure, resilient digital services.

At Ofgem, data is fundamental to delivering our mission to protect energy consumers and support the transition to a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system. As we continue to strengthen our Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) directorate, we are investing in our data architecture capability to ensure that data is consistent, accessible and aligned with organisational strategy. This will enable better insight, improved decision making and more effective delivery of regulatory and operational services.

As a Senior Data Architect, you will lead the design and implementation of data architectures across projects and programmes, ensuring alignment with Ofgem’s enterprise data strategy and standards. You will work closely with architects, engineers and business stakeholders to design scalable, interoperable and secure data solutions that meet both operational and analytical needs.

This is a highly collaborative and influential role, combining strong technical expertise with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across the organisation. You will play a key role in shaping Ofgem’s data landscape, driving best practice and helping to build a more mature, consistent and effective approach to data architecture.

Job description

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the design of conceptual, logical and physical data models, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture principles and business needs
• Defining and promoting data standards, frameworks and best practices to ensure consistency, quality and compliance across data initiatives
• Designing data integration patterns that enable effective sharing, reuse and interoperability of data across systems and services
• Ensuring that data solutions meet security, privacy and quality requirements throughout the full data lifecycle
• Providing technical assurance for data solutions, ensuring alignment with governance, regulatory and architectural standards
• Collaborating with data architects, engineers, analysts and wider stakeholders to deliver effective and scalable data solutions
• Supporting the development of Ofgem’s data governance approach, including metadata management and master data practices
• Driving continuous improvement in data architecture, contributing to the development of standards, tools and ways of working across DDSS
• Creating and maintaining architectural artefacts and documentation to support organisation-wide understanding and reuse

We are looking for:

An experienced data architect with a strong track record of designing and delivering enterprise-scale data architectures and models. You will have a deep understanding of data management and governance principles, and the ability to apply these to complex organisational environments.

You will bring strong expertise in data modelling, including conceptual, logical and physical modelling, and be confident working with a range of architectural frameworks and tools such as ArchiMate, UML or equivalent. Experience of designing data solutions across cloud or hybrid environments will support your success in this role.

Your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively will be key. You will be confident working with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating business needs into robust data designs and ensuring that solutions deliver tangible value.

You will also demonstrate a strong understanding of data standards, integration patterns and governance frameworks, with the ability to drive best practice and ensure compliance across data initiatives. Relevant certifications, such as BCS Enterprise Architecture or Azure Solution Architect, will support your credibility.

In addition, you will be proactive, forward-thinking and committed to continuous improvement, contributing to the development of Ofgem’s data architecture capability and wider data community.

Why join Ofgem?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping how data is structured, managed and used across a nationally significant organisation. Your work will directly support Ofgem’s ability to deliver insight-driven regulation, improve services and support the UK’s transition to a Net Zero energy system—at a time when effective data architecture has never been more important.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures, solutions and models that enable effective information management and analytics (Lead Criteria).
• Strong understanding of data management and governance principles to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across data ecosystems (Lead Criteria).
• Collaborates effectively across technical and business teams, ensuring data architecture aligns with organisational strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Proficiency in architectural modelling tools such as Archi and frameworks, such as ArchiMate, UML, or equivalent, with the ability to create and maintain architectural artefacts.

Holds or can obtain the following certifications or equivalent within 6 months:

• Formal Architectural Qualification such as BCS EA Certification or equivalent
• Cloud Architecture Certification: Microsoft Azure Solution Architect.

Desirable Criteria

• Experienced in delivering enterprise data architectures across hybrid or multi-cloud environments, ensuring interoperability and performance.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• You will also be asked to prepare a presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,452, OFGEM contributes £14,326 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).Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

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.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Amber Shankland
• Email : amber.shankland@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

DDSS Role Profile Senior Data Architect (2b) Opens in new window (pdf, 130kB)DDSS Candidate Pack, Senior Data Architect Opens in new window (pdf, 3016kB)Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)