Lead Data Architect

On behalf of The Ministry of Justice, we are looking for a Lead Data Architect (Inside IR35) for a 6 Month hybrid contract based 2 days per week in any UK Office.

We're recruiting for a Lead Data Architect here at Justice Digital, to be part of our collaborative Data Architecture team.

We're establishing a dedicated Data Architecture function to support the Ministry of Justice's growing and evolving needs-enabling delivery of strategic and transformational priorities, such as the independent sentencing review recommendations. This is an exciting opportunity for a Lead Data Architect to shape the department's architecture from the ground up, leading an end-to-end journey from concept to implementation.

As a Lead Data Architect, you'll translate the vision and standards set by the Principal and Chief Data Architects into practical designs and solutions. You will design data models, metadata systems, and data dictionaries, ensuring they are consistent, reusable, and aligned with organisational needs. You'll provide expert guidance and oversight to data architects across different portfolios, helping teams to create high-quality data artefacts and ensuring our systems are designed in line with agreed data architecture principles.

You will collaborate closely with technical architects, engineers, analysts, and policy colleagues to ensure data is managed and shared in ways that are secure, interoperable, and enable better services. You'll also play a key role in embedding modern ways of working, mentoring other architects, and contributing to a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

This role sits within the newly established Chief Technology Office (CTO), which leads the Ministry's technology strategy and delivery across prisons, agencies, probation services, and the MoJ corporate centre. As a Lead Data Architect, you'll help ensure that the Ministry's data foundations are robust, sustainable, and designed to support the justice system's long-term needs.

Key Responsibilities:
. Lead the design and delivery of data architectures for major MoJ programmes, ensuring they are robust, secure, and aligned with enterprise and data architecture standards.
. Shape and maintain high-quality data models, metadata, and reference data to support interoperability and reuse across services.
. Work closely with solution and technical architects to ensure data is considered at every stage of design and delivery.
. Provide expert guidance and review to other data architects, supporting consistency and quality across projects.
. Mentor and support the professional development of data architects within your area of responsibility, helping to grow capability and confidence.
. Act as a visible advocate for good data architecture practices, promoting their value as enablers of digital and service transformation.
. Engage with business stakeholders, analysts, and engineers to understand data requirements and translate them into practical, actionable designs.
. Stay informed about emerging data technologies, methods, and approaches, and apply them to solve real problems within delivery teams.
. Contribute to cross-cutting communities of practice and collaborate with colleagues across Justice Digital to share knowledge and align approaches.

Person Specification

Essential
. Significant experience in data architecture or related disciplines (eg technical architecture, data engineering), with strong knowledge of cloud-based platforms (eg, Azure/AWS/GCP) and modern data technologies.
. A proven ability to design and deliver data architecture solutions within large or complex organisations, ensuring they are scalable, interoperable, and aligned to strategic standards.
. Experience of leading and guiding other architects or technical teams within programmes, supporting consistent approaches to data modelling, integration, and governance.
. Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and influence stakeholders at different levels.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".