Job Description

:
EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and artificial intelligence ("AI") company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world's leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect.
We are headquartered in New York and have more than 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit .
Role Title: Data Management Strategy & Architecture Lead
BU/Segment: Data Management
Location: London, United Kingdom (Flexible hybrid working)
Employment Type: Permanent
Summary of the role:
The Data Strategy & Architecture Lead owns the end-to-end vision, definition, and architectural realization of data strategy engagements across EXL's key verticals - including Banking, Insurance, and Healthcare. This role bridges the gap between data strategy and solution architecture, ensuring that strategic recommendations are executable through modern, AI-ready data platforms and technology ecosystems.
You will lead consulting engagements that assess maturity, define target-state architectures, and design value-driven data roadmaps. Working closely with our Architecture and Technology capability teams, you'll translate business goals into actionable blueprints that drive modernization, self-service analytics, and trusted data foundations. This role combines strategic leadership with deep architectural understanding, enabling clients to accelerate digital and AI transformation through strong data design principles.
As part of your duties, you will be responsible for:
60% Data Strategy Execution

• Strategic Advisory: Lead executive-level workshops to assess data and architecture maturity, identifying gaps in governance, integration, and platform design. Craft roadmaps that span strategy, architecture, and AI-enablement.
• Architecture Ownership: Define target-state data platform architectures, integration approaches, and reference models across cloud ecosystems (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) in collaboration with enterprise and solution architects.
• Design Translation: Ensure data strategy recommendations are actionable - linking conceptual designs to feasible delivery architectures that enable scalability, compliance, and performance.
• Value Realization: Build investment business cases and quantifiable metrics for architecture modernization initiatives (ROI, TCO reduction, compliance, resilience).
• Stakeholder Management: Act as a trusted advisor for C-suite and senior technology stakeholders, translating complex architecture concepts into business-aligned narratives.
• Thought Leadership: Evangelize modern data architecture and AI-enablement trends (e.g., data fabric/mesh, composable data platforms, governance automation). Represent EXL at client forums and industry events.
• Travel & Collaboration: Operate in a flexible home-office/hybrid model, with periodic travel to EXL offices, client sites and industry events. Maintain strong alignment with Architecture, Governance, Data Engineering, and AI Delivery capabilities

. To accomplish this capability It is requested that a candidate live within 60 minutes of a major airport and can expect some travel expected to be less than 25%, and sometimes dependent on client needs. * 15% Data Strategy Capability Build

• Build and refine Data Strategy methodologies to include architecture alignment and cloud modernization best practices.
• Develop reusable frameworks for AI-ready data architectures, metadata management, and data governance enablement.
• Coach Data Strategy Lead peers and consultants on interpreting architectural outputs and incorporating them into strategy engagements.
• Contribute to cross-capability learning and mentorship programs to strengthen EXL's data architecture maturity.
• 10% Pre-Sales
• Partner with Sales and Delivery leaders to qualify opportunities and design data strategy engagement scopes.
• Contribute to proposals, statements of work (SOWs), and executive presentations, ensuring architectural feasibility.
• Support post-engagement transitions by helping shape delivery roadmaps and solution plan.
• 10% Management and Leadership
• Mentor project resources - including solution architects, data engineers, and governance leads - in architectural design thinking.
• Communicate risks, dependencies, and mitigation plans across multiple stakeholders and engagement layers.
• Support team performance feedback, goal setting, and capability growth aligned to EXL's Data Management vision sponsors

5% Other duties as assigned or identified
Qualifications and experience we consider to be essential for the role:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree, or 12-15+ years of relevant experience in data management, architecture, and consulting.
• 10+ years of professional experience in data and analytics, including architecture or solution design for enterprise platforms.
• 3+ years of experience in Banking or Financial Services (preferred); Insurance and Healthcare experience a plus.
• Outstanding presentation and communication skills with executive audiences.
• Strong understanding of cloud-based data architectures (e.g., lakehouse, data mesh/fabric, MDM, and data integration).
• Experience leading data platform modernization initiatives and aligning them with business value outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge strategy and architecture - translating vision into technical blueprints.
• Prior consulting or consultative experience required.
• Architecture certifications (TOGAF, cloud architect) a plus.

Skills and Personal attributes we would like to have:

• Deep knowledge of data and solution architecture principles, including integration patterns, APIs, data virtualization, and cloud-native components.
• Proven ability to design or lead definition of target data platform architectures across multi-cloud or hybrid environments.
• Working familiarity with leading tools across the ecosystem (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Synapse, Collibra, Informatica, Alation, Kafka).
• Strong facilitation and advisory skills to drive architectural consensus among executive and technical stakeholders.
• Ability to synthesize strategy and architecture deliverables into clear business cases and transformation roadmaps.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple dependencies across short (6-12 week) consulting engagements.
• Demonstrated aptitude for mentoring peers and advancing architectural literacy across the consulting team.
• Creative, analytical thinker able to adapt to evolving data and AI landscapes.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and guidance to engagement teams composed of solution architects, data governance leads, analysts, and SMEs.
• Set engagement goals, provide feedback, and contribute to formal performance evaluations.
• Over time, may manage direct reports within the Data Strategy capability.

As part of a leading global Data and AI company, you can look forward to:

• A competitive salary with a generous bonus, private healthcare, critical illness life assurance at 4 x your annual salary, income protection insurance, and a rewarding pension.
• EXL provides everyday financial well-being solutions, such as cash back cards, in which you can earn cashback while enjoying discounts, promotions, and offers from top retailers. We also offer a Cycle Scheme where you can save money on bikes and cycling accessories.
• At EXL, we are committed to providing our employees with the tools and resources they need to succeed and excel in their careers. We offer a wide range of professional and personal development opportunities. We also support a range of learning initiatives that allow our employees to build on their existing skills and knowledge. From online courses to seminars and workshops, our employees have the opportunity to enhance their skills and stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies.
• As an Equal Opportunity Employer, EXL is committed to diversity. Our company does not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, age, or disability status.
• EXL employees are eligible to purchase stock as part of our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• At EXL, we offer a flexible hybrid working model that allows employees to live a balanced, healthy lifestyle while strengthening our culture of collaboration.

To be considered for this role, you must already be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

Skills Required