Job Description

London, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham, Salford (may require occasional travel to other DBT offices)

About the organisation

The recently created Department for Business and Trade is at the heart of the UK\'s relationship with the global economy. We have five key responsibilities but in essence, we are the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

Data, innovation, and data-centric decision making underpin the work of the department and in particular the way that digital services to support the businesses and the economy are delivered. Professionals like you will enable the department to continue to deliver at pace and achieve the ambitious departmental goals.

About the team

To enable the work of the department you will join our Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) team of over 400 colleagues working across the full spectrum of the DDaT specialisms, in a modern, user-centric, agile way.

You will join the team that build and operate innovative tools and services that support businesses in the UK and overseas. Our public-facing services are visited millions of times each year and the tools we develop for our staff, across the globe, help them be more efficient in their daily working lives.

This is possible due to the state-of-the-art data infrastructure our teams build and maintain. We work on critical national infrastructure that powers trade at the UK border and innovative data projects looking at global supply chains and future ways of trading.

We believe in creativity, curiosity, diversity of thought, entrepreneurship, delivery focus and collaboration. We embody the DBT values to be excellent, connected, confident and collaborative. These values have helped us become a high performing team that continuously delivers high quality outputs.

About the role

As a Senior Data Architect, you will set and implement our data vision for how we want to collect, manage, use and dispose of our data. You will lead the design of data solutions to ensure they meet not only the end-users\' needs, but also that they adhere to standards, follow good practices, and meet our obligations. You will help more junior team members to gain your level of expertise and ensure the teams are working to the standards set by the Chief Data Architect.

It is a hands-on role. You will work with cross-functional, agile teams to see projects through from early conceptual designs to implementation and delivery. The teams will rely on your expertise in analytical problem solving, data modelling, and design skills as well as on your knowledge of available standard solutions to data problems. You will also take active part in the implementation of your designs to ensure they work well and to allow you to refine the designs as the team\'s understanding of the problem develops.

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

Find out about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our recruitment video, visiting our website or reading our blog!

Responsibilities

You will be an experienced Senior Data Architect. who can:

• Lead the design of data architecture that addresses specific business problems and aligning the solutions with wider standards and principles
• Design data solutions that are resilient, reliable, and scale easily. Solutions which are built for interoperability and work well within the ecosystem of existing services.
• Effectively translate and accurately communicate across technical and non-technical professions and stakeholders
• Understand and implement data governance, help with assurance and compliance of data solutions to the relevant standards and frameworks.
• Be a key contributor in an Agile and cross-functional team

Essential Skills and Experience

You will need to have demonstrable skills and experience of:

• Communication skills (data). You can listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders and interpret them. You can manage stakeholder expectations and be flexible. You know how to manage proactive and reactive communication. You can facilitate difficult discussions within the team or with diverse on the organisation in data tools, analysis techniques and data usage.
• Data modelling. You understand the concepts and principles of data modelling and can produce relevant data models across multiple subject areas. You know how to reverse-engineer data models from a live system. You understand industry recognised data modelling patterns and standards and know when to apply them. You can compare and align different data models.
• Data standards. You can develop and set data standards across multiple subject areas. You can act as the escalation point for breaches of data standards and make recommendations about how the organisation should resolve that breach.
• Data technology. You can work with a variety of different data systems and technologies, and understand how to apply them effectively to real world problems and keep them performant and secure. You are aware and keep up to date with advances in digital analytics tools and data technology products.
• Problem resolution (data). You can ensure that the most appropriate actions are taken to resolve problems as they occur. You coordinate teams to resolve problems and implement solutions and preventative measures.
• Strategic thinking (data architecture). You work within a strategic context and communicate how activities meet strategic goals.
• Turning business problems into data design. You can design data architecture by dealing with problems that span different business areas. You can draw links between problems in order to reach common solutions. You can work across multiple subject areas, a single large or complicated subject area.
• Security Clearance. The successful candidate will have to hold or be able to obtain security clearance.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Metadata management. You are able to use metadata repositories in your job area and are able to describe the information necessary to keep them updated.
• Cloud solutions. Understanding of available typical cloud solutions to common data problems.
• Specific technology and tools. Good knowledge of Python, SQL or other programming and data languages. Knowledge of data formats. Good knowledge of architectural patterns, especially in the field of data and software integration.

Personal Attributes and Skills

The ideal candidate will be:

• a flexible problem solver with interest in data and digital technology
• a team player able to collaborate on solutions with other professions
• eager to learn more and share what they know with others
• with ability to make effective decisions
• with ability to lead team within agile framework

Benefits

• Extensive learning and development tailored to your role, with budget for training, qualifications or professional membership of a recognised body
• An environment with flexible, hybrid working options such as condensed hours
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual leave starting at 25 days per annum plus statutory bank holidays rising to 30 days with service
• Three paid volunteering days a year
• Employee benefits programme offering retail discounts, a season ticket loan for public transport, and a cycle to work scheme

How to Apply

Unless otherwise specified, all interviews are currently being held online. Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing: 29/09/2023

Interviews will take place week commencing: 9/10/2023

Please notes these dates are indicative and may be subject to change.

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV and complete a personal statement outlining your experience, skills and fit for the role.

At the sift stage for this role, we will assess your CV and personal statement against the essential skills and experience listed above, so please ensure these documents evidence these criteria. Your personal statement must be a maximum of 500words. You can use bullet points and subheadings if you prefer. As well as evidencing the criteria you should also touch upon why you\'re interested in DBT and in this role.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct a \'short sift\' and read one element of your application. For this campaign a short sift would be conducted based on:Personal Statement.

How We Interview

At the interview stage for this role, you will be asked to demonstrate relevant Technical Skills and Behaviours from the Success Profiles framework . click apply for full job details

Department for International Trade