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Senior Data Architect
Senior Data Architect
Successful candidates may be based in any of our office locations – Cardiff, Glasgow, or London. We especially welcome applicants from Cardiff and Glasgow.
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.
Key Responsibilities
This is not an exhaustive list, and the postholder will be expected to carry out any additional duties as assigned by their manager.
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.
About the Role
Working closely with the Digital, Data & Security Services (DDSS) Director, the successful candidate will work with the team to ensure data solutions are effective, open to innovation and meet the demands of those who rely on data. DDSS sits within Ofgem’s Digital Directorate, supporting our ambition to deliver a host of energy sector innovations.
Situated within Ofgem’s Digital Directorate, this team sits at the heart of digital transformation, bridging strategic goals with operational requirements so that we are able to deliver the best energy regulation for consumers, workers and businesses.
Ofgem’s data landscape is comprised of data from a diverse range of sources, with much of our data being publicly available within the Data lake and, no doubt, some residing outside of the public Cloud. Our approach to data is to treat it as a strategic asset, that enables us to deliver our priorities to protect consumers, strengthen the security of supply and turn out the lights.
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Enabling the delivery of future digital challenges, the Digital Directorate partners with the Energy Systems Domain and other core functions, like Enforcement & Delivering Regulation, to support the business in meeting its objectives by ensuring the data milieu is robust, accessible and fit for purpose.
This is a hybrid working role.
What we’re looking for
We are seeking 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.
An added bonus would be experience of designing or managing data within a regulatory body. As we do not work within a tightly controlled environment the hands-on experience would be useful but not essential.
Essential Criteria
Lead Criteria
- Demonstrable experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures, solutions, and models that enable effective information management and analytics.
- Strong understanding of data management and governance principles to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across data ecosystems.
Minimum Competencies
- 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.
You must hold or be able to obtain within six months:
- A formal architectural qualification, such as a BCS Enterprise Architecture certification or equivalent
- A Cloud Architecture Certification such as Microsoft Azure Solution Architect
Desirable Criteria
- Experience in delivering enterprise data architectures across hybrid or multi-cloud environments, ensuring interoperability and performance.
- Knowledge of regulatory bodies and their data-related challenges.
Additional Selection Criteria
Behaviours
We’ll assess the following behaviours during your selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical assessment
Throughout the application process, we will assess key technical competencies relevant to this role, including:
- Experience in leading, overseeing, and implementing a range of complex data solutions (Lead Criteria)
- Knowledge of data modelling (conceptual, logical, and physical) techniques and tools (Lead Criteria)
- An ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders to drive data initiatives (Substantive)
- Proficiency in architectural modelling and framework tools (Essential)
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.
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Training and Development
Light foundation training for new employees will be provided on:
- Satisfactory management of personal data
- Basic safeguarding awareness awareness
- Speak Out Safe Guarding
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £49,452, Ofgem contributes £14,326 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package, including –
- 30 days annual leave after 2 years (pro-rata in first 2 years)
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- An opportunity to join a generous civil service pension alongside a range of benefits, including family-friendly policies, reimbursement support, employee assistance programme, energy discounts & incentives
- Hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office, subject to review)
- Flexible working hours
- Engagement with teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050
- Clean and bright city centre offices
- Engaged networks and teams
Criminal Record Checks
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet security requirements before they can be appointed where a Security Check is needed.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Commonwealth citizens who have the right to work in the UK
- European Economic Area (EEA) nationals (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland & Liechtenstein) and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
- Individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme by 31 December 2021.
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Successful candidates must also complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check. See our vetting information for more details.
Additional Information and Policies
Conflicts of Interest Policy – Ofgem staff are expected to follow this policy, which includes declaring any interests when onboarding and adhering to rules throughout employment to ensure unbiased decisions.
Selection Process:
- Your application for this role will be assessed using Agility Recruitment Success Profiles, based on behaviours, experience, and technical skills.
- You will be asked to prepare a 1250-word personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.
- Additional presentations or interviews may be included.
Initial Sift – Where possible initial sifting will be done using basic information (like years of experience) and the lead criteria.
Contact and Contact Point for Applicants
If you have any questions about the job, please contact:
Name: Amber Shankland Email: amber.shankland@ofgem.gov.uk Recruitment team: recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk
Guidance on Civil Service Ethics
Ofgem expects our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. You can read the full guidance on Recruitment Principles.
At Ofgem we welcome applications from candidates who are proud to be equality professionals, and more broadly we are committed to attracting their talent to help deliver our priorities – there are no programmes currently live, but “equality” measures will be considered in any future scheme.
According to our Disability Confident Commitment, you will only be asked necessary medical screening questions at interview. Civil Service Values may be introduced in interview to discuss your role, but not to measure disabilities prior to interview.
A Disability Confident Employer Scheme will be in place so we can better support candidates if needed. Should you require adjustments to the application process, an interview or during employment, please tell the recruiter.
Feedback: Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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