Data Architect - FTC; office locations

Position: Data Architect - 12 Month FTC (we have office locations  and )
Company Description

Genomics England partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments - with patients and participants at the heart of it all.

Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Job Description

We’re seeking an accomplished Data Architect to shape how Genomics England designs, manages, and leverages data across the organisation.

This senior role reports to the Director of Architecture and lies within the Technology and Product Directorate. You’ll sit at the heart of defining and shaping standards, patterns, and principles while drawing on your deep architectural expertise to ensure data is secure, high quality, and accessible for both healthcare and research teams, fully aligned with our technology strategy and architecture vision.

In this critical role, you’ll act as a trusted architectural advisor to senior stakeholders, confidently leading the design and delivery of enterprise scale data solutions. You’ll drive best practices across data lifecycle management, metadata, integration, and analytics, and contribute to industry standards such as GA4GH, OMOP, or FHIR, keeping Genomics England at the very forefront of genomic research and healthcare.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the design and evolution of the organisation’s data architecture, including data models, metadata systems, and data integration platforms
Ensure that data solutions meet business, research, security, and regulatory requirements, and are deliverable within the constraints of skills, resources, and budget
Act as the subject matter expert on data management and modelling, providing guidance across projects and to other architects
Develop and maintain data architecture standards, patterns, and reusable artefacts to streamline delivery and ensure consistency
Communicate data strategy and roadmaps clearly to senior stakeholders, demonstrating how data architecture supports services, products, and organisational goals
Oversee the management of data dictionaries, lifecycle policies, archiving, and decommissioning strategies
Ensure squads are aware of and work to the standards set by Information Governance, Security, and the Architecture chapter
Collaborate with technology partners and vendors to inform roadmaps and influence enterprise data solutions
Contribute to shaping national and international standards relevant to genomics and research, including GA4GH, OMOP, or FHIR Essential

Skills and Experience:

Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data architectures in complex or regulated environments
Deep knowledge of data modelling, metadata management, lifecycle management, and governance practices and standards
Strong experience engaging with senior stakeholders to influence and implement data strategy
Expertise in documenting, communicating, and implementing data roadmaps and solutions
Excellent interpersonal skills and a temperament that builds trust across technical and non-technical teams
Ability to balance strategic and tactical considerations in architecture decisions
Experience in bioinformatics, genomics, healthcare, or research domains
Knowledge of cloud and hybrid data architectures, data platforms, or data warehouses
Familiarity with GA4GH, OMOP, FHIR or other relevant industry standards
Ability to establish data ownership, and design and implement data lifecycle management policies

Desirable

Skills and Experience:

Relevant certifications in data architecture, modelling, or enterprise architecture
Experience applying TOGAF methodologies or equivalent enterprise architecture practices
Knowledge of bioinformatics data structures.

Experience with attribute-based access control and supporting tools that underpin…