Lead Data Strategist - NJ RTH- no corps - w2

Enterprise Data Strategy & Data Architecture

This role will help shape and advance the firm’s enterprise data strategy, partnering across business and technology teams to define target-state data capabilities, governance practices, and architectural standards. The successful candidate will bring a strong foundation in data strategy & data architecture that will help drive initiatives spanning data modeling, integration, quality, governance, and modernization of enterprise data platforms.

• Define and help execute the enterprise data strategy in alignment with business priorities, regulatory expectations, and long‑term technology goals.
• Guide modernization efforts for enterprise data platforms, including cloud‑aligned architectures, scalable integration approaches, and reusable data services.
• Evaluate current‑state data ecosystems and recommend improvements to architecture, tooling, operating models, and governance processes.
• Support the translation of business requirements into enterprise data designs, roadmaps, and implementation guidance for delivery teams.
• Develop and maintain enterprise data architecture standards, principles, and target‑state blueprints across domains, platforms, and integration patterns.
• Partner with business stakeholders, data owners, application teams, and technology leaders to identify data capabilities, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead data architecture activities including conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling, data flow design, lineage considerations, and information lifecycle planning.
• Establish and promote best practices for data governance, metadata management, master/reference data, data quality, and data security in collaboration with control and compliance partners.
• Collaborate with program managers, solution architects, engineers, analysts, and testing teams across multiple locations to ensure solutions meet business and architectural objectives.
• Contribute to architecture documentation, design reviews, and decision records to improve clarity, consistency, and traceability across initiatives.

• Needs to have a demonstrated data‑strategy background.
• BSc or MSc degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, or a related discipline.
• Strong experience in enterprise data strategy, data architecture, and information management in complex organizational environments.
• Deep understanding of data architecture disciplines including enterprise data modeling, canonical models, data integration, metadata management, and data lifecycle design.
• Experience defining and implementing data governance frameworks, data quality controls, stewardship models, and related operating practices.
• Strong knowledge of relational and non‑relational data platforms, data warehousing concepts, and modern data ecosystem patterns.
• Experience with data integration approaches, APIs, event‑driven patterns, ETL/ELT processes, and distributed data architectures.
• Ability to translate business strategy and regulatory requirements into practical data architecture roadmaps and standards.
• Knowledge of architecture methods, documentation practices, and design review processes.
• Understanding of privacy, security, risk, and compliance considerations as they relate to enterprise data.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders across business and technology functions.
• Fluency in English, including strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Positive, collaborative attitude, openness to change, and ability to quickly understand enterprise priorities and the broader operating model.
• Experience working in agile, hybrid, or enterprise delivery environments.

• Experience in financial services or other highly regulated industries.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks and data governance tools.
• Experience supporting cloud data modernization, data platforms, or enterprise analytics transformation initiatives.
• Working knowledge of business intelligence, reporting, and advanced analytics enablement.
• Experience facilitating cross‑functional governance forums,…