Director, Technology Data

Director, Technology Data (Chicago)

Join our award‑winning Technology team as a highly experienced Data Architect to guide the organization in designing, implementing, and optimizing enterprise data architecture. The role requires strategic leadership, evaluating current systems, and recommending best practices to maximize data value and enable advanced analytics and AI‑driven solutions.

• Strategic Data Architecture
  • Define and implement enterprise‑wide data architecture strategy aligned with business goals.
  • Develop and maintain data models (conceptual, logical, physical) that support operational and analytical needs.
  • Evaluate emerging data technologies and recommend adoption strategies.
• Consulting & Advisory
  • Assess current state of data platforms, pipelines, and governance frameworks.
  • Provide expert recommendations to improve scalability, security, and performance.
  • Advise executives and stakeholders on data modernization initiatives such as cloud migration, data mesh, and data fabric.
• Data Management & Governance
  • Establish standards for data quality, metadata management, lineage, and master data.
  • Partner with data governance teams to ensure compliance with regulatory and security requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA).
• Solution Design & Delivery
  • Design and oversee implementation of data warehouses, data lakes, and streaming platforms.
  • Ensure integration across structured, semi‑structured, and unstructured data sources.
  • Define reference architectures and reusable frameworks for data pipelines and APIs.
• Collaboration & Leadership
  • Partner with business units, engineering teams, and analytics teams to ensure solutions meet requirements.
  • Mentor and guide data engineers, analysts, and architects on best practices.

• 7+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and modern data stack technologies (Snowflake, Databricks, Apache Spark, Kafka, etc.).
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, ETL/ELT, and API‑based integrations.
• Strong programming skills in multiple languages such as Python, SQL, Scala, or Java.
• Solid understanding of data governance, security, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience with enterprise data governance, security frameworks, and regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions and communicate complex concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.

• Experience with AI/ML data readiness and MLOps integration.
• Experience with data mesh architectures, event‑driven systems, and microservices patterns.
• Strong background in data privacy, security, and compliance frameworks.
• Previous experience in consulting or agency environments serving multiple clients and use cases.

RAPP offers a hybrid model allowing employees to work from home up to two days per week while maintaining in‑person collaboration as needed.

Competitive salary of $126,000 – $138,000 (Chicago), comprehensive benefits including health, vision, dental, 401(k), stock options, Healthcare & Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts, vacation, sick, personal, positif activism days, paid parental leave, and disability benefits.

“As an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status.”

NOTE:

This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.