On behalf of our prestigious financial services client, we are seeking an experienced and strategic Data Architect to lead the development and delivery of enterprise-wide data governance and architecture initiatives. This is a high-impact role that will shape the organisation's approach to data management, compliance, and innovation. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Framework & Governance Development Design and implement a robust data governance framework, including policies, standards, and procedures. Define data ownership models and appoint data stewards across key domains. Introduce and manage a metadata catalogue to enhance data discoverability and transparency. Establish clear retention, access, and usage policies for various data types. Governance Leadership Set up and lead a Data Governance Council to oversee governance strategy and execution. Collaborate with data owners, stewards, and custodians across departments to ensure consistency and accountability. Data Quality & Compliance Develop and maintain data quality standards and performance metrics. Ensure full compliance with data protection regulations, including GDPR and CCPA. Technology & Infrastructure Evaluate and implement data governance tools such as catalogues and quality platforms. Lead the adoption of modern data platform technologies including data warehouses and ETL/ELT services. Training & Cultural Enablement Promote a data-driven culture through targeted training and awareness programmes. Support the creation of role-specific training for data owners and custodians to embed governance best practices. Core Expertise Strong experience in conceptual, logical, and physical data modelling. Proven track record in designing data warehouse and data lake architectures. Solid understanding of Master Data Management (MDM) principles. Integration & Engineering Skilled in developing and managing data pipelines and orchestration workflows. Hands-on experience with ETL/ELT tools and methodologies. Technology Stack Proficient in cloud-based data services, including Azure, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI. Experience with Snowflake and relational databases such as SQL Server and PostgreSQL. Essentials: Significant experience in a Data Architect role within financial services. In-depth knowledge of data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance. Desirable: Microsoft Certified: Azure / Fabric Data Engineer Associate. SnowPro Advanced: Architect certification. Next Steps: If you're a seasoned Data Architect ready to make a strategic impact within a leading financial services organisation, we'd love to hear from you. Please apply with your CV or contact us directly for a confidential discussion. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk