We are seeking an experienced Data Architect contractor to provide medium-term support in shaping and improving its data landscape. The role will help strengthen data governance, interpret and apply relevant regulatory and open data policy requirements, and provide practical architectural leadership across both SAP and non-SAP platforms. The contractor will work across business and technology teams to ensure data is structured, governed, and used in a way that supports operational effectiveness, regulatory compliance, and future change.
Key Responsibilities
* Define and improve data governance arrangements, including data ownership, standards, lineage, metadata, data quality, and control frameworks.
* Assess the impact of open data policies and related regulatory expectations, translating them into clear architectural principles, delivery implications, and practical actions.
* Review existing data policies, standards, and practices, and recommend improvements to align policy intent with operational and technical reality.
* Provide data architecture leadership across the wider estate, including SAP and non-SAP systems, integrations, reporting platforms, data flows, and third-party services.
* Develop and maintain target-state data architecture views, conceptual and logical data models, and supporting design principles.
* Identify medium-term opportunities to simplify data flows, improve consistency, reduce duplication, and strengthen control over critical data assets.
* Support programmes and projects by providing architectural input on data design, governance, migration, retention, access, and sharing requirements.
* Work closely with business, operational, security, architecture, and delivery teams to ensure data decisions are pragmatic, well-governed, and aligned to business priorities.
* Provide clear advice to senior stakeholders on data risks, options, dependencies, and recommended next steps.
Experience
* Proven experience working as a Data Architect in complex enterprise environments.
* Strong practical experience of establishing or improving data governance frameworks and controls.
* Experience interpreting policy, regulatory, or compliance requirements and translating them into architectural and operational actions.
* Good understanding of open data, data sharing, data classification, and controlled access models.
* Experience working across mixed technology estates, including both legacy and modern platforms.
* Familiarity with SAP environments and the way SAP data interacts with surrounding enterprise platforms is desirable but not essential.
* Experience of working with non-SAP applications, data and integration layers, reporting environments, and wider data consumers.
* Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage credibly with both technical and non-technical audiences.
* Experience of producing clear architecture artefacts, position papers, roadmaps, and practical recommendations.
* Knowledge of the UK energy, utilities, or regulated services sector.
* Awareness of OFGEM policy direction, especially in relation to open data and data transparency.
* Experience with data modelling, metadata management, master data, data quality, and data lineage practices.
* Understanding of cloud-based data architecture, APIs, integration patterns, and enterprise data platforms.
* Ability to assess both strategic direction and immediate delivery realities, balancing long-term improvement with pragmatic short-term actions.
* Strong analytical and interpretation skills, with the ability to review documents, policies, and technical landscapes and draw out clear conclusions.
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