Corsham, South West England, SN13 9NR Job Summary The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad. Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe. Working at Defence Digital Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here! This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job Description We are looking for an experienced Data Architect to join the Chief Data Office and oversee the International Data Standards Engineering. In the role you will be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of NATO data standards to ensure alignment with MoD Strategies, goals, and regulatory requirements. You will act as the UK lead liaising between UK MoD cross-functional teams and the NATO Alliance to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with the NATO Strategy across the alliance. You will manage, on behalf of the UK MoD, the development and maintenance of NATO Message Text Format (MTFs) related standards along with artifacts to satisfy the operational community's Information Exchange Requirements for UK implementation. Responsibilities Act as the UK point of contact and subject matter expert for the products of this Tactical Data Links ‘lot’ with engagement between UK platforms and allied international standards development. Specifically: Provide the necessary standards, artefacts and support where needed to UK Platforms during in-service, upgrades, and new capabilities. Provide information on the future development of relevant standards to meet new and evolving capabilities. Stimulate cross COI (Communities of Interest) information sharing to enhance interoperability with the UK platforms and allied nations. Act as the UK Head of Delegation representing the UK MOD at international meetings, i.e. NATO FYEVs and nations bi-lateral interface meetings. Act as the Project Manager for LOT 2 (of the TDL technical support contract), including the management, tasking, deliverables, and finances for in year spending. With respect to this LOT, aid the Tactical Data Link (TDL) Line Manager support to the Financial Team on budgetary impacts for Forecast of Out turn such as overspend and underspends impacts. Under the TDL Technical Support contract manage Technical Support SMEs daily, with tasks to support the authority in their function and deliverables. We are looking for an experienced Data Architect to join the Chief Data Office and oversee the International Data Standards Engineering. In the role you will be responsible for leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of NATO data standards to ensure alignment with MoD Strategies, goals, and regulatory requirements. You will act as the UK lead liaising between UK MoD cross-functional teams and the NATO Alliance to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with the NATO Strategy across the alliance. You will manage, on behalf of the UK MoD, the development and maintenance of NATO Message Text Format (MTFs) related standards along with artifacts to satisfy the operational community's Information Exchange Requirements for UK implementation. Act As The UK Point Of Contact And Subject Matter Expert For The Products Of This Tactical Data Links ‘lot’ With Engagement Between UK Platforms And Allied International Standards Development. Specifically Provide the necessary standards, artefacts and support where needed to UK Platforms during in-service, upgrades, and new capabilities. Provide information on the future development of relevant standards to meet new and evolving capabilities. Stimulate cross COI (Communities of Interest) information sharing to enhance interoperability with the UK platforms and allied nations. Act as the UK Head of Delegation representing the UK MOD at international meetings, i.e. NATO FYEVs and nations bi-lateral interface meetings. Act as the Project Manager for LOT 2 (of the TDL technical support contract), including the management, tasking, deliverables, and finances for in year spending. With respect to this LOT, aid the Tactical Data Link (TDL) Line Manager support to the Financial Team on budgetary impacts for Forecast of Out turn such as overspend and underspends impacts. Under the TDL Technical Support contract manage Technical Support SMEs daily, with tasks to support the authority in their function and deliverables. Person specification As an experienced Data Architect you will bring your experience of the following; Leadership: Proven experience leading a team to complete tasks and providing thought leadership and direction. Data Standards Expertise: Deep understanding of international tactical data standards and their application within complex technical environments. Strong knowledge of data governance principles and practices. Technical Proficiency: Strong, demonstrable, technical background, including experience with relevant data modelling, data quality, and data integration. Familiarity with relevant technologies and tools. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally. Project Management: Proven project management skills, including planning, execution, and delivery of complex projects within tight deadlines and budgets. Reporting and Analysis: Developing and maintaining dashboards and metrics to track the adoption and effectiveness of data standards. Willingness for regular travel within the UK and overseas. For more information on the Data Architect profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework; Data Architect Application When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below: Essential Criteria Demonstrated capability to design data architecture that addresses business problems within the context of well understood architecture Proven ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders Experience in data governance, including understanding compliance requirements and making recommendations for data solution assurance Strong stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills across diverse communities Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Changing and Improving Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Community collaboration Strategy design Making architectural decisions Architecture communication Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year Enhanced parental and adoption leave Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms A highly competitive pension scheme. Discover my benefits for more information This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £11,400 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy. Learning & Development In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing – Learning and development tailored to your role Professional and Personal Development of skills Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. The post-holder will be required to attend regular meetings with NATO allies; these may often be abroad. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. The post does not offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Ensure your CV highlights your relevance to the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification above. Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (1250 - Word count) it is vital that this includes evidence of the Essential Criteria. Your CV and personal statement will be used to assess your suitability to be invited to interview. At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability. At interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours and technical skills:- Communicating and influencing Changing and improving Community collaboration (technical skill) Strategy design (technical skill) Making architectural decisions (technical skill) Architecture communication (technical skill) Equality and Diversity Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore. AI Usage in Job Applications Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use Professional Framework Statement Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing. Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. The MOD is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way it conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact Name : Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team Email : ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:, Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.