Vice President Data Architect

Job Description

Purpose of the role

To define, direct and govern the bank’s target data architecture (inc. shared data environment, data model and standards) in support of business strategy, ensuring that data is accurate, secure and accessible to meet the needs of stakeholders. 

Accountabilities

• Development of the banks data architecture strategy, including the translation of bank-wide goals and objectives into target data architecture and transition plan.
• Collaboration with stakeholders, including data operations, engineers and analysts, to provide subject matter expertise and share knowledge to promote standardised, consistent, safe and value-driven data usage.
• Development and maintenance of the banks data architecture governance, standards and protection policies, regarding data models, authoritative data stores, and data capabilities, to support data quality, accuracy and consistency and the protection of sensitive information.
• Management of the alignment of projects to the target data architecture through the provision of guidance, data solutions and monitoring of progress.
• Definition of the shared reusable data capabilities, assets, tools and technologies required to connect disparate data sources, optimise data storage and provide seamless data access.
• Custodianship of an overarching data model that directs how data is logically and physically structured within the banks physical data resources, e.g. database, interfaces and reports.
• Monitoring applicable regulatory standards and industry developments for potential impact on the banks operations, controls and application portfolio.
• Identification and selection of best-in-class data technologies and ongoing assessment of compliance with the bank's service level agreements and quality standards.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures..
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements..
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others..
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions..
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

Join us at Barclays as a Vice President Data Architect, where you will help shape, guide and oversee the bank’s target data architecture. This includes shared data environments, enterprise data models and data standards, all aligned with business strategy. In this role, you will support the delivery of accurate, secure and accessible data to meet the evolving needs of both internal and external stakeholders.

To be successful as a Vice President Data Architect, you should have experience with:

• Extensive experience in data architecture or enterprise data modelling, ideally within a large bank or investment institution.
• Providing architectural oversight across data product flows, including sourcing, lineage and control points to enhance data quality and reliability.
• Identifying technical data debt, architectural challenges and control gaps and collaborating with teams to prioritise sustainable improvements.
• Advanced knowledge of banking products, risk frameworks, regulatory data requirements, and financial markets data, with the ability to apply this in practice.

Some other highly valued skills may include:

• Experience working with AWS cloud services, including Lake Formation and Data Lake implementations.
• Scripting skills (for example, Python or Shell) to support data validation, automation, or optimisation.
• Familiarity with a range of database systems, including relational (Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL), columnar (Amazon Redshift, Snowflake), and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Advanced communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with product managers, engineering teams, governance forums, and business stakeholders to evaluate change impacts and shape solutions.

You may be assessed on the key critical skills relevant for success in role, such as risk and controls, change and transformation, business acumen strategic thinking and digital and technology, as well as job-specific technical skills.

This role is based in Glasgow.