Data architect

Band 8a · Data architect · 560 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Data architect

Most often performed at Civil Service grade SEO or G7.

A data architect designs and builds data models to fulfil the strategic data needs of the organisation, as defined by chief data architects.
At this role level, you will:
design, support and provide guidance for the upgrade, management, decommission and archive of data in compliance with data policy
provide input into data dictionaries
define and maintain the data technology architecture, including metadata, integration and business intelligence or data warehouse architecture

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Design logical and physical data models for clinical and operational data, using clinical terminologies where needed.
Design data flows and data platform components, such as warehouse, lakehouse, and integration layers.
Define metadata, data dictionary entries, and lineage for the datasets in your area.
Design de-identification and access controls so that data is used only for its lawful purpose.
Work with data quality and clinical coding colleagues to fix structural causes of poor data.
Guide data engineers and analysts on data models and standards.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics be an advocate for the team externally manage differing stakeholder perspectives
Communicating dataUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: show an awareness that data needs to be aligned to the needs of the end user create basic visuals and presentations
Data analysis and synthesisUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: undertake data profiling and source system analysis present clear insights to colleagues to support the end use of the data
Data governance (data architect)UK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: understand what data governance is required take responsibility for the assurance of data solutions and make recommendations to ensure compliance
Data innovationUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: develop a basic understanding of an unfamiliar or emerging technology, or a familiar technology in a new data context, with guidance share what you learn with colleagues, including how it could help deliver more value from data
Data modellingUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: explain the concepts and principles of data modelling produce, maintain and update relevant data models for an organisation’s specific needs reverse-engineer data models from a live system
Data standardsUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: use data policies, processes and standards effectively work with subject matter experts to develop standards, policies and guidance to protect data monitor compliance with policies and standards in a team and take action if needed analyse the impact if a standard is breached
Metadata managementUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: use metadata repositories to complete complex tasks such as data and systems integration impact analysis maintain a metadata repository to ensure information remains accurate and up to date
Problem managementUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: initiate and monitor actions to investigate patterns and trends to resolve problems effectively consult specialists where required determine the appropriate resolution and assist with its implementation determine preventative measures
Strategic thinkingUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain the strategic context of your work and why it is important support strategic planning in an administrative capacity
Turning business problems into data designUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: design data architecture by dealing with specific business problems and aligning it to enterprise-wide standards and principles work within the context of well understood architecture, and identify appropriate patterns
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Working (2)	You can: explain the clinical and care workflows your work supports use common health care terms correctly with clinical and care colleagues recognize when a change could affect patient care and raise it
Clinical terminology and classificationThis reference	Working (2)	You can: find and use the right codes for a data item or form use terminology browsers and reference sets
Health data interoperabilityThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design and build integrations using FHIR, HL7 version 2, and messaging patterns write and profile FHIR resources and implementation guides resolve complex mapping and data quality issues between systems
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead data protection impact assessments and information sharing agreements advise teams on lawful basis, consent, confidentiality, and retention investigate incidents and recommend improvements
Data quality managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: run data quality checks and correct errors explain data quality reports to colleagues

Typical qualifications and experience

Substantial experience of data modeling and data platform design, at a level equivalent to a master's degree.

Band 8a outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge of a discipline and its management.
Autonomy: Interprets organizational policy for a service; sets the team's direction.
Scope: A service area or a discipline across the organization.
Leadership: Manages a team, or leads a discipline without line management.
Accountability: A service area, its staff, and its budget.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	7	Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).	196
Analytical and judgmental skills	5	Judgments on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organizational skills	4	Plans a broad range of complex activities or strategies, adjusting them as needed.	42
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	4	Implements policy and develops policy or services for a service or several areas.	32
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	2	Handles cash or valuables, looks after equipment used by others, controls stock, or authorizes small payments.	12
Responsibility for people	3	Manages a group of staff day to day, teaches core or specialist training, or gives core HR advice.	21
Responsibility for information resources	5	Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.	34
Responsibility for research and development	3	Carries out research or development within formal programs as a main duty.	21
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8a: 540 to 584)			560

Banded above the UK GDaD PCF grade suggestion (Band 7): health-sector adverts place this role at Band 8a. Planning, policy, and freedom to act are scored above the Band 7 profile because the job designs data platforms and controls used across many services.