Chief data architect

Band 8c · Data architect · 662 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Chief data architect

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G6.

A chief data architect sets the vision for the organisation’s use of data as directed by the appropriate governance body.
At this role level, you will:
oversee the design of multiple data models and have a broad understanding of how each model fulfils the needs of the organisation
be accountable for supporting and aligning to the organisation’s data strategy
champion data architecture both internally and through collaborating and communicating at the most senior levels across government
set the standards and ways of working for the data architecture community
be accountable for assuring data models at the level of a project or enterprise
provide advice to project teams and oversee the management of the full data product life cycle
be responsible for ensuring that the organisation’s systems are designed in accordance with the enterprise data 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

Set the organisation's data architecture vision and roadmap, in line with its data strategy.
Own the organisation's enterprise data model, data standards, and data dictionary.
Advise the executive team and data governance bodies on data architecture, risks, and investment.
Represent the organisation in cross-organisation data standards and interoperability work.
Lead the data architecture practice and develop its people.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: listen to and interpret the needs of technical and non-technical stakeholders, and manage their expectations manage active and reactive communication support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders
Communicating dataUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: turn complex data into clear and well understood solutions, which can be acted upon share data communication skills with the team and organisation understand and communicate different options, taking into account risks and uncertainties
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	Expert (4)	You can: ensure data governance supports changes to the organisational strategy align data governance with wider governance (for example, budget) assure corporate services by understanding important risks and providing mitigation through assurance mechanisms
Data innovationUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: test and evaluate the feasibility of unfamiliar and emerging technologies, or familiar technologies in new data contexts share what you learn with the organisation, explaining potential benefits, risks, and practical considerations recommend, design and implement innovative data solutions based on organisation objectives, user needs, and operational constraints
Data modellingUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: understand the concepts and principles of data modelling and can produce relevant data models work across government and industry, recognising opportunities for the reuse and alignment of data models in different organisations design the method to categorise data models within an organisation
Data standardsUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: create data standards for the organisation advocate for, and oversee compliance with, data policies and standards decide where standards need to be set across the organisation, and how to set them in the wider context of government
Metadata managementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: identify how metadata repositories can support different areas of the organisation communicate the value of metadata repositories set up robust governance processes to keep repositories up to date
Problem managementUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: anticipate problems and defend against them at the right time understand how a problem fits into the larger picture identify and describe problems, and help others to describe them build problem-solving capabilities in others
Strategic thinkingUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: define strategies and policies, providing guidance to others on working in the strategic context evaluate current strategies to ensure business requirements are being met and exceeded where possible
Turning business problems into data designUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: design data architecture that deals with problems across the enterprise work across all organisational subject areas and internal and external programmes
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: shape organisational strategy using a deep understanding of the health and care system represent the organisation with health and care partners and leaders anticipate how policy and service changes will affect digital services and care
Clinical terminology and classificationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: design data models and reference sets using clinical terminologies map between terminologies and classifications, and explain the limits of a mapping advise teams on terminology use in products and analytics
Health data interoperabilityThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set interoperability standards and strategy for the organisation lead national or cross-organisation standards work assure the design of critical integrations across many systems
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set information governance policy and strategy advise the board on information risk and compliance represent the organisation with regulators and partners
Data quality managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: define data quality rules and measures work with data providers to fix the root causes of poor quality
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead hazard identification and risk assessment for a product or change write and maintain hazard logs and clinical safety case reports agree risk controls with product teams and check that they work advise teams on applying clinical risk management standards
People managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: line manage a team, setting objectives and running appraisals support wellbeing and manage attendance, performance, and conduct plan the team's development and succession

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading data architecture across organisations.

Band 8c outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge, and wide organisational and sector understanding.
Autonomy: Sets strategy for a function; accountable to a director.
Scope: A function or department.
Leadership: Leads a function through several management layers.
Accountability: A function's performance, workforce, and budget.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	6	Gives highly complex, highly contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance, using the highest level of communication skills.	60
Knowledge, training, and experience	8	Advanced knowledge (doctorate plus further training or equivalent), or specialist knowledge across more than one discipline built over a long period.	240
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	5	Forms long-term strategic plans, with uncertainty and effects across the organisation.	60
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	5	Implements and develops a range of policies or services for a directorate.	45
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorises payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
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	6	Manages and develops information systems across the organisation as the main duty.	46
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
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 8c: 630 to 674)			662