Principal Data Architect

We're recruiting for a Principal Data Architect here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Architecture team.

This role aligns against the Chief Data Architect role from the Government Digital and Data Framework

We're establishing a dedicated Data Architecture function to support the Ministry of Justice's growing and evolving needs - enabling delivery of strategic and transformational priorities, such as the independent sentencing review recommendations. This is an exciting opportunity for a Principal Data Architect to shape the department's architecture from the ground up, leading an end-to-end journey from concept to implementation.

As a Principal Data Architect, you'll lead the Data Architecture strategy within one of our business areas, and help define how data is structured, governed, and made accessible across prisons, courts, probation, and more. As a Principal Data Architect, you'll report to the Chief Data Architect and work in close partnership with the Heads of Data teams across multiple portfolios, ensuring our data foundations are robust, interoperable, and future-ready. You will build and lead a team of talented data architects, work closely with engineers, analysts, and digital teams, and shape the future of how we design, govern, and manage data at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

This role sits within the newly established Chief Technology Office (CTO), which leads the Ministry's technology strategy and delivery across prisons, agencies, probation services, and the MoJ corporate centre. The CTO works across the Chief Digital and Information Office (CDIO) to shape principles, processes, design patterns and roadmaps that underpin resilient, secure and cost-effective technology solutions. As part of this team, you'll contribute to shaping a compelling 3-5 year vision, enable and support strategic and analytical initiatives for the Director of CDIO, and help model modern ways of working. You will champion rapid prototyping, cross-functional collaboration, and performance-driven prioritisation.

To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital please take a look at our blog.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Data Architects, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.

• Enable and support professional development through mentoring, coaching, and clear career pathways.

• Champion data architecture as a strategic enabler across the organisation.

• Define and embed architectural standards, principles, and patterns for data across MoJ systems.

• Oversee data model development and alignment across programmes, ensuring reusability and consistency.

• Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture and data governance frameworks.

• Stay close to emerging tools, technologies, and methods, bringing fresh thinking from industry and government.

• Represent MoJ in government-wide data architecture communities and working groups.

• Ensure consistent standards are understood and applied within the wider profession, and support profession leads in driving continuous improvement across Justice Digital.

• Ensure we attract, develop and retain high calibre talent within the profession, building the digital capability, skills and competencies needed within Justice, * Demonstrable knowledge of cloud-based architecture (e.g., Azure / AWS / GCP) and appropriate tech stack, including open-source tools.

• Proven experience leading technical direction and delivering data architecture solutions across large, complex organisations, with a customer-centric mindset that aligns strategies to business outcomes.

Please note, failure to provide the documents as requested for the specific role, will result in a rejection of your application.

2. A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.

3. Successful candidates who meet the required standard will be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference. Candidates will also be required to provide a 5-minute presentation during the interview stage, which will assess your Technical Skills: Demonstrable knowledge of cloud-based architecture (e.g., Azure / AWS / GCP) and appropriate tech stack, including open-source tools.

Details of the presentation will be sent across prior to interview.

In Justice Digital, we recruit using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement

Application Guidance

Use of 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Terms & Conditions

Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact digitalanddatarecruitment@justice.gov.uk Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy., As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion., We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability Statement of Suitability Guidance for the Statement of Suitability Candidates must submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, (max 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements from the essential criteria, set out below:

• Deep expertise in data architecture or related fields (e.g. technical architecture, data engineering).

• Demonstrable knowledge of cloud-based architecture (e.g., Azure / AWS / GCP) and appropriate tech stack, including open-source tools.

• Proven experience leading technical direction and delivering data architecture solutions across large, complex organisations, with a customer-centric mindset that aligns strategies to business outcomes.

Please note, failure to provide the documents as requested for the specific role, will result in a rejection of your application. Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates Expected: w/c 13th April Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Leadership Seeing the Big Picture Technical Demonstrable knowledge of cloud-based architecture (e.g., Azure / AWS / GCP) and appropriate tech stack, including open-source tools. Proven experience leading technical direction and delivering data architecture solutions across large, complex organisations, with a customer-centric mindset that aligns strategies to business outcomes. Level of security checks required Security Clearance (SC)

Essential:

• Deep expertise in data architecture or related fields (e.g. technical architecture, data engineering).

• Demonstrable knowledge of cloud-based architecture (e.g., Azure / AWS / GCP) and appropriate tech stack, including open-source tools.

• Proven experience leading technical direction and delivering data architecture solutions across large, complex organisations, with a customer-centric mindset that aligns strategies to business outcomes.

• Ability to influence and collaborate with senior stakeholders across technical and non-technical domains, applying commercial and financial understanding to shape strategy.

• Track record of building, leading, and developing high-performing technical teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance.

The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location, London: £75,674 - £93,025 (which may include an allowance up to £17,351)

National: £71,381 - £88,900 (which may include an allowance up to £17,519), * 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home for part of the week, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.

• A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms

• Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow

• Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)

• 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings' birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.

• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

• Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app., The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised "cross-government" are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

• A range of 'Family Friendly' policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.