Information Architect Permanent Manchester: £65,000 - £75,660 Milton Keynes: £67,696 - £78,780
At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.
AQA has an opportunity for an Information/Data Architect to join our growing team in either Manchester or Milton Keynes. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver an information architecture service and approach that positively enables and evolves the information technology landscape across AQA education with initiatives that develop and grow information / data architecture related capabilities and services.
What’s in it for me?
* A 35 hour working week with 25 days annual leave, rising with service, with bank holidays and extra closure days around Christmas on top
* An excellent contributory pension which could see up to 18.5% combined contribution
* Private Medical Insurance and a Health Care Cash Reward Plan
* A new Electric Vehicle Leasing Scheme
* Up to 5 days for volunteering
* Newly refurbished offices with a variety of individual and collaborative workspaces
Desirable Experience
* Proven information / data architect with a strong track record of related IT expertise and delivery across a number of practices within the IT industry.
* Expert understanding of information / data modelling and design, together with familiarity with other relevant architectural methods.
* Possess a broad understanding of, and experience in working within programme and project management methodologies and governance.
* Experience of operating with and within hybrid support functions - internal and external / 3rd party organisations.
* Responsive to short-term challenges / priorities whilst holding to clear strategy and direction.
* Ability to frame information / data architecture trends and opportunities within AQA’s strategic objectives.
* Conversant with and able to navigate major corporate structures including regulatory environment, financial management and budgeting, programme / project delivery and information security and risk management practices.
How do I apply?
Please follow the link provided.
Applications will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 9th October.
All applications will be responded to.
Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place. Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.
Full Job Description Summary
Purpose:
In your role as Information Architect you will operate within the Enterprise Technology team working closely with the Enterprise Architect. You lead on the delivery of Information Architecture services, shaping and guiding such delivery in partnership with architects across the Enterprise Architecture team. You will provide information architecture consultancy support to colleagues and business stakeholders, providing effective and pragmatic advice, guidance, direction and architectural liaison between technology and business stakeholders shaping and guiding information architecture delivery to underpin the delivery of proportionate and effective solution architectures that meet desired business outcomes.
Key Responsibilities:
You will deliver an information architecture service and approach that positively enables and evolves the information technology landscape across both Enterprise and Assessment technology areas of the business, promoting and developing architectural initiatives that develop and grow information / data architecture related capabilities and services providing robust information architecture monitoring and compliance assurance.
You will support the delivery of effective architectural strategies within Enterprise Technology that promote proportionate and effective solutions and will engage with key internal stakeholders across Assessment Technology and (where appropriate) wider group entities to support alignment of approaches.
You will maintain and apply high levels of architectural expertise in the production of architectural designs and approaches ensuring attainment of business objectives whilst balancing deliverability, architectural principles and alignment to the wider AQA strategy and objectives.
Landscape:
The Enterprise Technology Division sits within the Corporate Services Division enabling the centralised delivery of core corporate services.
In addition, Enterprise Technology operates in close partnership with Assessment Technology and Programme Management collectively delivering the full IT service portfolio of current operations to future change programmes.
Key Relationships:
Key internal (AQA Education and AQA Milton Keynes) relationships,
Enterprise Technology functions,
AQA Assessment Technology architecture and development teams,
AQA Education business functions,
Key external relationships,
Third party technology providers,
Relevant third-party providers,
Other teams within the AQA Group (e.g. AlphaPlus and Doublestruck).
Activities:
To develop and take the lead in the area of Information Architecture, supporting colleagues in delivery across the areas of Solution and Domain Architecture in the fulfilment of business requirements and delivery of Enterprise Technology priorities.
Develop, take ownership of and maintain Information Architecture policies, procedures, guidance and standards.
Work alongside the Enterprise Architect in refreshing, implementing and maintaining the AQA technology strategy, leading on the delivery and maintenance of Information Architecture aspects of the strategy and supporting other specific areas as required.
Also working with the business to help define and direct the wider business information/data strategies and ensure alignment with the technology strategy.
Requirements:
Proven information / data architect with a strong track record of related IT expertise and delivery across a number of practices within the IT industry.
Expert working knowledge and understanding of Information modelling and design frameworks and a broader familiarity with the application of such frameworks across Enterprise Applications frameworks, Service Oriented Architecture, Enterprise architecture, Physical Infrastructure deployment models and Architecture / design frameworks such as TOGAF, ZACHMAN etc.
Experience of enterprise class organisations with cloud / mixed IT footprints and related modernisation of corporate architecture and application of appropriate governance.
Possess a broad understanding of and experience in working within programme and project management methodologies and governance.
Responsive to short-term challenges / priorities whilst holding to clear strategy and direction.
Direct experience of working and communicating effectively with peers, sponsors and business stakeholders at all levels both organisationally and across large scale programmes / IT developments.
Organises, plans and designs effectively whilst retaining focus on the bigger picture.
Ability to frame information / data architecture trends and opportunities within AQA’s strategic objectives.
Proven expertise in identifying and improving high level processes and ways of working.
Aptitude for sharing and embedding best practice.
Skills to build rapport and influence across a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
Conversant with and able to navigate major corporate structures including regulatory environment, financial management and budgeting, programme / project delivery and information security and risk management practices.
Excellent delivery credentials, with a flexible, pragmatic “can do” attitude and a resilient ability to deliver rapid and effective solutions within a dynamic environment.