At AQA, committed to advancing education and our people. We mark 10 million exam papers yearly, making it happen with people. Information Architect Permanent Manchester: £65,000 - £75,660 Milton Keynes: £67,696 - £78,780
We have an opportunity for an Information/Data Architect to join our growing team in either Manchester or Milton Keynes. 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.
As the Information Architect, you will operate within the Enterprise Architecture team working closely with the Enterprise Architect. Drive and support the delivery of information architecture and related design activity in support of key programmes shaping and guiding such delivery in partnership with Enterprise, Solution and Information Architects.
Benefits
* 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
Responsibilities
* 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
* Support the evolution of the IT strategy and the review of technology roadmaps and associated systems life cycles to ensure that AQA is able to identify technology opportunities and manage technology and architecture related risks effectively
* Review all systems solutions implemented across Enterprise and Assessment Technology areas of the business to ensure compliance with related Information Architectural policies, quantifying and proposing mitigations to any risks identified
* Ensure information architecture and related standards maintained by the architecture team are fully compliant with all statutory and regulatory legislation
* Develop and maintain an information architecture systems catalogue of all systems, their interdependencies, technical profiles and their position in the estate
* Develop and maintain of high levels of information architecture expertise to support good architectural design
* Support fellow Enterprise Technology team members with relevant transformational activities, collaborating with team members to engage their motivation and engagement
* Support collaboration with programme and project management functions and the delivery of product and service roadmaps, identifying and advising on cross project / portfolio information architecture dependencies
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