Lead Data Architect

Lead Data Architect

HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd – Join to apply for the Lead Data Architect role.

Two Snowhill – Birmingham

Base salary c £54,878 pa – £64,562 pa (Birmingham) or c £59,268 pa – £69,727 pa (London), depending on skills and experience. In addition, we offer a flexible benefits fund of 20% on top of base salary, fully pensionable, plus a range of competitive benefits.

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives, and achieves their full potential. We provide flexible working, encourage staff networks, and offer personal and professional development opportunities.

• Develop and implement enterprise‑wide data architecture policies, patterns, processes, and guardrails to embed the strategic application of change and ensure effective use of HS2’s data.
• Establish and manage the Data Architecture practice and capabilities across HS2, leading knowledge sharing and skills development efforts and driving consistency across HS2.
• Oversee the development and implementation of appropriate design guardrails, standards, and policies, balancing functional and non‑functional requirements, and managing associated risks that guide delivery of HS2 systems.
• Lead definition and continued maturity of Data Architecture frameworks that align to wider enterprise‑wide architecture.
• Own and manage the corporate data model and data catalogue, defining standards for data used in modelling and design.
• Provide assurance to data modelling elements of all IT developments (internal and supplier‑led), ensuring they comply with wider corporate policies on data management.
• Oversee master data and data stores, developing information management plans and strategies.
• Manage relationships between data architecture and other architectural functions to ensure that all activities are carried out in accordance with appropriate architectural frameworks.

• Information management – planning, implementing, and controlling the full life cycle management of digitally organised information and records.
• Solution architecture – providing data‑related input to the development of a multi‑dimensional solution architecture to deliver agreed business outcomes.
• Information assurance – protecting against and managing risks related to the use, storage and transmission of data and information systems.
• Data management – developing and implementing plans, policies, and practices that control, protect and optimise the value of data assets.
• Data modelling and design – developing models and diagrams to represent and communicate data requirements and data assets.
• Database design – specifying, designing, and maintaining mechanisms for storing and accessing data.

• Knowledge of data models, metadata, and data dictionaries.
• Knowledge of data systems and architectures, understanding best methods to manage and maintain data.
• Knowledge of multiple data modelling and design tools and techniques.
• Knowledge of digital information technology, trends, and the opportunities they present.
• Knowledge of advanced analytics practices and methodologies.

• Experience designing data models and metadata systems.
• Experience interpreting an organisation’s needs.
• Experience providing oversight and advice to other data architects who are designing and producing data artefacts.
• Experience designing and supporting the management of data dictionaries.

Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in all work and support compliance with all organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

HS2 Ltd does not hold a sponsorship licence from the Home Office, so we are not able to provide sponsorship to any applicant. Applicants must already have the Right to Work in the UK at the time of application, and a Right to Work validation will occur prior to the interview stage. Certain types of time‑bound visas that we cannot accept are excluded.

Any offers made to applicants will be subject to satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks, which include…