Data Architect (2 posts)

Unit : 
Digital Services
Salary : 
£45,585 to £54,395
Location : 
Milton Keynes
Please quote reference : 
21497
x1 Full-time, Permanent and x1 Fixed-Term Contract until 31 July 2025
Closing Date : 
11 March, 2024 – 12:00

Interview Date: 25 & 27 March 2024

Flexible and remote working is an option, but must be able to attend Milton Keynes as required.

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

Digital Services bring trusted design, data and technology know-how to the delivery of lifelong learning.

Digital Services are responsible for the digital information, systems and technologies used by staff and students across The Open University.  Covering all aspects of digital technology at the OU, from sourcing and maintaining systems, through to providing frontline IT support for staff and students.

The role

The Open University is recruiting for X2 Data Architects.  

As part of the Chief Data Office (CDO), this is a key architecture function to ensure that solutions and programs are fit for purpose and in line with the larger University picture. The role works across teams to guarantee data architecture consistency in line with the business strategy and promotes cross team working in a large and complex environment.

As a Data Architect, you will help produce agreed Data Architecture artefacts, representing the key business data assets and how they are managed across applications. Additionally, you will be responsible for providing data architecture oversight on the artefacts and processes created by different teams within the OU.

Although this role is aligned to our Milton Keynes office, we are flexible on location across the UK, with the understanding of occasional ad-hoc attendance onsite.

Skills and experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Extensive experience of conceptual and logical data modelling, applied to both relational and dimensional formats covering operational and analytical applications.
• Knowledge of master data management, metadata management and integration best practices and techniques.
• A solid foundation in system development, understanding of end-to-end software development lifecycle and project management approaches.
• Effective communications skills, confident in liaising with both business stakeholders and technical SME’s.

The full summary of duties and skills required for the role can be found within the Job Description below.

If you would like to discuss the application or recruitment process before making an application, please contact Donna Elstob at Resourcing Hub on 01908 655544 or email [email protected] quoting the reference 21497.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Staff Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

How to apply

Unless otherwise stated in the advert, all applications are completed online via the instructions on The OU Job’s page. Applications submitted via 3rd party websites will not be received.

Access details for disabled applicants are available from the Resourcing Hub, telephone: 01908 655544, quoting the vacancy reference above.

To apply for this role please submit the following as one document;

• CV
• Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.

Please save your document with the following file name as appropriate to the vacancy you are applying for: “reference no – surname – first initial” e.g. 12345 – Smith – J.

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application. Please click on the APPLY NOW button below to be redirected to our application page.

APPLY NOW

You will receive updates regarding your application from [email protected] . Please ensure this email address is added to your list of trusted senders so it does not go to your junk folder.

You can view your application communications on the Candidate portal .

Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential.  We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.  We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.

Email :
Resourcing Hub  

Job related information : 

• Terms and Conditions – Academic Related Staff  (PDF)

• Terms and Conditions – Academic Related Staff  (Word document)

Posting Date : 
19 February, 2024 – 16:00