SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduate or equivalent in a numerate subject (IT or related)
• Demonstrated success over 5+ years in the role of Data Architect, Data Scientist, Data Analyst or similar in a law or similar professional services firm. It is expected that the post-holder will have relevant architecture qualifications
• In-depth understanding of database design principles, and data mining and segmentation techniques.
• Extensive experience gathering and analysing requirements, and designing data solutions compliant with data architecture and standards.
• Extensive experience in SQl, data visualization tools and techniques, data warehousing solutions and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) frameworks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to all levels of seniority
• Excellent influencer, able to gain support from diverse stakeholders in order to guide strategic and tactical direction
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills with the ability to methodically and logically draw conclusions
• Able to support the estimation and planning aspects of business cases and implementation plans
• Able to negotiate demand and priorities with stakeholders
• Hands-on experience in delivering products and services, including proactive vendor management and negotiation
• Demonstration of having identified and delivered innovative data solutions which delivered tangible business benefits
• Demonstration of extensive knowledge of current issues and trends in data management, particularly for the legal industry, including security, data protection, etc.
• Excellent working knowledge (desirable) of legal IT systems including, but not limited to,
• Windows 10, and Office 365
• document management system – iManage or similar
• time management/recording systems – Elite, SmartTime or similar
• practise management systems – Elite or similar
• customer relationship management systems – InterAction or similar
• HR information systems – SAP SuccessFactors, WorkDay, or similar

AREAS OF FOCUS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish the Data Architect role within Withers, pragmatically implementing a data architecture framework and governance (data standards, definitions, ownership, procedures) model which balances best practice against the rapid delivery of demonstrable value.
• Analyse Withers current data architecture - including systems, processes, and ownership - to identify weaknesses, identify opportunities to increase value, develop opportunities for improvements and recommend new best practice approaches.
• Create and maintain architectural documentation as artefacts that relate to data and analytics such as architectural designs, patterns, principles and standards and technology selection.
• Work with stakeholders across the firm to own the definition and continuous refresh of our data strategy to meet evolving business demands, ensuring a joined-up data approach across all areas including IT Systems and Technical Business Systems.
• Translate data strategy into executable data architecture roadmaps ensuring that the solutions in the roadmap directly align with business objectives.
• Gather and analyse stakeholder requirements to define opportunities to deliver business value through data, ensuring alignment to data strategy.
• Work closely with the Technical Business Systems team to identify and define fit-for-purpose solution options, backed by strong business cases where appropriate.
• Work closely with the Technical Business Systems team to design and maintain enterprise data models (conceptual, logical and physical) across transactional, analytical and operational systems.
• Design and implement effective, performant and reliable database solutions and models to store and retrieve firm data.
• Stay abreast of, and provide expert advice on, data technology, management and working practices across the IT industry in multiple verticals and not just Legal, proactively feeding into the overall IT strategy.
• Ensure the data strategy, architecture, standards and roadmaps are communicated and understood by the relevant teams.
• Provide clear, continuous, and consistent data architecture leadership at all levels of project delivery lifecycles, covering both third party and in-house solutions. This would include high-level assurance and low-level/detailed design guidance.
• Support initiatives from a data perspective, ensuring that these help to build towards our future-state data architecture.
• Review and approve vendor provided technical specifications and designs against Withers standards, roadmaps and policies.
• Create and maintain data design documents and schemas for custom built applications or integrations.
• Work closely with the relevant systems owners and Technical Business Systems team to oversee the migration of data from legacy systems to new solutions.
• Work with stakeholders including the Chief Information Security Officer, Business Systems Team, Global Systems Team and Project Management Office to ensure that all delivered solutions are consistent with agreed standards and deliver maximum value to the firm.
• Collaborate with security, data privacy, information governance and compliance teams to ensure adherence to regulatory standards
• Assess database implementations to ensure they comply with internal and external regulations and standards (e.g., GDPR).
  This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.