Senior Manager, Enterprise Data Architect & AI

at  Kent

YOUR KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE:

Skills Requirement and Qualification:

• Minimum of 10 years in enterprise data architecture roles, with experience in designing and implementing scalable, secure, and compliant data solutions.
• Proven experience driving data democratization while maintaining data integrity, compliance, and security.
• Expertise in modern data architecture frameworks, including cloud platforms, data lakes, and advanced analytics technologies.
• Strong track record in building governance frameworks that balance accessibility with regulatory compliance.
• Experience in AI/ML frameworks and data engineering tools
• Bachelor’s degree in data science, Computer Science, or Information Management.
• Certifications in enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF), data governance (e.g. CDMP), and data security (e.g., CISM, CISSP).
• Certification in Microsoft cloud
• Experience or knowledge with multi-tenant architectures, cloud-based solutions, high availability solutions.
• Experience in Oil & Gas, Engineering, or Construction sectors is an advantage but not a requirement. Candidates from other industries with relevant data expertise are welcome. Experience or knowledge integrations with enterprise grade software applications.

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Collaborate with department heads to align the enterprise data strategy with business needs and goals.
• Design and maintain data governance policies to ensure data quality, compliance, and security.
• Oversee and manage data migration, integration, and update projects to ensure minimal disruption and optimal performance.
• Monitor the performance of data architecture and identify areas for improvement, scalability, and innovation.
• Lead the development and implementation of frameworks for self-service data access and AI enablement for departments.
• Work closely with IT, cybersecurity, and analytics teams to ensure alignment with Kent’s overall technology and security strategies.
• Prepare and present reports on senior leadership, showcasing progress, challenges, and opportunities for data-driven initiatives.
• Evaluate and adopt modern tools, platforms, and technologies to future-proof Kent’s data ecosystem.
• Act as a mentor and coach to team members, building their skills in data management, analytics, and governance.

Communication:

• An excellent communicator (Written and Presentation) in English.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proficient in preparing and presenting reports to senior management.
• Strong interpersonal skills for leading and collaborating with diverse teams.

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Pragmatic and supportive team player, helping build collaborative relationships with colleagues across Kent Group.
• Communication: Emotionally intelligent individual with ability to listen, empathize and understand the impact of nonverbal communication. Engaging individual able to facilitate and present to big groups of stakeholders, including C-Suite level.
• Critical Thinking: Creative problem solver using reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and solve problems.
• Self-Starter: Proactive, “Can-Do” attitude and commitment to go the extra-mile to meet any committed timelines, and willing to fill gaps identified on the program.

OUR PURPOSE AND BELIEFS:

As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.
It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:
We PLAY BIG
We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY
We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE
We are built on INFINITE THINKING
Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us: https://kentplc.com/who-we-are/purpose-beliefs

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive enterprise data strategy, ensuring alignment with Kent’s technology and AI transformation goals.
• Lead data democratization initiatives to ensure data accessibility and usability across all departments, empowering teams to make data-driven decisions.
• Enable departments to leverage AI and advanced analytics tools by embedding these capabilities into the enterprise data ecosystem.
• Drive AI & data governance initiatives that focus on integrity, compliance, and security across Kent’s warranted environment.
• Act as a thought leader for data management and collaborate with business leaders to define Data and AI transformation roadmaps and drive adoption.

Architecture and Solutions

• Design and implement a unified data architecture that ensures integration across enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, CMS, BI platforms) adopting master data management (MDM) frameworks while safeguarding data integrity.
• Ensure seamless data flow and interoperability between departments and global projects, maintaining strict compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR.
• Evaluate and implement modern tools and platforms, leveraging cloud technologies, AI/ML frameworks, and secure data lakes to enhance capabilities while protecting sensitive information.

Data Integrity, Compliance, and Security

• Develop and enforce data governance policies to ensure data accuracy, consistency, security, and quality across all systems and processes.
• Lead initiatives to ensure compliance with industry standards, data sovereignty requirements and regulations (e.g., GDPR, ISO, and other data protection and privacy laws).
• Implement robust security frameworks to protect data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other threats, while supporting operational needs.
• Collaborate with IT and Cybersecurity teams to ensure the architecture aligns with Kent’s overall security strategy.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with senior leaders across Finance, HR, Procurement, and Operations to understand their data needs and deliver tailored solutions.
• Serve as a data strategy advisor, fostering cross-departmental collaboration and supporting self-service data access and analytics.
• Act as a trusted partner to enable departments to explore AI-driven innovations and deliver insights aligned with Kent’s goals.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee data migrations, integrations, and system updates to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.
• Build frameworks to enable departments to utilize advanced analytics and AI solutions effectively without technical bottlenecks.
• Establish metrics to track data architecture performance, integrity, and security while continuously identifying areas for improvement.

DETAILS ABOUT THE ROLE:

Location: Dubai
Relocation required: No
Travel required: Possibly
Contract type: Permanent
Experience level: 12+ years

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Collaborate with department heads to align the enterprise data strategy with business needs and goals.
• Design and maintain data governance policies to ensure data quality, compliance, and security.
• Oversee and manage data migration, integration, and update projects to ensure minimal disruption and optimal performance.
• Monitor the performance of data architecture and identify areas for improvement, scalability, and innovation.
• Lead the development and implementation of frameworks for self-service data access and AI enablement for departments.
• Work closely with IT, cybersecurity, and analytics teams to ensure alignment with Kent’s overall technology and security strategies.
• Prepare and present reports on senior leadership, showcasing progress, challenges, and opportunities for data-driven initiatives.
• Evaluate and adopt modern tools, platforms, and technologies to future-proof Kent’s data ecosystem.
• Act as a mentor and coach to team members, building their skills in data management, analytics, and governance