Data Architect

Withers

Job title: Data Architect 

Reports to: Global IT Director 

Location: London

What are we looking for?

Aligned to Withers' continuous drive to innovate, we have recently launched a new business strategy which focuses on reviewing and improving how we operate across all regions and divisions in order to optimise productivity through the better use of technology, and ultimately deliver the best service to our clients.  Recognising that successful technology use relies on quality data, a key dependency for this strategy will be renewing our focus on how we capture, maintain and exploit data across the firm. 

Withers are therefore introducing the role of Data Architect. This role will be responsible for defining and driving the data architecture and strategy that underpin the firm's ambitions to improve decision making and operational efficiency including through data-driven intelligence, innovation, automation, and AI adoption.

The primary focus of the role will be to assess the current state of data across the firm, and design practical, scalable, and regulatory-compliant data frameworks which will support the strategic and operational objectives. The Data Architect will build a vision and roadmap for data maturity that improves how Withers collects, integrates, stores, secures, and leverages its data assets across both existing and new systems. 

This is a hands-on, strategic role ideal for someone who thrives in an evolving, pragmatic environment and wants to make a lasting impact on the data capabilities of a global law firm.

As a new role for Withers, the candidate must be a self-starter who is able to work proactively to establish and demonstrate the value of the role in line with industry best practise, including establishing data architecture standards and governance frameworks which will ensure that their role is successful. 

A key part of the role will be working with stakeholders across the firm – across both business services and fee earning divisions – in order to identify and design business-aligned solutions, and hence the individual must possess excellent stakeholder management skills, have the gravitas to instil confidence in senior (executive-level) business stakeholders, and be able to manage conflicting points of view in order to drive consensus-based solution decisions.

A very high level of personal organisation and professionalism is required in this role, together with a 'can-do' attitude and an ability to work to tight deadlines and under pressure.  This person must inspire a positive work environment and help champion quality, innovation, teamwork and service to the business.

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. 

Personal qualities

• Able to work closely with senior (to executive level) business and technology stakeholders, demonstrating the gravitas and presence to inspire confidence and influence actions
• Strategic-level thinking, able to work with the global IT leadership team to define and influence strategic decisions in order to optimise IT services and capabilities delivered to the firm
• Enthusiastic and approachable: able to collaborate with and motivate people across different teams and with different backgrounds to fully engage and to work collaboratively to deliver solutions
• Engaging with diversity of thought, recognising contributions and concerns from members of the firm – team members and stakeholders – from all backgrounds
• Strong attention to detail in order to ensure that technology solutions and responsibilities are delivered to a high standard, and that decisions are based on sound justifications supported by data
• Excellent analytical troubleshooting skills with the ability to resolve problems methodically and logically
• A proactive self-starter who will actively seek out innovative opportunities to deliver value, whilst ensuring alignment to the overall IT strategy and priorities
• Adaptable to rapidly changing work conditions, as the Firm, the IT team, and the technology environment grow and evolve
• Strong commercial approach, ensuring that services and capabilities deliver maximum value for money
• Flexible approach to working hours, in order to accommodate global interactions and IT changes / incidents, when required

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 

The Essentials 

• Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm, but flexibility is a must and occasional after-hours work will be required
• Hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office
• 12 week probation period
• 12 week notice period
• Competitive benefits package including pension, private medical, season ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme and more.

About Withers

Withers has been acting for successful individuals, businesses and institutions for 125 years. We advise clients on their business, personal and philanthropic needs both at home and abroad. In this fast moving and increasingly regulated world the need for integrated and timely advice has never been more urgent. We are recognised as the leading international law firm for successful people. With offices in Europe, Asia, the United States and the Caribbean we provide coverage across the world that other law firms focussed on the individual cannot. We have represented 70% of the Top-100 ‘Sunday Times Rich List’, as well as a significant number of people listed in the US (Forbes) and Asian (Hurun) Rich Lists.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of Withers provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.