Data Architect & Modeller Lead

Let's Write Africa's Story Together!

Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

Role Overview

The Data Architect & Modeller Lead sets the strategic vision for data architecture and modelling across the organisation’s data ecosystem. Operating as a key influencer in a data-driven digital banking environment, this role ensures that all architectural and modelling practices align with business strategies, advanced analytics initiatives, and the stringent requirements of data integrity, risk management, and regulatory compliance. The Data Architect & Modeller Lead establishes and governs the frameworks, standards, and best practices that guide the work of Enterprise Data Architects, Data Architects, and Data Modellers. While the Data Governance Lead and team own and oversee governance policies, the Data Architect & Modeller Lead ensures that architectural and modelling standards fully support these governance frameworks, enabling accurate, timely, and complete risk data aggregation and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Direction & Frameworks

· Define and communicate a strategic vision for data architecture and modelling that supports the organisation’s digital transformation, advanced analytics (including AI/ML), and evolving business objectives.

· Influence technology investment decisions, ensuring the chosen tools, platforms, and methodologies enable scalable, secure, and cost-effective data environments that meet demanding regulatory and compliance standards.

· Establish, maintain, and evolve data architecture and modelling frameworks, patterns, and methodologies that embed data quality, data lineage, and metadata management capabilities.

· Ensure frameworks are adaptable, allowing the organisation to swiftly respond to changes in regulatory requirements or risk management principles.

Collaboration with Data Governance & Compliance

· Partner closely with the Data Governance Lead and team to ensure that architectural and modelling standards align with governance policies, data quality standards, privacy regulations, and data stewardship responsibilities.

· Integrate requirements for thorough documentation, traceability, and validation of data assets, facilitating accurate, comprehensive, and timely risk data aggregation and reporting—key components of international banking standards.

· Promote adherence to data privacy laws and industry regulations, ensuring that all architectural and modelling efforts yield data assets that are secure, trusted, and fit for purpose.

Leadership, Mentoring & Culture Building:

· Lead, mentor, and guide Enterprise Data Architects, Data Architects, and Data Modellers, fostering a collaborative, innovative, and customer-centric culture that encourages continuous improvement and learning.

· Advocate for best practices in data modelling and architecture, enabling the team to effectively support operational reporting, business intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced analytics use cases.

· Champion experimentation, POCs, and sand boxing efforts to validate new architectural approaches, ensure future-readiness, and drive the adoption of emerging technologies.

Requirements & Qualifications

· Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (preferred).

· 10+ years of experience in data architecture, data modelling, and data governance within a regulated environment (banking preferred).

· Demonstrated success in aligning data strategies with complex regulatory and compliance frameworks, as well as advanced analytics initiatives.

· Proven leadership experience, with strong communication and stakeholder management skills to influence cross-functional and executive-level decision-making.

Competencies & Skills

· Strategic Vision & Leadership in Data Management

· Advanced Technical Mastery of Data Architecture & Modelling Principles

· Strong Collaboration with Data Governance, Risk, and Compliance Teams

· Deep Understanding of Data Quality, Lineage, and Risk Reporting Requirements

· Agile Mindset with a Focus on Continuous Improvement & Innovation

· Excellent Communication, Coaching, and Influencing Abilities

What Success Looks Like

· A well-defined, widely adopted architectural and modelling framework that speeds up solution delivery, improves data reliability, and enhances the bank’s ability to meet risk reporting and regulatory demands.

· Positive feedback from stakeholders on clarity, usability, and adaptability of architectural and modelling standards.

· Continuous evolution and improvement of data architecture and modelling practices, keeping pace with emerging technologies, regulatory changes, and business needs, while maintaining a strong partnership with the Data Governance Lead and team.

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit.

Oversees and implements the data management and governance strategy in the organisation.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Direction

Communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.

Business Requirements Identification

Elicit complex business requirements using a variety of methods, such as interviews, document analysis, workshops, and workflow analysis, to express the requirements in terms of target user roles and goals.

Data Management

Manage key aspects of the data management system. This includes being responsible for developing or operating key elements of the system.

Database Specifications

Approve database specifications, ensuring all agreed standards and protocols are followed and data integrity is preserved.

Analysis of "As Is" and "To Be"

Document complex "as is" and "to be" processes and describe the changes required to migrate to the "to be" capability to record accurately the change required.

Information Security

Lead in detecting and analyzing security incidents, including attacks, breaches, and identified vulnerabilities, and remediate any security gaps in line with the security incident management procedure.

Data Architecture

Implement all aspects of data architecture, turning event analytics, raw application data, and business systems into key business insights.

Budgeting

Develop and/or deliver budget plans with guidance from senior colleagues.

Operational Compliance

Monitor and review performance and behaviors within area of responsibility to identify and resolve noncompliance with the organization's policies and relevant regulatory codes and codes of conduct.

Organizational Capability Building

Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions, including continuing professional development specified by professional or regulatory institutions, to build their professional capabilities. Provide informal training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Performance Management

Manage and report on the performance of a substantial, diverse team; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project/account team members and hold individuals accountable for achieving them; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team/personal objectives.

Skills

Business Requirements Analysis, Confidentiality, Current State Assessment, Database Administration, Database Queries, Database Reporting, Data Classification, Data Compilation, Data Compression, Data Controls, Data Encoding, Data Modeling, Executing Plans, Gateway Servers, IT Architecture

Competencies

Action Oriented

Builds Effective Teams

Communicates Effectively

Cultivates Innovation

Ensures Accountability

Manages Complexity

Optimizes Work Processes

Persuades

Education

Closing Date

27 January 2025 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

Old Mutual Limited is pro-vaccination and encourages its workforce to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

All prospective employees are required to disclose their vaccination status as part of the recruitment process.

Please refer to the Old Mutual’s Covid-19 vaccination policy for further detail. Kindly note that Old Mutual reserves the right to reinstate the requirement to vaccinate at any point if it is of the view that it is imperative to do so.

The Old Mutual Story!