Director, Data Engineering & Architecture

At CI, we see a great place to work as one that is a safe place for everyone to have a voice, where people are empowered to take ownership over meaningful work, where there is an opportunity to grow through stretching themselves, where they can work on innovative products and projects, and where employees are supported and engaged in doing so. 

CI Financial is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader to join our Data, AI & Analytics team (DNA) as the Director of Data Engineering & Architecture.

As part of the DNA team in this senior leadership role, you will drive the vision, design, development, and implementation of scalable data platforms and architectures that support business goals and drive data-driven decision-making. You will be responsible for leading the evolution of our data architecture strategy, ensuring data integrity, availability, and security, and fostering collaboration across CI Global Asset Management

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Lead and mentor a team of data engineers to deliver high-quality data solutions and infrastructure.
• Define and implement the data engineering strategy to meet business needs and scale with company growth.
• Collaborate with senior leadership across departments to align data architecture with organizational goals.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and best practices within the DE&A team.

Data Architecture & Engineering:

• Design and implement data models (i.e., Data Vault 2.0, Kimball dimensional), data pipelines, and data workflows that ensure efficient data collection, processing, storage, and analysis.
• Oversee the development of our Enterprise Data Lakehouse across all the medallion zones (raw, integration and presentation layers), and cloud-based data infrastructure.
• Ensure the implementation and maintenance of data governance, security, and compliance policies in our data and engineering practice.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Ensure that data engineering goes beyond technical having the team learn and understand key business concepts learning the data and the meaning behind it.
• Ensure cross-functional collaboration between the pillars of DNA (data strategy, governance, data operations, AI/ML Solutions and Business Analytics & Insights), IT and business units to maximize the impact of data initiatives.
• Communicate complex data architecture concepts to non-technical stakeholders effectively.

Performance Optimization & Scalability:

• Lead initiatives to optimize data processing and storage performance, ensuring systems scale with the growth of data and user demand.
• Partner with Data Operations to ensure there is comprehensive monitoring and troubleshooting systems to identify and address bottlenecks and performance issues.
• Drive continuous improvement of data platforms through automation, optimization, and monitoring.

Innovation & Trends:

• Stay abreast of emerging data technologies, trends, and best practices and bring innovative ideas to the team to enhance data capabilities.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum 8-10 years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field (master’s preferred).
• Data Architecture & Cloud Expertise: Strong expertise in designing data architectures, with hands-on experience in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data processing frameworks (Spark, Kafka, etc.).
• Data Warehousing & Integration: Proven experience with data warehousing, data lakes, and ETL/ELT processes, data vault 2.0, along with a deep understanding of data integration techniques.
• Modern Data Engineering Tools: Proficient in using modern data engineering tools such as Airflow, dbt, EMR, AWS Glue, and others.
• DevOps & Automation: In-depth knowledge of DevOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines, automation, and containerization tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform.
• Data Governance & Compliance: Extensive experience with data governance, security, and compliance frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant regulations.
• Scripting & Automation: Strong scripting abilities in languages such as Bash, Python, or other automation-focused languages to improve workflows and system efficiency.
• Leadership & Team Building: Proven leadership, coaching, and mentoring abilities, with a track record of building and leading high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex data concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences effectively.
• Problem-Solving & Decision Making: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and make critical decisions in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of asset management, financial services, or wealth management industries

CI Financial is an independent company offering global wealth management and asset management advisory services through diverse financial services firms. Since 1965, we have consistently anticipated and responded to the changing needs of investors. We are driven by a commitment to provide individuals and institutions with the highest-quality investments and advice.   Our commitment to the highest levels of performance means that whatever their position, CI employees must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment that will stretch them to tap into their highest potential.  Employees with a healthy dose of ambition, a desire to commit to a curious mindset for continuous learning, and a willingness to go the extra mile thrive at CI. 

A Supportive Environment for Success

We offer an in-office environment, competitive benefits, and a supportive workplace to help our employees thrive both personally and professionally.

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Modern HQ location within walking distance from Union Station
• Training Reimbursement
• Paid Professional Designations
• Employee Savings Plan (ESP)
• Corporate Discount Program
• Enhanced group benefits
• Parental Leave Top–up program
• Paid time off for Volunteering 

We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce. If you are excited about this role and are not confident you meet all the qualification requirements, we encourage you to apply to investigate the opportunity further.

Please submit your resume in confidence by clicking “Apply”. Only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. CI Financial Corp. and all of our affiliates (“CI”) are committed to fair and accessible employment practices and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you require accommodations in order to apply for any job opportunities, require this posting in an additional format, or require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process please contact us at accessible.recruitment@ci.com, or call 416-364-1145 ext. 4747.