About the role A global manufacturing and retail business is hiring a Lead Enterprise Architect for Data & AI to own its enterprise-wide data and AI architecture strategy. This is a senior, internal-facing role replacing a vendor-held position — we need someone who will represent the organisation strongly in the room with major platform partners (Microsoft, Databricks, Informatica, Collibra and others), not defer to them.
You'll define the target-state architecture across the data platforms (Azure Synapse, Databricks, Power BI, Informatica), set the standards for governance, MDM, metadata and lineage, and shape how AI and advanced analytics scale across Commercial, Finance, Supply Chain, Product and Regulatory.
What you'll do
- Define and drive the enterprise data and AI architecture strategy, aligned to business priorities and regulatory obligations
- Lead architectural decisions across major data and AI programmes — lakehouse vs warehouse, centralised vs federated ownership, GenAI adoption
- Hold the line with platform vendors and SIs — challenge, push back, and make sure decisions serve the business first
- Establish enterprise standards for data access, security, quality and lifecycle
- Engage C-suite and business function leaders to translate strategy into delivery
- Coach domain architects and embed architectural thinking across the organisation
- Extensive enterprise architecture experience with a data, information or AI specialism
- Proven track record delivering AI strategies sponsored at C-suite level in recent roles
- A clear, current point of view on where the AI industry is heading and what it means for large enterprises
- Experience in a multinational environment — manufacturing, FMCG or retail strongly preferred
- Deep expertise across Azure data platforms, Databricks, Power BI, and modern patterns (data mesh, lakehouse, GenAI)
- Strong grounding in data governance, MDM, GDPR/CCPA
- The presence and diplomacy to challenge vendors and senior stakeholders constructively
- TOGAF or equivalent EA certification desirable; familiarity with LeanIX a plus
