Data Architect

The Opportunity

We are a leading Canadian financial services co-operative committed to being a catalyst for a sustainable and resilient society and our team is essential to deliver on this strategy. That’s why we prioritize our people, to ensure we provide a strong culture and development opportunities which enables our team to thrive and to live our purpose. The best part is that you will work with people that care passionately about you, our clients, and our communities.

Our Information Technology team aspires to be a leader in applying technology to power business strategies. We connect concepts with solutions to create value and efficiencies for our clients, employees, and communities. Our success is driven by our skilled and diverse team who are passionate about excellence, innovation, and agility.

The Data Architect is responsible for designing and maintaining the overall structure of data systems, ensuring they are scalable, resilient, and aligned with the target state architecture to support both current and future business needs. This role involves collaborating with stakeholders to understand data, functional, and non-functional requirements and translating them into scalable solutions. The Data Architect will guide standards for data modeling, integration, and system performance, ensuring that technology choices and system design align with the target state architecture patterns and technology stack. The role also includes balancing flexibility with structure, managing technical debt, and ensuring visibility into how data is used across teams.

How you will create impact

• Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture framework and patterns, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the technology stack, in reference to the target state architecture.
• Establish and promote data modeling, integration, and system performance standards to ensure consistency and scalability across the organization.
• Ensure solutions are sustainable, secure, and aligned with enterprise data governance, quality, and access standards.
• Design scalable, governed data solutions that align with data strategy, target state architecture standards, and data governance tools.
• Lead the development of end-to-end data solutions, either with the hybrid or target state approach, ensuring proper data quality and integration with existing systems.
• Translate business (functional and non-functional) requirements into clear, workable designs that guide development and ensure data flows and system integrations are thoughtfully planned and documented.
• Ensure that technology choices (Azure-first) and data application design align with long-term business goals and architecture principles.
• Provide data architectural guidance aligning with the target state architecture to data engineers.
• Accountability for the outcome of the projects you lead to meet the business objectives.
• Collaborate closely with data engineering and BI analytics teams to design and implement data solutions aligning with the target state architecture.
• Lead data architecture for legal entity domains and corresponding initiatives, ensuring solutions are viable and sustainable.
• Facilitate discussions and influence project stakeholders to ensure alignment with corporate data strategies and promote the adoption of target state architecture and solution design artifacts.

How you will succeed

• You have an innovative mindset to improve operational efficiencies and ability to influence change, with a primary focus on client needs.
• You use critical thinking skills to recognize assumptions, evaluate arguments, draw conclusions and proactively propose solutions.
• You have strong communication skills to clearly convey messages and explore diverse points of view.
• You build trusting relationships and provide guidance to support the development of colleagues.

To join our team

• A degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field is required. An advanced degree is an asset.
• 6+ years of experience in data architecture, including building modern data platforms and products, and participation in large-scale data modernization programs.
• 6+ years of experience designing and implementing scalable, cloud-based data solutions (Azure preferred).
• Deep understanding of data modeling, ETL processes, data warehousing concepts, and best practices in data engineering and analytics.
• Knowledge of cloud security and networking is an asset.
• Hands-on experience with the following Azure services is an asset: Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS), Azure Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory (ADF), Azure Synapse, Event Hub, API Management (APIM), Azure Key Vault, Azure SQL, and Purview. Have a good understanding of the backup, disaster recovery, and data recovery strategy and execution with the above services.
• Excellent project management knowledge with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience presenting to large and small audiences.
• Ability to interact with peers and stakeholders to define and drive product and business impact.

What you need to know

• You will be subject to a Background check as a condition of employment, in the event you are the successful candidate.

What’s in it for you

• Training and development opportunities to grow your career.
• Flexible work options and paid time off to support your personal and family needs.
• A holistic approach to your well-being, with physical and mental health programs and a supportive workplace culture.
• Paid volunteer days to give back to your community.
• In addition to our competitive salary and incentive programs, eligible employees also benefit from a comprehensive total rewards package including group retirement savings plans, pension and benefits (, health and wellness, dental, disability and life coverage), mental health support and an employee assistance program.

Expected salary range $91,058 - $141,000+

The salary amount for the successful candidate is determined by Co-operators in its discretion and will vary depending on several criteria including but not limited to: local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualification, experience and education.

Employees may also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn additional compensation tied to individual and/or business performance, or other business metrics.