Company Overview
A family of 26 girls’ schools, including 24 independent schools and two academies, across England and Wales. We have over 4,000 staff, over 19,000 students between the ages of three and 18, and an alumnae network of over 100,000 – the largest of its kind in the UK. As a charity that owns and runs a network of girls’ schools in England and Wales, it reinvests all its income in its schools. Founded in 1872, the GDST has a long history of pioneering innovation in the education of girls, and is the largest single educator of girls in the UK (and the UK’s largest educational charity). GDST schools and academies: ● The Belvedere Academy, Liverpool ● Birkenhead High School Academy ● Blackheath High School ● Brighton & Hove High School ● Bromley High School ● Croydon High School ● Howell’s School, Llandaff, Cardiff ● Kensington Prep School ● Newcastle High School for Girls ● Northampton High School ● Northwood College for Girls ● Norwich High School for Girls ● Notting Hill & Ealing High School ● Nottingham Girls’ High School ● Oxford High School ● Portsmouth High School ● Putney High School ● Redmaids’ High School, Bristol ● The Royal High School, Bath ● Sheffield High School ● Shrewsbury High School ● South Hampstead High School ● Streatham & Clapham High School ● Sutton High School ● Sydenham High School ● Wimbledon High School
The Role
As Data Architect, you will have the opportunity to shape how data drives our decisions and impacts educational outcomes for thousands of students across the UK, as part of a dynamic and supportive team.
You will lead data initiatives that directly influence strategic decisions across our network of schools, harnessing the power of data to drive meaningful change and fostering a data-driven culture that supports excellence in education.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Championing GDST’s Data Strategy: Develop and align the data strategy with the organisation’s broader goals, driving impactful outcomes
- Establishing Data Standards: Own and manage data governance frameworks, including robust data dictionaries, policies, and procedures
- Empowering Decision-Making: Design, develop, and enhance Power BI dashboards and reports to provide actionable insights for stakeholders
- Building Data Solutions: Optimise ETL pipelines and data platforms, ensuring data integrity, quality, and availability
- Cultivating a Data-Driven Community: Lead and mentor the GDST Data and Analytics Community, fostering continuous professional development
- Collaborating for Impact: Work closely with function heads, schools, and third-party suppliers to deliver data solutions and strengthen partnerships
- Ensuring Data Compliance: Drive data governance initiatives, ensuring adherence to best practices, security protocols, and regulatory standards
What We Are Looking For:
- A degree in IT, a STEM subject, or equivalent practical experience
- Proven expertise in Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI
- A strong background in ETL/ELT processes, data warehousing, and data modelling
- Demonstrated ability to design, build, and test scalable data solutions, managing large datasets to deliver business insights
- Leadership experience in developing data strategies and governance frameworks
- Proficiency in SQL and Python
- Strong understanding of data governance, data quality, and data security
- Excellent communication, negotiating, and influencing skills
- A proactive, motivated, and customer-focused approach to delivery
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