Data Architect

This is a remote position. Overview This is a remote consulting opportunity supporting a government client. Subcontractor Opportunity: This is not an employee position. The successful consultant must be incorporated and able to provide services through their corporation. Role Summary The Data Architect provides strategic and technical leadership for enterprise data environments, defining and governing data architecture to support analytics, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based decision making. The role is responsible for designing scalable, secure, and integrated data platforms that enable effective data management across departments and systems. With a strong focus on modernization, the Data Architect leads the transformation from legacy and on-premise data and file systems to cloud-based platforms, including Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online. The role ensures that data solutions are aligned with enterprise architecture standards, information management requirements, and regulatory obligations, while enabling accessibility, interoperability, and long-term sustainability. Key Responsibilities Enterprise Data Architecture Define and maintain enterprise data architecture strategies, standards, and target-state models aligned with organizational priorities Develop data architecture blueprints covering data ingestion, storage, integration, access, and lifecycle management Establish and promote data architecture principles, patterns, and reference models across the organization Ensure alignment between data architecture, enterprise architecture, and digital transformation initiatives Data Modelling and Design Design conceptual, logical, and physical data models to support business applications, analytics, and reporting needs Ensure data models are scalable, reusable, and optimized for performance and integration Define standards for metadata, data classification, and data structures across enterprise systems Support the design of data warehouses, data lakes, and hybrid data solutions Data Integration and Platform Architecture Design and implement integration frameworks supporting ETL, ELT, APIs, and real-time data streaming Define data exchange patterns to enable interoperability between systems and platforms Ensure integration approaches align with enterprise standards, security requirements, and performance expectations Support implementation of cloud-based data platforms, with a strong emphasis on Microsoft Azure services SharePoint and M365 Data Migration Lead migration of legacy data repositories, file shares, and on-premise systems to SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365 Define information architecture for SharePoint, including site design, content structures, and metadata frameworks Ensure data migration approaches maintain data integrity, classification, and retention requirements Leverage tools such as ShareGate or equivalent to support efficient, auditable migration processes Data Governance, Security, and Compliance Define and enforce enterprise data governance frameworks, including data quality, stewardship, and lifecycle management Establish standards for data security, privacy, and access control aligned with organizational policies and regulatory requirements Ensure compliance with applicable standards and privacy legislation Support development of retention and disposition rules aligned with information and records management practices Collaboration and Solution Enablement Partner with business units, analytics teams, and developers to ensure data solutions meet operational and analytical needs Provide guidance on data architecture best practices during project design and delivery Collaborate with architects, engineers, and information management specialists to ensure cohesive and integrated solutions Support adoption of data-driven practices and tools across the organization Repository and Documentation Management Maintain and organize data architecture artifacts, models, and documentation within the enterprise architecture repository Ensure documentation is accurate, structured, and aligned with governance and audit requirements Contribute to enterprise standards, templates, and knowledge-sharing practices Support administration and continuous improvement of architecture repository content Performance, Optimization, and Innovation Assess and optimize data platforms for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency Identify opportunities to modernize legacy data environments and eliminate technical debt Evaluate emerging technologies and tools to enhance data capabilities, including AI and advanced analytics platforms Promote reuse of data assets, integration patterns, and shared services Key Deliverables Enterprise data architecture strategy and target-state models Data models, integration frameworks, and architecture design documents SharePoint and Microsoft 365 data migration plans and execution artifacts Data governance frameworks, standards, and policies Architecture documentation and technical artifacts maintained within the enterprise repository Performance optimization and modernization recommendations Requirements Qualifications Education and Certifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field preferred Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate or equivalent certification preferred Certifications in cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP considered an asset Microsoft Power Platform Developer or equivalent certification considered an asset Certifications related to data governance, data management, or business intelligence considered an asset Experience Proven experience in data architecture, data modelling, and database design Strong expertise in cloud data platforms, particularly Microsoft Azure data services Hands-on experience with relational, NoSQL, and big data technologies Experience designing and implementing ETL, ELT, API-based, and streaming data integration solutions Demonstrated experience migrating data from legacy or on-premise environments to SharePoint Online and Microsoft 365 Experience with migration tools such as ShareGate or equivalent Strong background in information management and records management, including SharePoint on-premise and online Experience with Microsoft Power Platform development and integration Strong understanding of data governance, security, and compliance frameworks Ability to design and manage SharePoint site architecture, permissions, and integration with M365 tools