Chief Data Architect

Chief Data Architect

The Chief Data Architect is the senior enterprise authority accountable for defining, building, and governing AlGihaz Group?s target-state data architecture. This group-wide role supports Construction, Energy, Industrial Manufacturing, and shared enterprise functions. The Chief Data Architect will transform fragmented data estates across Oracle, Candy, Sphera, project controls, ESG/EHS, and other line-of-business systems into a scalable, federated, and governed data ecosystem. Reporting to the Chief Enterprise Architect, the role combines strategic architecture leadership with hands-on execution across master data, metadata, integration, data quality, data lifecycle management, and architecture governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the Group enterprise data architecture strategy aligned to business strategy, enterprise architecture principles, and the digital transformation agenda.
• Develop the target-state data architecture covering transactional, analytical, master, reference, and unstructured data domains across the Group.
• Translate business capability priorities into practical data architecture roadmaps, including phased transition states, dependencies, and investment priorities.
• Establish a federated data architecture model that balances Group-level standards with business unit execution realities.
• Provide architecture direction for major programs involving Oracle, Candy, Sphera, ESG/EHS, project controls, manufacturing systems, and future digital platforms.
• Design and implement the enterprise Data Governance framework, including governance councils, decision rights, and stewardship structures.
• Define the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities for Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Custodians, and architecture stakeholders.
• Lead the adoption of DAMA-aligned data lifecycle management practices across data creation, storage, integration, usage, archival, and retirement.
• Lead the architecture and governance of Master Data Management across critical domains such as organization, customer, supplier, project, material, asset, equipment, and workforce data.
• Architect the data platform foundations required for enterprise reporting, analytics, advanced data engineering, and future AI or machine learning use cases.
• Remain hands-on in architecture definition, data model review, integration design, metadata structures, and platform decision-making.
• Act as the enterprise data architecture authority within the Group Enterprise Architecture function.

Requirements

• Bachelor?s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master?s degree in data, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or Enterprise Architecture is preferred.
• TOGAF certification is strongly preferred.
• DAMA-related training, certification, or demonstrated alignment with DAMA-DMBOK principles is strongly preferred.
• Typically, 15 to 20+ years of experience across enterprise data architecture, data engineering, integration, governance, and information management roles.

Work Arrangements

• Job Type: Full-Time
• Job Location: Chennai, India with international travel to the Middle East (20%)
• Onsite role