Data Architect
Date: 14 May 2026
Location: Wellington, NZ
Company: Ministry of Social Development
• Two-year secondment/fixed-term position
• Wellington based
If you’re motivated by bringing clarity to complexity and shaping how data supports real‑world services, this role is an opportunity to make a lasting impact. As MSD undertakes a once‑in‑a‑generation transformation, we’re strengthening the enterprise data foundations that underpin how services are designed and delivered. This role sits at the heart of that change, helping define shared data structures, patterns, and principles that will be relied on across programmes, platforms, and teams for years to come.
This role offers the opportunity to lead the development of data models and architecture that improve outcomes for New Zealanders.
About us | Mō mātou:
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We’re in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.
We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whānau and communities.
As a Te Tiriti o Waitangi partner we are committed to supporting and enabling Māori, whānau, hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.
About our team | Mō te tīma:
MSD – services for the future is a multi-year programme to transform how we operate so we can deliver for New Zealanders and focus our resources and investment on the people who need it. The programme will make significant changes to our underlying systems, processes, and introduce redesigned services that put people first.
As part of MSD’s data and information maturity capability uplift, you’ll be playing a key role in enhancing our data architecture capability. Our focus is on moving toward a more deliberate and consistent approach to data design, one where we use repeatable architecture patterns, make governed and transparent design decisions, and apply them consistently across workstreams and initiatives. This work will help enable complex change such as data migrations, master data management, and platform modernisation to be planned and delivered with confidence.
About the role | Mō te tūnga:
In this role, you’ll work across programmes and domains to shape how data is structured, related, and understood at an enterprise level. You’ll collaborate closely with business stakeholders, analysts, and architects to identify core business entities, define their relationships, and translate business concepts into clear conceptual and logical data models. A key part of the role will be navigating MSD’s complex data landscape, building a shared understanding of existing data assets, how they connect, and where inconsistencies or gaps exist.
You’ll also play a critical role in lifting consistency across delivery by defining and promoting common data architecture patterns and standards. Your work will inform solution design, and downstream implementation on cloud data platforms, ensuring architectural decisions are deliberate, traceable, and fit for long‑term use. By providing clarity and direction at the enterprise level, you’ll help teams deliver solutions that align to a shared data foundation and support MSD’s long‑term service and transformation outcomes.
To be successful in this role, you’ll bring a strong mix of technical expertise, leadership, and experience working with data in complex environments.
Key responsibilities include:
• Develop and maintain enterprise wide conceptual and logical data models, ensuring a clear, shared understanding of core business entities and their relationships.
• Work closely with business stakeholders, domain experts, and analysts to understand business concepts, processes, and information needs, translating these into well defined business entities and data structures.
• Provide architectural guidance on how data should be structured, related, and evolved across programmes and initiatives to support long term business outcomes.
• Analyse and navigate a complex, multi system data landscape, building and maintaining a comprehensive data inventory that documents key data assets, sources, ownership, and usage.
• Develop information flow diagrams, conceptual relationship maps, and high level data lineage views to illustrate how data moves across systems, platforms, and service journeys.
• Ensure data models and information flows align with enterprise architecture principles, data governance standards, and master data management (MDM) approaches.
• Contribute to designing enterprise level data architecture standards.
• Provide advice on data design patterns for cloud data platforms, supporting scalable, reusable, and well governed data architectures.
• Support initiatives related to data quality, data catalogue, reference and master data management, analytics and reporting by ensuring strong data foundations.
• Contribute to uplift of data architecture and modelling capability across teams by promoting good practice, providing mentoring, and supporting common standards and tools.
• Produce clear, accessible documentation that supports decision making and enables teams to work confidently with shared data assets.
What you bring | Ōu pūmanawatanga:
• A relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience in data architecture, and modelling – both conceptual and logical
• Strong knowledge of data capabilities such as data governance, data catalogue, data quality, and data lifecycle
• Experience with data modelling tools such as Sparx Enterprise Architect, Hackolade or other freeware
• Experience leading and mentoring others in data architecture and modelling
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences
• Ability to translate business needs into technical solutions and align work to business outcomes
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills, with a strong customer focus
• Proven ability to lead complex projects and influence across teams
• Familiarity with public sector processes and governance
• Familiarity with Agile processes
If you have experience in data architecture and want to help shape how data is used to support decision-making across the Ministry, we encourage you to apply.
Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tūnga:
How to apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono:
To apply, click the 'Apply Now' button to upload your CV, cover letter and complete the online application form.
Note: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.
All applications must be made online. If this is not possible or if you have any queries, please contact us at jobs@msd.govt.nz
Internal MSD Employees – please apply through your myHR portal at work. This will ensure that your myHR employee profile is visible as internal candidate.
Closing date: Wednesday 27th May, 2026.
Joining us | Ko te hono mai:
Joining MSD means being part of a whānau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents. We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive, and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. We are a Treaty partner committed to strengthening relationships with Māori, Hapū, Iwi and communities to realise their own potential and aspirations.
If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to tell us when you apply so we can assist you through the recruitment process.
