Data Architect (PIM - Product Information Management) - Join our associate network at Start with Data, Home Based , £Contract Rate

Start with Data is a successful, self-funded data management consultancy that operates on currently a fully remote basis, and with an emphasis on creating business value from product data management. We work with a number of clients across retail and distribution, helping them to delight their suppliers and customers with quality-focused product data processes, data governance and technology.

We add value to our clients across the entire product data value chain - from product data source identification and acquisition, product information management (PIM) and Master Data Management (MDM), through to product data syndication.

Spread throughout the UK and Europe, our team and associate network casts a wide net across a multitude of locations, lifestyles, and backgrounds. It’s our differences that make us interesting, and our shared belief in Start with Data 's Core Values that bind us together.

We are thought leaders in the product data acquisition, master data management and distribution space. You can read about some of our methodology and insights on our website.

Role Specifics

Our Data Architects support the definition, documentation and delivery of data analysis, data models, data profiling and data mappings during our client PIM and MDM solution design and implementations. They help design data models, working closely with client stakeholders across the product data value chain. Our Data Architects then work in conjunction with our business and solution consultants to ensure the solution is delivered against these data requirements. Generally, these technology platforms will be one or many of several software platforms we implement - check our solution providers page on our website.

In this client-facing role, you 'll get to...

• Support workshops and capture data requirements
• Design data models - conceptual, logical and physical based on these requirements
• Advise on best practices in data modelling approaches for PIM
• Perform data analysis and data mapping for data quality and migration requirements

On day one we 'll expect you to…

• Data analysis of large, complex business processes and business architectures across the product lifecycle
• Establish data requirements and data architecture capture to guide the definition, design & delivery of client PIM or MDM solution
• Data analysis including the definition of to-be data models, data profiling, data mapping
• Data profiling and data mapping
• Consult and work with solution delivery teams to ensure solutions meet business requirement

You must have....

• Experience in performing a data architecture or data analysis role within a large, complex full-cycle Product Data Management PIM projects
• Experience in Manufacturing, Retail & Distribution businesses is a must
• Understanding of retailer and distribution operating models and processes across product & supplier management, data onboarding, enrichment, supply chain, eCommerce & Digital
• Understanding of master data governance frameworks
• Experience in creating data models from conceptual to the physical level
• Experience in creating data mapping documents
• Experience in data profiling
• Experience using Jira and Confluence, Visio and data modelling tooling
• Experience facilitating client-facing workshops
• Strong logical understanding of the product data lifecycle and business challenges
• Experience with 1 or more PIM platforms -eg: Stibo, Enterworks, Riversand, Akeneo, Contentserv, Informatica, Profisee
• Experience in working through all phases in the Project lifecycle
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with diligent attention to detail and quality of output
• Experience in estimating data architecture effort

Levels of experience

Consultant

You will be 5-7 years into your career. You will have had some experience in contracting as an independent or experience in a junior consulting role in another consultancy.

You will be extremely hands-on in the 'doing ' side of our engagements, working under the guidance of our lead consultants and project delivery support.

Ideally, you would have worked on several retail or distributor data projects, ideally around the product data space - for example, eCommerce, Digital, ERP, supply chain or product & supplier management.

Senior Consultant

You will be 7-10 years into your career. You will have established yourself as an expert in your domain. You would have extensive experience in contracting as an independent or experience in a mid-senior level consulting role in another consultancy. You will be expected to lead a workstream or a team of consultants, ensuring our methodology is followed. You will facilitate workshops and be confident in leading and pushing clients to drive consensus. You will plug yourself into our client and be great at client relationship and stakeholder management. Sometimes you will have to roll your sleeves up! You will also be comfortable supporting pre-sales activity.

Lead Consultant

You will be 10-15 years into your data consulting career. You are a leading expert and excellent communicator, a visionary in your discipline. You will fully understand the retailer and distributor product data value chain. You will have knowledge of market trends in this space and have a mature network across the retailer and distributor market. You will be able to shape strategies, working with executive-level stakeholders in our clients, and have the confidence to be left to your own devices. You will also confidently contribute to Start with Data 's go to market strategy, pre-sales activities working with our founders.

Start with Data 's culture is guided by respect, transparency, collaboration, and direct feedback.

We pledge to be a harassment-free and discrimination-free company.

We believe people from different backgrounds, with different identities and experiences, make the experience we give our clients, and our company, better – just as our clients are from everywhere, a diverse team helps ensure we create a diverse and value-oriented service offering.

We 're obsessed with communicating with our clients as well as within the team. We challenge bureaucracy and slow-moving organisations – but we 're advocates for well-defined processes and efficient governance. We love lean, iterative improvements, and success is measured by the value we create for our clients.

Pay & Benefits

• We look for exceptional associates consultants and our retainer rates reflect that
• All of our contracts are outside IR35
• There are longer-term opportunities with our business, working with a variety of our clients, on a contract or more permanent basis
• We run a great referral scheme if you want to take advantage of your personal network

At this time we are not engaging with recruitment companies, if we do ever need to explore, we have preferred suppliers who are on standby.