Senior Director, Data Architecture

Harvard University • Boston, MA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Director, Data Architecture is the senior leader accountable for the strategy, design, governance, and delivery of Harvard Medical School's enterprise data ecosystem. Reporting to the Managing Director, Business Systems Architecture, and serving as a member of the Business Systems Architecture leadership team, the Senior Director leads the Data Architecture function — one of the two core functions within Business Systems Architecture, alongside Information Systems — and directs a team of data and solution architecture professionals, including two senior architecture leaders who each manage their own teams.
The Senior Director owns the multi-year modernization of the HMS data platform — including migration of a large on-premise estate (SQL Server / SSIS Data Lake, Kimball-style Data Mart, and Data Hub, spanning more than 50 data sources) to a cloud-native architecture — and holds decision authority over enterprise data architecture standards, platform and tooling investments, and the associated program budget. Partnering with IT leadership, Institutional Planning & Effectiveness, Faculty Affairs, academic and administrative units, and Harvard University IT, the role ensures that institutional data is governed, integrated, and accessible to support School-wide decision-making.
The Senior Director sets the enterprise data architecture standards that HMS data and solution architects follow, aligns priorities across teams, and is accountable for the performance, development, and leadership continuity of the data architecture function.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data management.
• Demonstrated experience leading at least one full-scale enterprise cloud migration.

Nice To Haves

• Expert-level experience transitioning legacy on-prem systems to cloud-native architectures with serverless ETL.
• Deep roots in SQL Server and Kimball methodology (star schemas, dimensional modeling).
• Proven track record managing Data Hubs or ODS environments that feed high-volume data to external ERPs, CRMs, and academic systems.
• Experience moving away from traditional SSIS toward modern orchestration tools, and implementing or managing Master Data Management (MDM) solutions.
• Demonstrated experience owning program budgets and vendor/tooling investment decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical solutions into business-relevant insights for non-technical stakeholders, while also providing hands-on technical guidance to engineering teams.
• Understanding of the unique data privacy and availability needs of a top-tier teaching and medical research institution.
• Excellent communication, presentation, collaboration, and networking skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Data Architecture function. Directly manage a team of 8 FTEs, including two senior architecture leaders (soli-line) who each lead their own teams. Set direction, allocate work and priorities, manage performance, develop staff, and own succession and leadership continuity for the function.
• Own the strategic direction and end-to-end design of the HMS data ecosystem, ensuring seamless integration across the Data Lake, Data Mart, and Data Hub. Establish and enforce the enterprise data architecture standards, patterns, and delivery practices that govern all HMS data and solution architecture work.
• Direct the strategy, roadmap, business case, and execution of migrating the legacy SQL Server / SSIS estate to a modern, cloud-native, serverless-ETL platform. Make key platform and build/buy decisions and secure funding and executive buy-in.
• Develop and manage the data architecture program budget; evaluate, select, and manage platform and tooling vendors and the associated investments, ensuring solutions are efficient, scalable, and aligned with institutional priorities.
• Define and enforce enterprise data governance, master data management, retention, and security policy in partnership with HMS Information Security, ensuring a single source of truth for institutional data across a fragmented landscape.
• Serve as the School's senior advisor on data architecture to senior administrators and faculty, translating institutional strategy and complex business requirements into technical roadmaps and priorities.
• Maintain the enterprise data architecture documentation library and continuously evaluate and evolve enterprise data systems, tools, and analytics capabilities as the environment scales.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director