Associate Data Architect

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance.  We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture.  As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any basis prohibited by the laws that govern its operations.

How does this role contribute to our collective success?

Data and analytics are of critical importance for AXIS.  Simply put, we want to turn data into information, that can be used to:

• Enable decisions to be made with confidence, based on information not just intuition.

• Be more proactive, using information to identify new opportunities, and getting to them before our competitors.

• Realize cost savings, finding ways to make processes more efficient, enabling our people to focus on using their skills to further add business value.

The recently formed Architecture team are responsible for building out the designs and patterns, and the policies and frameworks to enable us to maximise the value of our data. Enabling us to:

• Design and enforce what and how data is captured in front end systems based on the outcomes it needs to deliver.

• Design how data is structured and stored to deliver required business outcomes.

• Develop and embed the policies that ensure that data is treated and interpreted consistently across the business.

• Scale data quality across the organisation, defining quality criteria for data at the point it enters the organisation, monitoring quality and remediating issues.

What will you do in this role?

This is an Associate Architect role which means you will bring skills and experiences to AXIS along with a drive and curiosity to learn and develop new skills based on industry best practices and AXIS requirements.

• Proactively design the AXIS data estate and accompanying frameworks and standards that will enable us to best use our data to maximize profit for the organization.

• Work with technical and non-technical stakeholders to translate business outcomes into designs and patterns that can be executed by the developers and other technical experts that will then go forth and build them. Being the translation point throughout delivery to ensure that solutions are built in the optimum way, with minimum technical debt.

• Build out policies and frameworks to accompany all data architecture working practices that will enable work to be approached in a consistent way, resulting in consistent and scalable solutions.

• Work with stakeholders to draw out conceptual and logical data models to describe the key concepts in the AXIS data estate. Ensure that these models are then utilised in the implementation of new systems and data repositories

• Leverages expertise in APIs and data integration to support proof-of-concepts (POCs), evaluating emerging technologies and translating outcomes into robust Data Solution Designs

• Support stakeholders in bringing solution designs through governance forums within D&A and wider architectural review boards.

• Contribute to the build and maintenance of a central data governance and data quality solution.

• Contribute to the build and maintenance of the master and reference data management strategy and approach, work with the business and the supporting BTS functions to implement this across the organization in a consistent, scalable way.

• Keen to develop in depth knowledge of data architecture practices and serve as a technical expert in the field.

• Proactively engages with, and understand, the group strategy and provides input/ideas for improvements to the AXIS data strategy to promote alignment with business goals.

• Simplifies the existing data architecture, delivering reusable services and cost-saving opportunities in line with the policies and standards of the compan

• Evaluates and recommends emerging technologies for data management, storage, and analytics

You may also be required to take on additional duties, responsibilities and activities appropriate to the nature of this role.

This role reports into the Head of Data Architecture

About You:

We encourage you to bring your own experience and expertise to the table, so while there are some qualifications and experiences, we need you to have, we are open to discussing how your individual knowledge might lend itself to fulfilling this role and help us achieve our goals.

What you need to have:

• At least 3-4 years of experience in data related design and/or build work. The ideal experience would be working with data models and enterprise data lake/warehouse initiatives but a background in Software Engineering would also be useful.

• Experience in data analysis, data integration and data governance would also be positive attributes for any applying candidates.

• Familiarity with Azure integration patterns, including APIs and event streaming and how they can be effectively applied across the organisation.

• Understanding of Master Data Management (MDM) concepts and strategies.

• Exposure to Cloud Data Platforms such as Databricks or Snowflake, with hands on experience in real world scenarios.

• Understanding of entity-relationship modelling, metadata systems, and data quality tools and techniques 

• Ability to think strategically and relate architectural decisions and recommendations to business needs and client culture 

• Curious personality who is driven and keen to learn and develop as part of the role.

• Exceptional communication skills – a key part of this role will be working collaboratively with business stakeholders, with the technology organization, and with the wider Data and Analytics group. Being able to communicate clearly to a variety of audiences and work collaboratively will be key to the success of this role.

• Ability to prioritize effectively, adapt as necessary based on business priorities, re-factor plans as required by changing priorities and communicate impact of changes to key stakeholders.

• Strong oral and written communication skills and proven ability to win confidence of business partners and influence outcomes. 

• Strong ability to work with technical teams and multiple work streams with dynamic priorities

What we prefer you to have:

• Strong knowledge of insurance industry data and information needs of the underwriting function within (Re) Insurance. Experience in UK, Bermuda and US markets would be beneficial.

• Technical knowledge around technology and tools used in support of data architecture and data governance preferred.

What we offer:

For this position, we currently expect to offer a base salary in the range of $70,000 - $110,000 CAD (Halifax, Nova Scotia). Your salary offer will be based on an assessment of a variety of factors including your specific experience and work location.  

You will be eligible for a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes medical plans for you and your family, health and wellness programs, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid annual leave, and much more.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.