Talent Data Management Manager - Principal Data Architect

Role Description

The Talent Data Management Manager serves as the Principal Data Architect for Talent Technology and is responsible for defining and executing the strategic vision for the firm's HR data ecosystem. This role leads the design, governance, and evolution of the Talent Operational Data Store (ODS), ensuring HR data is scalable, secure, reliable, and optimized to support enterprise reporting, analytics, and business intelligence.

As the organization's HR data architecture leader, this position is responsible for designing modern relational database solutions and Azure-based data warehouse architecture that enable trusted, high-quality data for downstream analytics and Power BI reporting. The role partners closely with HRIS, Talent Analytics, Reporting, and business stakeholders to translate complex HR business processes into scalable, sustainable data solutions.

This leader will manage the Database Administrator while serving as the organization's technical authority for HR data architecture. The role will frequently operate as a player/coach by providing architectural leadership, technical guidance, mentoring, and hands-on design expertise for critical initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Data Architecture (50%)
  • Develop and execute the long-term strategy and roadmap for the Talent Operational Data Store and enterprise HR data architecture.
  • Lead and manage the Database Administration function by providing technical leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
  • Serve as the Principal Data Architect for Talent Technology, establishing enterprise data architecture standards and best practices.
  • Design scalable relational database structures and Azure-based data warehouse solutions that support current and future business needs.
  • Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models that optimize reporting, analytics, scalability, and system performance.
  • Partner with HRIS, Talent Analytics, Reporting, and business leaders to ensure data architecture aligns with business strategy and enterprise objectives.
  • Evaluate current data structures and recommend modernization opportunities that improve usability, scalability, and operational efficiency.
  • Lead architectural decisions for new HR technologies and ensure alignment with enterprise architecture standards.
  • Provide architectural oversight for large-scale Talent Technology initiatives involving enterprise HR data.
  • Guide technical decision-making on complex data challenges while balancing business priorities and long-term sustainability.
  • Establish standards for database design, metadata management, documentation, naming conventions, and data lifecycle management.
  • Communicate architectural direction, project progress, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and technical excellence across the Talent Data Management function.
• Talent Data Management & Operational Data Store (35%)
  • Lead the design, development, implementation, and ongoing evolution of the HR Operational Data Store (ODS).
  • Design and maintain enterprise HR data models that accurately represent business processes and organizational relationships.
  • Develop and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models supporting Workforce, Recruiting, Learning, Compensation, Payroll, Organizational Management, and other Talent domains.
  • Build scalable Azure-based data warehouse solutions that support enterprise reporting and advanced analytics.
  • Design relational database structures that optimize reporting performance and simplify downstream consumption by analytics platforms.
  • Understand end-to-end HR business processes and translate functional requirements into scalable technical data solutions.
  • Create and maintain technical documentation, including entity relationship diagrams (ERDs), data dictionaries, metadata, data lineage, mapping specifications, and solution architecture documentation.
  • Ensure data quality, consistency, integrity, and reliability across the Talent data ecosystem.
  • Partner closely with the Power BI and Reporting teams to ensure the operational data store and data warehouse are optimized for semantic modeling, dashboard development, and self-service analytics.
  • Anticipate future reporting and analytical needs by designing reusable, extensible, and scalable data structures.
  • Collaborate with HRIS and business stakeholders to continuously improve the firm's Talent data strategy and architecture.
  • Drive database optimization initiatives to improve system performance, reliability, and reporting efficiency.
• Data Governance, Quality & Operational Excellence (15%)
  • Develop and maintain enterprise standards for HR data governance, quality, and operational data management.
  • Establish quality controls and validation processes that ensure trusted, accurate, and consistent HR data.
  • Partner with HRIS and business stakeholders to define data ownership, stewardship, and governance practices.
  • Ensure compliance with enterprise security, privacy, legal, and regulatory requirements.
  • Participate in architecture and solution reviews to ensure new initiatives align with enterprise data standards.
  • Support metadata management, master data management, data lineage, and data catalog initiatives.
  • Promote best practices for database architecture, documentation, and operational excellence.
  • Provide technical consultation, education, and mentorship on HR data architecture across Talent Technology.
  • Maintain knowledge of emerging Azure data technologies and industry best practices to continuously improve the Talent data platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience designing enterprise data architecture, operational data stores, enterprise data warehouses, or relational database solutions.
• 2+ years of leadership experience, including managing technical teams or leading enterprise data initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing enterprise data warehouse solutions using Microsoft Azure technologies.
• Experience designing scalable relational database solutions supporting enterprise reporting and business intelligence.
• Experience translating business requirements into conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• Experience partnering with analytics and reporting teams to build reporting-ready data solutions.
• Experience working with HR, ERP, or other enterprise operational data is preferred.

Requirements

• Strong experience designing and implementing Azure-based enterprise data warehouse solutions.
• Hands-on experience with Azure technologies, including:
  • Azure SQL Database
  • Azure Synapse Analytics
  • Azure Data Factory
  • Microsoft Fabric
  • Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
  • Azure SQL Managed Instance (preferred)
• Expert understanding of relational database design principles, normalization, indexing, and performance optimization.
• Advanced experience developing conceptual, logical, and physical enterprise data models.
• Experience designing Operational Data Stores (ODS), enterprise data warehouses, and dimensional data models.
• Strong SQL development and database performance tuning skills.
• Experience designing ETL/ELT data transformation frameworks.
• Strong understanding of metadata management, master data management, data lineage, and enterprise data governance.
• Experience creating architecture documentation including ERDs, solution architecture diagrams, data dictionaries, and technical specifications.
• Working knowledge of Power BI semantic models, data modeling, and performance optimization.
• Understanding of enterprise security, role-based access, and data privacy best practices.
• Experience with HR data domains including Core HCM, Recruiting, Learning, Compensation, Payroll, Organizational Management, and Talent Management is preferred.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Strategic thinker with the ability to establish and execute a long-term enterprise data architecture vision.
• Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to understand how data flows across enterprise platforms and supports business outcomes.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business recommendations for executive and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and build strong partnerships across HRIS, Analytics, Reporting, and Technology teams.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills with a passion for developing technical talent.
• Exceptional analytical, architectural, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to balance strategic initiatives with operational priorities while maintaining a high standard of data quality and governance.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing priorities and successfully lead multiple complex initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits and compensation package.
• Flexibility in your schedule to balance life’s demands while serving clients.
• Learn more about total rewards at RSM Benefits .