Director, Data Platforms

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Data Platforms is the technology leader responsible for the vision, strategy, operations, and continuous improvement of Farm Credit Financial Partners’ enterprise data ecosystem.

This role defines and drives FPI’s Lakehouse strategy, Databricks adoption, data engineering direction, observability, AI enablement, data availability, and platform modernization, ensuring secure, accurate, and timely data delivery for all ACA customers and internal stakeholders. The Director of Data Platforms owns the strategic roadmap for data ingestion, transformation, quality, integration, lineage, metadata, storage, and platform reliability. This leader ensures FPI''s data systems meet financial services–grade SLAs, are ready for AI and advanced analytics, and support the evolving needs of Farm Credit institutions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Platform Vision & Architecture

• Define the multi-year data platform strategy, including modernization, AI enablement, governance integration, and cloud-native capabilities.
• Own the technical strategy of the Lakehouse environment
• Ensure platform design meets financial-sector requirements for availability, resiliency, auditability, and scale.
• Drive the adoption of modern data engineering patterns (streaming, automation, MLOps, domain-oriented modeling, Data Lake best practices).

Leadership of Data Engineering & Platform Operations.

• Ensure robust monitoring, observability, alerting, and incident management across all data flows.
• Oversee the performance and daily operational SLAs, including the critical ACA data availability window.

• Serve as the organizational owner of Databricks strategy, engineering standards, and optimization.
• Ensure secure, well-governed, cost-optimized use of computers and storage.
• Build platform capabilities to support advanced analytics and enterprise AI (GenAI and ML).

Governance, Risk, Security, and Compliance Integration

• Partner closely with Data Governance, Security, and Compliance teams to embed controls into platform design.
• Ensure platforms support end-to-end lineage, metadata accuracy, and audit-ready documentation.
• Oversee access management, data contracts, schema controls, and segregation-of-duties policies.
• Build scalable governance automation into engineering workflows.

Organizational & Cultural Leadership

• Establish a culture of reliability, automation-first engineering, operational excellence, and innovation.
• Drive transformation from legacy approaches to modern, cloud-based, AI-enabled data platform methods.

MANAGERIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Oversee daily team operations to ensure alignment with organizational policies while facilitating effective communication, collaboration, continual improvement, and knowledge sharing within the team and across organization. 

• Provide clear direction, goals, and priorities to direct report(s) while mentoring them to enhance their skills and support their professional development 

• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that supports employee engagement. 

• Address conflicts with professionalism and fairness, serving as the first point of contact for employee(s) communication and escalating issues appropriately in collaboration with HR when necessary. 

• Ensure employee(s) adherence to organizational policies and procedures by promoting and modeling compliance with labor laws, workplace standards, and ethical practices in all people management activities. 

• Manage administrative responsibilities, including reviewing and approving weekly timecards, processing time-off requests, tracking compliance tasks, and supporting team adherence to organizational policies and deadlines. 

• Conduct performance reviews by setting and communicating clear expectations and objectives, monitoring performance against goals, providing continuous feedback, and addressing performance issues promptly and effectively. 

• Oversee talent management processes for reports, including hiring, termination, performance evaluations, and pay reviews, ensuring alignment with unit objectives and adherence to company policies and procedures. 

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• Typically, 12+ years of experience in data engineering, data platforms, or cloud architecture with at least 5 years leading multi-team organizations.
• Deep expertise with Databricks technologies, including Spark, workflows, cluster management, and Unity Catalog.
• Proven experience running mission-critical data platforms with strict SLAs and monitoring.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML engineering and enabling infrastructure
• Experience with data governance integration (lineage, metadata, schema management, Collibra or similar).
• Demonstrated success in leading modernization programs and large-scale cloud platform initiatives.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with technical and executive stakeholders.
• Experience working in financial services or other regulated industries highly preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

·       Ability to report to work in person and to attend work-related functions/activities.

·       Ability to work at a desk and use a computer for extended periods.

·       Ability to lift, carry, and move objects up to 10 pounds occasionally.

·       Ability to occasionally travel as required.

·       Ability to type and utilize various software programs efficiently and operate general office equipment.

·       Ability to work in an office setting with moderate noise levels.

·       Additional physical demands include, but may not be limited to, frequent talking or hearing, occasional push/pull, stoop/kneel, bend/twist, and reach to retrieve or move items in a typical office environment.

·       Must be able to work scheduled hours and overtime as needed.

·       Hybrid or remote work arrangements

o   This role has been designated as a Hybrid role, which gives employees the opportunity to work from home on Mondays and Fridays and working in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  

o   Please note that the Company retains the right to change a position’s designation at any time.

o   Exceptions to the designated work arrangement may be made based on business needs

·       Ability to concentrate and focus on details when reviewing documents, analyzing data, and performing computer-based tasks.

·       Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining accuracy and efficiency.

·       Ability to problem-solve efficiently and make sound decisions.

·       Ability to manage job-related stress and interactions with clients, colleagues, or external parties.

·       Ability to communicate ideas clearly in both verbal and written form.

·       Ability to work with others in a collegial and collaborative manner

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their position.