Data Architect

Job title: Data Architect

Telecommuting: Telecommuting is discouraged, and currently only allowed at most, 3-days a week, with a minimum of 2-days a week in the office required. Telecommuting requirements are subject to change, as FDOT requirements change, or at the discretion of the hiring manager.

Location: Burns Building, 605 Suwannee Street Tallahassee, FL 32399

Scope of Services

Background: As part of the Department's ongoing efforts to modernize and re-engineer core financial systems, over 100 computing assets have been identified as supporting various financial planning, analysis, and management functions within the Office of Work Program and Budget (OWPB). These assets are impacted by the State of Florida's accounting system changes under the Florida Planning, Accounting, and Ledger Management (PALM) project. Florida PALM is a multiyear initiative aimed at replacing the State of Florida's existing accounting and cash management systems with a modern financial management solution. The project will replace Central, Payroll, and Departmental FLAIR functionality.

These computing assets consist of interfaces, applications, databases, automated processes, and reporting programs within the office. These assets require remediation due to:

Adoption of the Florida PALM Standardized Business Process Model.

Transition to the Florida PALM Chart of Accounts values.

Replacement of Central, Payroll, and Departmental FLAIR functionality.

Redevelopment of agency interfaces to the statewide accounting system.

Implementation of Information Warehouse data to support agency-specific reporting requirements.

The FDOT PALM System Transition (FPST) will take place over the next year in alignment with the Florida PALM Project timeline. The successful candidate will assist in guiding the transition to the PALM system, which involves reviewing as-is business processes, remediation strategies, reengineering, design, and integration with FM financial systems. Ensuring compatibility with cloud architecture is a key objective, aligning with the state s cloud-first policy. The role focuses on the analysis and remediation of data marts and models within the Office of Work Program and Budget (OWPB) and verifying compatibility with data once provisioned within the agency from the Florida PALM system.

Scope:

1. Data Analysis and Impact Assessment:

Analyze and verify existing Work Program Datamart and General Ledger data models to assess impacts related to changes in Chart of Account data elements due to the Florida PALM Project.

Evaluate the existing data models for dependencies on current Chart of Account structures and assess the scope of necessary changes.

Conduct impact analysis on reporting and application usage of data models to ensure business outcomes are not disrupted by the transition to PALM.

2. Data Model Design and Enhancement:

Provide a comprehensive design of data models, incorporating new Chart of Account data elements introduced by the PALM system.

Ensure that the redesigned data models are scalable, robust, and aligned with best practices in data management, supporting both current and future business needs.

3. Data Quality and ETL Process Improvement:

Analyze existing ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) jobs to identify inefficiencies and potential areas for enhancement.

Design and implement robust data quality measures to ensure the timeliness, accuracy, and completeness of production data on a scheduled basis, including nightly, hourly, or less frequent intervals as needed.

Collaborate with development teams to automate and streamline ETL processes to support efficient data flow and integration.

4. Data Visualization and Reporting Best Practices:

Provide expertise in data visualization and reporting, offering best practices to support the business s ability to analyze and interpret financial data effectively.

Develop strategies to enhance existing reporting frameworks, ensuring that they are compatible with the new data models and data structures.

5. Collaboration and Deployment:

Work closely with existing development teams to deploy new and revised data models, verifying that the implementation aligns with functional requirements and business goals.

Act as a liaison between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear communication regarding data model changes, system impacts, and timelines.

Deliverables:

Comprehensive assessment report on current Work Program Datamart and General Ledger data models.

Enhanced data model designs integrating Florida PALM Chart of Account updates.

Thorough documentation on data quality measures and ETL process enhancements.

Guidelines on best practices for data visualization and reporting.

Detailed implementation plan for the deployment and verification of new data models.

Consistent updates and presentations to stakeholders on project progress and key insights.

The candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the transition to the Florida PALM system is smooth, efficient, and aligned with the strategic objectives of the FDOT, supporting the modernization of financial management processes and data architecture.

Education

Bachelor s or Master s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or other related field. Work experience can substitute on a year for year basis for the degree.

Experience

A minimum of 7 years of experience with large and complex database management systems.

A minimum of 7 years of experience as a data architect or senior data analyst, with extensive experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining data models and ETL processes.

10+ years of broad experience working with database management systems (such as Oracle, SQL Server, or DB2) and data integration tools.

Strong background in financial data systems, including data modeling, data governance, and data quality management.

Proven experience with ETL tools, data warehousing, and automation of data processes to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of data.

Experience in data visualization and reporting best practices, with familiarity with tools like Power BI, Tableau, or similar platforms.

Familiarity with cloud-based data integration solutions, such as Azure or Snowflake.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with Informatica, Cloud Data Governance and Catalog, Cloud Data Integration, or other modern data integration platforms.

Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate business requirements into technical specifications.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, capable of working effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Primary Job Duties/ Tasks

The submitted candidate must be able to perform the following duties and/or tasks:

1. Analyze and verify existing data models and interfaces in the Work Program Datamart and General Ledger to assess impacts and identify potential disruptions due to the Florida PALM transition.

2. Design and implement comprehensive data models, integrating new PALM data elements to ensure compatibility with business processes and reporting needs.

3. Review and enhance ETL processes to improve data quality, timeliness, and accuracy, and implement robust data quality measures to maintain high standards of production data.

4. Collaborate with development teams to deploy revised data models, verifying successful implementation and resolving any integration issues.

5. Provide expert guidance on data visualization and reporting, establishing best practices to optimize business insights, and monitor dependencies with interfacing systems to propose remediation where necessary.

6. Act as a liaison between technical teams, business stakeholders, and OIT to ensure clear communication regarding data architecture changes and project timelines.

7. Mentor and provide technical leadership to team members, guiding them on best practices in data integration, architecture, and quality management.

8. Ensure continuous improvement in data processes by defining roadmaps, standardizing methodologies, and collaborating on strategic initiatives.

9. Evaluate and align current data systems with the state s cloud-first initiative, ensuring data models are scalable and compatible with cloud architecture.

Job Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

The submitted candidate must be able to apply Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in the following areas:

Knowledge:

Strong knowledge of financial management business processes, including accounting, ledger management, and budget reporting.

In-depth understanding of data modeling principles, including relational and dimensional modeling techniques.

Familiarity with the Florida PALM system or similar state or federal financial management systems.

Proficiency in database management systems (DBMS) such as Microsoft SQL Server and DB2.

Comprehensive understanding of ETL processes and data integration tools like Informatica, Talend, or Microsoft SSIS.

Knowledge of cloud-based data integration platforms (e.g., Azure, Snowflake) and cloud-first strategies.

Familiarity with data quality management practices, data governance frameworks, and best practices.

Knowledge of data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) and reporting best practices.

Understanding of data security, privacy regulations, and compliance requirements.

Skills:

Proficiency in SQL and scripting languages for database querying and data manipulation.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct complex systems analysis and identify areas for improvement.

Skill in designing scalable and robust data models that support business processes and reporting needs.

Ability to work with ETL tools to streamline and automate data extraction, transformation, and loading processes.

Skilled in verbal and written communication, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Competency in project management, including the ability to plan, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks effectively.

Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

Skilled in conducting data impact assessments and presenting findings to management and development teams.

Abilities:

Ability to lead and mentor technical teams, providing guidance on best practices in data architecture, integration, and quality management.

Ability to conduct detailed analysis of existing systems and identify opportunities for optimization and modernization.

Capability to develop comprehensive data models and ETL processes that align with business requirements and organizational goals.

Ability to translate user requirements into technical specifications and scalable data solutions.

Ability to integrate research, trends, and industry best practices into continuous improvement efforts.

Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring alignment between technical solutions and business needs.

Ability to adapt to changing requirements and priorities, maintaining a focus on quality and project deadlines.

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to document data architecture, processes, and standards.

Ability to ensure data solutions comply with security, privacy, and compliance standards.