Data Architect – Manager – AI & Data

We are hiring a Data Architect with demonstrated leadership in designing and delivering modern data architectures and enabling AI and ML at scale. This role requires deep technical architecture expertise, strong delivery management capability, and the ability to engage with C-level stakeholders on data and AI transformation programs.

You will shape and lead multi-market programs that enable clients across industries to build cloud-native data platforms, accelerate AI adoption, and scale data-driven business value.

Key responsibilities

1. Client leadership & Advisory

• Act as technical advisor to client CIOs, CDOs, and CAIOs on data platform modernisation
• Facilitate solution workshops and blueprinting sessions with executive and technical stakeholders
• Translate business problems into scalable data architectures
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients on data modernization, AI readiness, and cloud data strategy
• Drive discovery workshops, blueprinting sessions, and technical architecture reviews
• Lead client engagements with agile delivery methods and engineering excellence

2. Architecture ownership

• Lead the design of cloud-native data architectures (Lakehouse, Data Mesh, Real-time)
• Own end-to-end architecture and governance: ingestion, transformation, storage, security
• Align data platform strategy with AI and analytics enablement (e.g., MLOps, model serving)
• Architect end-to-end data pipelines (batch, real-time) using modern tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka, dbt, Airflow)
• Build and optimize data platforms that support AI/ML workloads, model deployment, and monitoring

3. Delivery & Quality assurance

• Manage teams delivering high-performance data pipelines and platform foundations
• Implement data quality, lineage, privacy, and governance frameworks at scale
• Own technical quality, delivery velocity, and stakeholder satisfaction
• Own the design and implementation of robust data ingestion, transformation, and governance processes
• Guide teams on data quality, lineage, metadata management, and data security best practices
• Collaborate closely with data scientists to operationalize ML models via MLOps best practices

4. Team leadership & Growth

• Lead and mentor cross-functional engineering teams (onshore/offshore)
• Mentor junior data engineers and consultants, promoting engineering standards and technical excellence
• Contribute to internal capability building and innovation within the AI & Data practice
• Influence recruitment decisions and grow capability in data engineering & architecture
• Coach client teams and promote engineering best practices

Cloud Platforms:

Azure, AWS, or GCP (deep expertise in at least one)

Data Tools:

Spark, Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, Delta Lake

Pipelines & Orchestration:

Airflow, dbt, Kafka, NiFi, Glue, Synapse

Programming:

Python (mandatory), SQL (expert), Scala/Java (bonus)

MLOps/AI Enablement:

Model serving, feature stores, MLflow, Vertex.ai, SageMaker

Architecture Patterns:

Data Mesh, Lakehouse, Streaming Analytics, CDC

Consulting experience:

• Prior experience in top-tier or boutique consulting preferred
• Client facing professional services roles with Enterprise software providers also preferred
• Ability to operate in ambiguity, structure complex challenges, and deliver value rapidly

Regional & cultural fit

• Deep understanding of the African enterprise landscape
• Comfortable operating in multi-cultural, multi-market environments
• Passionate about solving complex African business problems with global-grade solutions

What you bring

• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capabilities
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and presentation skills
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for innovation and growth
• High degree of intellectual curiosity, integrity, and drive

At Deloitte, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves and to thrive at work—in every country, in everything we do, every day. We aim to create a workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. We seek to create and leverage our diverse workforce to build an inclusive environment across the African continent.

Join us. Shape the future. Win big.

Key Performance areas

• Strategic Impact: Supports the Senior Manager on delivery of designated engagement / project, managing the implementation of the agreed deliverables.
• Client Impact: External/Internal: Manages and maintains oversight of deliverables of team on client engagements.
• Operational Effectiveness: Communicates detail of Audit Engagement Agreement to teams and maintains level monitoring of adherence by all parties.
• Development/Growth of Team: Shares expertise and knowledge with team members and counselees on an ongoing basis.
• Budgets / Profitability: Manages engagement budget through accurate budgeting,  cost control and profitability management.

 Differentiators for this specific role

• Wining Business: Contributes to the regional and business areas winning business opportunities and targets, including contribution to Industry Manager initiatives and cross service line selling and collaboration.

Leadership Capabilities

• Living our Purpose - Acts as a role model, embracing and living our purpose and values, and recognizing others for the impact they make.
• Talent development - Develops high-performing people and teams through challenging and meaningful opportunities.
• Performance drive - Delivers exceptional client service; maximizes results and drives high performance from people while fostering collaboration across businesses and borders.
• Influence - Influences clients, teams, and individuals positively, leading by example and establishing confident relationships with increasingly senior people.
• Strategic direction - Understands key objectives for clients and Deloitte, aligns people to objectives and sets priorities and direction.

Technical and Professional Capabilities

• Stakeholder Focus: Leverages a deep understanding of audit and risk advisory services and stakeholder needs to deliver high quality engagement.
• Become experts in risk assessments and audit responses: Takes an independent view and contributes heavily in developing and challenging the risk assessment and controls testing strategy and designing appropriate audit responses for risks.
• Integrate engagement teams and manage referred work: Collaborates effectively across Deloitte functions to deliver a seamless audit that is responsive to stakeholder needs.
• Make appropriate use of tools, guidance and methodology: Provides appropriate guidance to the audit team in relation to the application of tools, guidance and methodology in delivering the audit.
• Manage project plans to optimize engagements: Proactively manages the project plan through efficient use of resources and tracking delivery of assigned tasks, guiding team members’ prioritization.
• Formulate reasonable judgements and conclusions in order to deliver informative and timely outputs: Uses judgement and consults appropriately when dealing with complex matters, applying an appropriate level of professional scepticism.
• Apply Ethical and Professional Standards: Understands their business security, ethical and compliance responsibilities, displaying best practice and actively encouraging appropriate behaviours of engagement teams.

At Deloitte, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves and to thrive at work—in every country, in everything we do, every day. We aim to create a workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. We seek to create and leverage our diverse workforce to build an inclusive environment across the African continent.

Note: The list of tasks / duties and responsibilities contained in this document is not necessarily exhaustive.  Deloitte may ask the employee to carry out additional duties or responsibilities, which may fall reasonably within the ambit of the role profile, depending on operational requirements.

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To help you look out for potential recruitment scams, here are some Red Flags:

• Upfront Payment Requests: Deloitte will never ask for any upfront payment for background checks, job training, or supplies.
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