Role Overview for VP, Data Architecture with a Leading FinTech – Dallas, TX
JRG Partners is proud to partner exclusively with a trailblazing, high-growth Financial Technology (FinTech) firm in their search for a visionary Vice President of Data Architecture. Located in the vibrant tech hub of Dallas, TX, our client is redefining the financial landscape through innovative, data-driven solutions. This is a pivotal executive leadership role for a strategic thinker who can architect the future of our client’s data ecosystem, transforming data from a simple asset into the central nervous system of the entire organization.
As the VP of Data Architecture, you will be the ultimate authority on how data is structured, stored, processed, and consumed across the enterprise. You will not just manage data; you will craft the blueprint for a scalable, secure, and intelligent data foundation that will fuel business growth, product innovation, and operational excellence for years to come. This role requires a unique blend of deep technical expertise, strategic business acumen, and inspirational leadership. You will be responsible for setting the vision, defining the roadmap, and leading a world-class team to build a data architecture that is not only robust and reliable but also agile enough to adapt to the fast-paced evolution of the FinTech industry.
You will collaborate closely with C-level executives, product leaders, and engineering teams to ensure that the data strategy is perfectly aligned with the company’s ambitious goals. If you are a passionate data leader eager to make a lasting impact at the intersection of finance and technology, this is an unparalleled opportunity to shape the destiny of a market leader.
Key Responsibilities of VP, Data Architecture with a Leading FinTech – Dallas, TX
The VP of Data Architecture will have a broad and impactful scope of responsibilities, encompassing strategic planning, technical execution, team leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. Success in this role will be measured by the creation of a modern, efficient, and scalable data platform that drives tangible business value.
Enterprise Data Strategy & Vision
Define, evangelize, and execute a comprehensive enterprise data architecture strategy and roadmap that aligns with and powers the company’s overall business objectives. Champion a data-driven culture throughout the organization.
Architectural Design & Implementation
Lead the design and implementation of a modern, cloud-native data architecture, including data lakes, data warehouses, data marts, and real-time streaming platforms. Ensure the architecture supports advanced analytics, business intelligence, and machine learning initiatives.
Technology Evaluation & Selection
Continuously evaluate emerging data technologies, tools, and platforms. Make strategic recommendations and lead proof-of-concept initiatives to drive innovation and maintain a competitive edge. Select and manage vendor relationships for data-related tools and services.
Data Governance & Quality
Establish and enforce a robust data governance framework, including data policies, standards, and processes. Implement systems for data quality monitoring, metadata management, data lineage, and master data management to ensure data is accurate, consistent, and trustworthy.
Security & Compliance
In partnership with the CISO, design and implement a comprehensive data security strategy. Ensure the data architecture complies with industry regulations and standards such as GDPR, CCPA, and financial services-specific compliance requirements.
Leadership & Team Development
Build, lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of data architects, data engineers, and data modelers. Foster a culture of technical excellence, innovation, continuous learning, and collaboration.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Act as a key strategic partner to executive leadership, product management, engineering, and business units. Translate complex technical concepts into business terms and effectively communicate the value and vision of the data architecture.
Scalability & Performance
Architect data solutions that are highly scalable, resilient, and performant to handle exponential data growth and demanding service-level agreements (SLAs). Oversee performance tuning and optimization of data pipelines and databases.
Operational Excellence
Drive the automation of data pipelines and processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual intervention. Establish best practices for data modeling, ETL/ELT development, and data lifecycle management.
Financial Management
Develop and manage the budget for the data architecture function, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and a strong return on investment for all data-related initiatives.
Requirements for the VP, Data Architecture with a Leading FinTech – Dallas, TX
We are seeking a seasoned and accomplished leader with a proven track record of building and scaling enterprise data platforms in complex, fast-paced environments. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of modern data technologies and a strategic mindset to leverage data for competitive advantage.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related quantitative field is required.
Executive Experience
A minimum of 15+ years of progressive experience in data architecture, data engineering, and data management, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership capacity (Director, Senior Director, or VP level).
Industry Expertise
Significant experience within the FinTech, financial services, or banking industry is highly preferred. A deep understanding of financial data, transaction processing, and regulatory requirements is a major asset.
Cloud Architecture Proficiency
Extensive, hands-on experience designing and implementing large-scale data solutions on major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP). Expertise with cloud data services such as AWS Redshift, S3, Glue, Kinesis; Azure Synapse, Data Lake Storage, Data Factory; or Google BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Dataflow.
Modern Data Paradigm Knowledge
Deep expertise in modern architectural concepts and the ability to articulate their business value. This includes a strong understanding of Data Mesh principles, Data Fabric, and Lakehouse architectures.
Technical Skillset
- Proficiency with data warehousing solutions like Snowflake, Redshift, BigQuery, or Synapse.
- Expertise in data modeling techniques (e.g., Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault) for both relational and non-relational databases.
- Strong experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop ecosystem) and real-time data streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Flink, Kinesis).
- Solid understanding of various database types, including SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, SQL Server) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB).
- Familiarity with data governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation) and data quality frameworks.
- Knowledge of BI and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker).
Leadership & Communication
Exceptional leadership skills with a proven ability to build and manage high-caliber technical teams. Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders from the engineering team to the executive board.
Strategic Mindset
Demonstrated ability to think strategically, connecting data architecture initiatives directly to business outcomes. A visionary who can anticipate future data needs and trends.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier talent by offering a highly competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package. They believe in investing in their employees’ well-being and professional growth.
Competitive Compensation
A highly attractive base salary, significant annual performance-based bonus, and a meaningful equity package.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents with low employee contributions.
Retirement Planning
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Generous Paid Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation days, sick leave, and company holidays, to encourage a healthy work-life balance.
Professional Development
A substantial annual budget for professional development, including conferences, certifications, and continuing education to keep you at the forefront of your field.
Modern Workspace
A state-of-the-art office environment in Dallas, TX, designed for collaboration and innovation.
Wellness Programs
Company-sponsored wellness initiatives, including gym memberships, mental health resources, and wellness challenges.
Parental Leave
Generous paid parental leave policies to support growing families.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for exceptional candidates.
How to Apply
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained for this critical search. We are seeking a transformative leader to fill this role and are eager to speak with qualified candidates who are ready to take on this exciting challenge.
If you are a visionary data leader with the experience and passion to build a world-class data architecture for a leading FinTech company, we encourage you to apply. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the role. For more information about our expertise in this domain, please visit our Technology Officers practice area page. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how you can make a significant impact with our client.
