Job Description

4 Days in the office from any of our locations in Johnston RI and Westwood MA, only

Role is not relocation eligible.

The Data Lead will own the end-to-end delivery of data architecture, data modeling, and data enablement for priority business domains. This role is responsible for shaping and executing data solutions that enable analytics, AI/ML, and operational use cases while ensuring data is well-governed, scalable, and aligned to enterprise standards

This individual combines deep technical expertise in data architecture, modeling, and ETL with strong delivery leadership, acting as the primary liaison between business stakeholders, data engineering, and enterprise data teams within a regulated financial services environment.

Key Responsibilities

Data Architecture & Modeling

• Own and deliver conceptual, logical, and physical data models, including canonical and semantic models, aligned to business capabilities and enterprise data strategy.
• Define and govern domain-driven data contracts and modeling standards to enable cross-domain interoperability and reuse.
• Help design and apply data architecture patterns supporting batch and real-time data integration, including event-driven and streaming use cases (e.g., Kafka).
• Ensure scalable, maintainable, and well-documented data designs across analytics and operational platforms.

Data Enablement & ETL Delivery

• Lead the design, development, and delivery of data enablement solutions, including ETL/ELT pipelines from source ingestion through modeled, consumption-ready datasets.
• Oversee pipeline design, estimates, dependencies, and delivery execution across cloud platforms such as AWS (S3, Glue, EMR, Lambda, Redshift) and Snowflake
• Enable high-quality data products that support reporting, analytics, AI/ML, and regulatory use cases.

Strategy, Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Define and own the data enablement roadmap for assigned business domains, aligned with enterprise data strategy and business priorities.
• Act as a data thought leader, partnering with senior business and technology stakeholders to identify and deliver high-value use cases.
• Translate business needs into actionable data architecture and modeling solutions; influence stakeholders on best practices and trade-offs.
• Lead cross-functional delivery teams (architects, engineers, analysts) using agile or product-based delivery models

Data Governance, Quality & Compliance

• Ensure data assets are well-governed, trusted, and compliant with regulatory and internal risk requirements.
• Own data domain definitions, quality standards, metadata, and lineage in partnership with governance teams.
• Embed data quality monitoring, issue remediation, and continuous improvement into delivery processes.

Required Skills & Experience

Essential

• Strong experience in data architecture, data modeling (conceptual/logical/physical), and ETL/ELT design
• Hands-on knowledge of canonical data models, semantic modeling, and data enablement patterns
• Solid understanding of distributed data systems, real-time and batch integration concepts.
• Experience delivering end-to-end data solutions in cloud-based data platforms (Snowflake, AWS, Redshift or similar).
• Deep understanding of data governance, data quality, metadata, lineage, and regulatory considerations.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to bridge business and technical teams.
• Experience leading or owning delivery across multiple initiatives.

Preferred / Desirable

• Experience with Kafka or event-driven architectures
• Exposure to AI/ML, advanced analytics, or real-time data use cases
• Background in financial services or other highly regulated industries
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Delta).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data, Information Systems, or related field (Master’s preferred).

Hours & Work Schedule

• Hours per Week: 40
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
• Hybrid: 4 days per week on-site, 1 day remote

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $ 157,000 - $ 209,000 per year plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of very local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Employer

Job Applicant Data Privacy Policy

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.