Director of IT Enterprise Data Architecture

Data Architecture & Engineering

• Design and maintain scalable, high-performance data architectures that support NCAA’s evolving data needs.
• Oversee the development, management, and optimization of the enterprise data warehouse (EDW), ensuring data quality and efficiency.
• Architect and manage end-to-end data integration pipelines (batch and event-driven), ensuring secure, reliable data movement across platforms, applications, and vendors.

Integrations & Technology Management

• Ensure robust integrations between enterprise systems and data platforms using leading technologies (e.g., Snowflake, Fabric Data Factory, Azure Logic Apps, Azure Service Bus), including API-based integration patterns where appropriate.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align engineering solutions with business needs, enhancing overall data usability.
• Define and govern enterprise data API standards (e.g., REST/GraphQL patterns, versioning, authentication/authorization, throttling, and documentation) to enable trusted self-service data access.

Capital Projects & Innovation

• Lead and execute capital projects to implement new capabilities and enhancements in the data infrastructure.
• Evaluate and incorporate emerging technologies (e.g., analytics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities) to continually advance the NCAA’s data strategy.

Application Managed Services (AMS)

• Provide oversight and management of application-managed services, ensuring high availability and support for all internal clients.
• Optimize data engineering operations to maintain robust, cost-effective services across the organization.
• Establish audit controls for the data platform, including access logging, change management controls, data lineage, retention, and evidence collection to support internal/external audit needs.
• Own platform performance and cost management for the EDW and integration ecosystem by defining SLAs/SLOs, monitoring workloads, tuning pipelines/queries, and implementing cost optimization and chargeback/showback practices.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Lead a high-performing team of data architects, engineers, and integration specialists through strategic direction and mentorship.
• Communicate complex technical solutions to senior leadership and other stakeholders, ensuring alignment with NCAA’s overall strategy.
• Manage a significant IT budget and make strategic technology investments that drive innovation and operational excellence.

Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Data Architecture & Warehousing:
  • Advanced expertise in designing scalable data architectures and enterprise data warehouses using Snowflake, Fabric Semantic Models.
  • Proven experience with conceptual/logical/physical data modeling, dimensional modeling, and performant storage patterns (e.g., normalized, star/snowflake schemas) to support analytics and operational use cases.

• Data Engineering & Pipeline Development:
• • Expert-level proficiency in building and optimizing ETL/ELT pipelines using tools like Fabric, Logic Apps, Azure Service Bus, dbt.
  • Strong programming skills in SQL and at least one language (Python) for developing data integration solutions.
• Cloud & Integration Technologies:
• • In-depth experience with cloud platforms (Azure) for data processing.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage seamless integrations across heterogeneous systems, ensuring data integrity and security.
  • Experience designing and operating data APIs (e.g., REST/GraphQL), including API gateways, authentication/authorization, versioning, and developer documentation practices.
• Data Governance & Security:
• • Comprehensive knowledge of data governance practices, data quality frameworks, and compliance standards.
  • Experience implementing robust security measures and managing data privacy across large-scale data infrastructures.
  • Experience implementing audit controls and observability for data platforms (e.g., logging/monitoring, lineage, access reviews, segregation of duties, and control evidence).

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field is required.
• Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., TOGAF, PMP, ITIL) are strongly preferred.
• A minimum of five years of experience in progressive IT leadership, with a significant portion dedicated to data architecture, data warehousing, data engineering, and system integrations.
• Ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience in the above listed areas.
• Proven track record managing large-scale capital projects and implementing enterprise-level data solutions.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with experience in managing significant IT budgets.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable business insights.
• Estimated travel:
• This position will be based out of the national office in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Current work environment is hybrid; 2 days in the office and 3 days are remote.

Key Competencies:

• Effective Communication
• Motivating Others
• Strategic Agility
• Critical Thinking
• Stakeholder Focus

Core Values:

• LEADERSHIP| We actively listen and continually strive to provide vital solutions, counsel and advocacy for student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics.
• INCLUSION| We seek and incorporate different perspectives and experiences to drive innovation and impact.
• COMMUNICATION| We commit to an environment of openness to build trust and make timely decisions.
• COLLABORATION| We work together, based on mutual respect, to lead and serve our stakeholders.
• ACCOUNTABILITY | We take ownership for our actions and results to add value every day.