Senior Manager, Data Architecture & Operations

Summary:

The Senior Manager, Data Architecture & Operations will serve as liaison between the business internal to the data architecture team.  This role will lead cross-functional initiatives focused on building and optimizing enterprise data platforms, governance frameworks, and data integration strategies. The ideal candidate combines technical acumen in data systems—particularly cloud-based solutions such as Microsoft Azure—with proven project management leadership in both agile and waterfall environments. The project manager will maximize on strengths of the team and put individuals on projects based on business needs.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Project Oversight & Execution

• Lead complex data architecture projects, including data lakes (e.g. Azure Data Lake Storage), Synapse Analytics, data warehouse modernization, ETL pipeline implementation using Azure Data Factory, and data governance initiatives. 
• Maintain centralized tracking of all active and upcoming projects across the business unit to include maintaining clear project backlogs, data product roadmaps, and cross-functional release plans in alignment with strategic business objectives.
• Collaborate with data architects, engineers, analysts, and business stakeholders to define project scope, monitor timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-budget completion.
• Identify and escalate risks or blockers early, coordinating with stakeholders to resolve issues. 

Cross-Functional Coordination & Communication

• Facilitate communication between departments, aligning project teams and leadership on goals and expectations.
• Lead recurring status meetings and updates with clear agendas, actions, and accountability.
• Build relationships across functions to improve collaboration and responsiveness.
• Promote data literacy and project ownership across non-technical teams involved in data initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with data architects, engineers, and project owners to validate project assumptions, architectural designs, and implementation approaches.
• Serve as a translation layer between technical requirements and business outcomes.

Framework & Process Implementation

• Define and implement standardized project management processes and templates.
• Support teams in adopting consistent planning, execution, and reporting practices.
• Maintain clarity on roles, responsibilities, and decision-making across projects.
• Ensure that all data initiatives incorporate governance principles, including data lineage, metadata management, access control, and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, SOC 2).
• Partner with engineering and cloud operations teams to align project workflows with Azure DevOps pipelines and deployment practices.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain KPIs to measure project health and team performance.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, technical design reviews and project status updates. 
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and integrate into future project planning and execution.
• Define success metrics such as data product delivery timelines, SLA adherence, governance adoption rates, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Requires 7+ years’ experience in project management, with 3+ years focused on data architecture or enterprise data platforms.
• Proven ability to translate data architecture initiatives into business value, ensuring stakeholder buy-in through impact-driven communication and deliverables.
• Strong understanding of data architecture concepts, including data modeling, integration, warehousing, and governance.
• Proven experience managing data architecture or integration projects using cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services , data lakes and/or MDM.
• Experience with Azure-native tools and services for data management, orchestration, security, and monitoring is strongly preferred
• Proficient with project management tools (e.g. JIRA, Microsoft Projects, Monday, Azure Boards)
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels
• Organized, detail-oriented, resourceful and self-motivated.
• Preferred experience working in regulated industries (e.g. healthcare, finance)
• Preferred PMP, PMI-ACP, or similar project management certifications and/or experience with Agile/Scrum methodologies.
• Azure certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate or Azure Solutions Architect Expert are a strong plus

Work Environment

This role is a hybrid position with office presence required at our Milwaukee, WI office.  Travel within the U.S. is estimated at less than 5% per year. The emphasis is on travel for impact. 

The above statement reflects the general details necessary to describe the principal functions of the occupation and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work that may be inherent in the occupation.

EEO Statement

SPS Health, LLC and all its affiliates, are equal opportunity employers committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. The Company makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. The company complies with the Colorado Healthy Families & Workplaces Act.