Data Architect

This is a contract-based ( fixed term contract of contractor )position with project funding for 3.5 years.

Role summary

The Future of Data Sharing Programme is central to GS1's Vision 2030 — building a globally unified, interoperable and trusted data ecosystem that powers AI-enabled supply chains, supports sustainability data exchange and reinforces digital trust.

As Data Architect - Semantic & AI Readiness, you will serve as a data architect and ontology specialist, helping GS1 move from traditional data exchange to semantic, machine-readable and AI-ready data infrastructures. You will design and document the data models, ontologies and governance rules that ensure GS1 registries become the reliable "source of truth" for industry and regulators.

This is a unique opportunity to combine hands-on data modelling with global impact — helping define how trusted data will power AI, sustainability, environmental transparency and digital transformation across industries.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Design semantic foundations – Lead the development and maintenance of ontologies, taxonomies and canonical data models aligned with GS1 standards and industry vocabularies.
• Translate business concepts into data – Work with domain experts and Member Organisations to extract meaning, model relationships and represent business entities in precise, interoperable formats.
• Specify interoperable data structures – Define and validate linked-data outputs (e.g. RDF, OWL, JSON-LD, SKOS), metadata schemas and API contracts supporting GS1 Registries and data services.
• Embed data quality by design – Establish validation rules, provenance metadata and governance controls to ensure trustworthy, machine-actionable data for AI and analytics.
• Support architecture and delivery – Collaborate with product owners, programme leads and technical teams on solution design, requirements, testing and rollout.
• Align and influence – Engage Member Organisations and partners to harmonise semantic models and promote consistent implementation across the federation.
• Communicate value – Produce clear technical summaries, architecture documents and executive briefings that demonstrate how GS1 data supports AI and sustainability use cases.

Education/experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Information Science, Knowledge Engineering, Computer Science, Data Architecture or related field.
• 4–6 years' experience in data modelling, ontology development, semantic data integration or information architecture, ideally in international or standards-based environments.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills — able to bridge technical and business perspectives and explain complex concepts clearly.
• Strategic mindset with a passion for AI, sustainability and data trust, and a drive to make technical concepts deliver real-world impact.

Skills

Must Have

• Practical experience with ontology and taxonomy tools (e.g. Protégé) and linked-data technologies (RDF, OWL, JSON-LD, SKOS).
• Familiarity with modern data platforms, API design and data exchange standards.
• Must be fluent in English, oral and written. Fluency in other languages is helpful.
• Strong organisational, analytical, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrates passion, energy, and drive in their work.
• Excellent time management skills and flexibility to cater for commitments across multiple time zones.
• Operates in a manner that demonstrates honesty; keeps promises and honours commitments; behaves in a consistent manner.

Nice to Have

• Understanding of metadata design, data governance, interoperability frameworks and knowledge graph architectures.
• Interest or experience in sustainability standards, ESG reporting frameworks, lifecycle or circularity data, product environmental foot printing or related domains.

This job may require up to 10% global travel.

This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 4 to 8 days per month in Ewing, NJ office, or remote for other locations in the US, France, The Netherlands, Germany or UK.

IMPORTANT Please do not contact hiring managers. Apply through LinkedIn Recruiter and we will be in touch if you are a good fit.

GS1 Overview

GS1 develops and maintains the most widely used supply chain standards that are fundamental to numerous enterprises around the world. The best-known symbol of GS1 standards is the barcode, named by the BBC as one of "the 50 things that made the world economy". Five decades ago, we started by helping food retailers do business more efficiently and reduce consumer prices. Today, GS1 standards improve the efficiency, safety, and visibility of supply chains across physical and digital channels in 25 sectors, including retail omnichannel and e-commerce, healthcare, transport and logistics, food service, technical industries, and humanitarian logistics. Our scale and reach – local Member Organisations (MO) in 120 countries, 2 million user companies, and 10 billion transactions every day – help ensure that GS1 standards create a common language that supports systems and processes across the globe.

GS1 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will never unlawfully discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, belief, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, or political opinions.