About the Role
The Ontology, Knowledge Graph & Semantic Layer Lead defines, designs and leads the first implementation of an enterprise ontology, knowledge graph and semantic layer programme. This is a foundational, strategic role for someone who pairs deep hands-on semantic technology expertise with enterprise architecture experience, and who has already delivered ontology and knowledge graph programmes at scale. You’ll set the target state, build the roadmap and governance, and get the first capabilities live.
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What You’ll Do
- Define the target state architecture and strategy for the enterprise ontology, knowledge graph and semantic layer
- Design enterprise semantic models, taxonomies and ontologies aligned with business and data domains
- Build the roadmap, governance framework, standards and operating model
- Lead the initial implementation phases and guide the build of foundational ontology and knowledge graph capabilities
- Identify and prioritise business use cases and quick wins
- Align the programme with Data Governance, Metadata Management, MDM, Data Products, Data Catalog and AI initiatives
- Advise on tooling, platform selection and architecture decisions
- Build internal capability through knowledge transfer and mentoring
What We’re Looking For
- 10+ years in Data Architecture, Semantic Technologies, Knowledge Engineering and Knowledge Management
- Proven experience leading enterprise scale ontology initiatives, knowledge graph implementations and semantic architecture programmes
- Strong grounding in ontology engineering, taxonomy development, knowledge representation, semantic modelling and metadata management
- Experience defining target state enterprise semantic architectures
- Solid understanding of Data Governance, Metadata Management, Enterprise Architecture and Business Architecture
- Experience using ontologies and knowledge graphs to power AI, GenAI, RAG, enterprise search and knowledge management
- Deep experience with several of: RDF, OWL, RDFS, SKOS, SPARQL, SHACL, property graphs, LPG and RDF graph models, semantic reasoning and inferencing
- Hands-on experience with knowledge graph platforms such as Stardog, GraphDB, TopBraid, PoolParty, Neo4j, Amazon Neptune, Microsoft Fabric / Purview semantic capabilities or the Databricks knowledge graph ecosystem
- Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to engage both executive and technical audiences
You’ll Thrive Here If You
- Enjoy building something from a blank page and owning it from strategy through to first delivery
- Can move comfortably between whiteboard architecture and hands-on modelling
- Know how to turn semantic concepts into business value that executives understand
- Like growing a team’s capability as much as delivering the work yourself
Why This Role
- Lead a foundational enterprise programme from day one
- Shape how ontology and knowledge graphs underpin the organisation’s AI and GenAI agenda
- Real influence over architecture, tooling and platform decisions
- Based in Riyadh, at the heart of a major data and AI transformation
