Knowledge Modeler / Ontologist Manager

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Knowledge Modeler / Ontologist to contribute to domain ontology design, governance, and delivery for enterprise knowledge graph initiatives. Working collaboratively within a team and under the guidance of an ontology governance framework, this role bridges business stakeholders, data engineering, and AI/ML teams – translating complex business domains into rigorous, standards-compliant semantic models that power intelligent applications.

This role is hybrid in nature and will require time in office and traveling to client locations. Travel can be between 20-80%.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full ontology lifecycle supporting a defined project scope: requirements gathering, conceptual modeling, formal specification (OWL 2, RDFS, SKOS), validation, and deployment
• Design T-Box (schema) structures and contribute to A-Box (instance) hydration patterns across structured and unstructured data sources
• Apply and uphold established naming conventions, URI strategies, and modular ontology architecture principles
• Apply advanced modeling patterns where appropriate (e.g., reification, n-ary relations, punning) in consultation with senior team members
• Create and evolve ontologies, taxonomies, and vocabularies using standards including OWL, RDF, RDFS, and SKOS
• Map traditional data structures (e.g., relational databases) into semantic frameworks
• Build and maintain knowledge graphs to support reasoning, discovery, and advanced analytics
• Ensure models align with business goals, regulatory requirements, and data governance practices
• Coach the business (SMEs and stakeholders) in developing and validating competency questions to guide and test ontology scope and correctness
• Maintain awareness of relevant upper ontologies (e.g., BFO, schema.org) and apply alignment patterns as appropriate
• Facilitate business SME workshops with BA support to elicit domain concepts, relationships, and competency questions
• Translate ambiguous business language into precise, machine-readable semantics
• Communicate modeling decisions to non-technical stakeholders in accessible terms
• Support feedback loops between business validation and ontology iteration
• Apply ontology governance standards: version control, change management, and quality gates (W3C compliance, SHACL/ShEx validation)
• Define and enforce Definition of Done criteria for ontology deliverables in collaboration with the senior team
• Apply R2RML / RML mapping strategies for structured data integration
• Collaborate with Entity Extraction / NLP teams on ontology-guided information extraction from unstructured sources
• Collaborate with knowledge graph hydration, testing, and validation against competency questions
• Work effectively within cross-functional delivery teams spanning Data Engineering, AI/ML, Product, and Business SMEs
• Collaborate with and support junior team members, sharing knowledge and modeling approaches
• Meet delivery timelines and proactively flag dependencies or risks to senior ontologist or project lead
• Provide accurate and achievable estimates for ontology-related work and contribute to roadmap planning as part of the broader project scope

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in ontology engineering, knowledge modeling, or a closely related semantic web discipline
• Minimum 5 years demonstrable experience delivering domain ontologies in an enterprise or consulting context
• Bachelor’s in Information Science, Computer Science, Library Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, or a related field

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Information Science, Computer Science, Library Science, Linguistics, Philosophy, or a related field — or equivalent practical experience
• Experience working in Agile or iterative delivery environments preferred

Skills

• Ontology Engineering: Proficiency in OWL 2, RDF, RDFS, SKOS, SHACL, and SPARQL for building and validating semantic models
• Semantic Web Standards: Working knowledge of W3C standards and best practices for linked data and knowledge representation
• Knowledge Graph Development: Experience designing and querying knowledge graphs using tools such as GraphDB, Stardog, or Neo4j
• Tooling: Hands-on experience with ontology authoring tools such as Protégé or Ontotext
• Data Integration: Familiarity with R2RML or RML for mapping relational or semi-structured sources into semantic models
• Competency Question Development: Ability to formulate and use competency questions to scope, validate, and iterate on ontological models
• Upper Ontology Awareness: Familiarity with upper ontologies such as BFO, DOLCE, or schema.org and their role in interoperability
• Communication & Collaboration: Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language and engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Pay

Compensation varies by location. Annual salary ranges for this role are as follows:

• California: $94,400 to $293,800
• Cleveland: $87,400 to $235,000
• Colorado: $94,400 to $253,800
• District of Columbia: $100,500 to $270,300
• Illinois: $87,400 to $253,800
• Maine: $80,400 to $216,200
• Maryland: $94,400 to $253,800
• Massachusetts: $94,400 to $270,300
• Minnesota: $94,400 to $253,800
• New York: $87,400 to $293,800
• New Jersey: $100,500 to $293,800
• Virginia: $87,400 to $270,300
• Washington: $100,500 to $270,300

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) plan
• Bonus opportunities
• Paid holidays and paid time off

For more information, see U.S. Employee Benefits | Accenture.