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- Tasks: Design innovative tech solutions that transform children's lives and meet business needs.
- Company: Join Compass Community, a leader in child-focused therapeutic approaches.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive environment with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while working with cutting-edge technology in a meaningful role.
- Qualifications: 5+ years as a Solution Architect with strong tech and communication skills.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace committed to your professional journey.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child? Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fix what needs fixing, together.
The Solution Architect is responsible for designing, governing, and assuring technology solutions that meet business needs while aligning with the transformation programme, technology strategy, architectural standards, and values. Reporting to the CTO, the role acts as a bridge between business stakeholders and delivery teams, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, cost-effective, and fit for purpose. The role will cover both major applications and smaller ECO-System requirements across Education, Fostering, Residential, Therapeutic Services and Central Functions.
Responsibilities
- Design end-to-end solution architectures across applications, data, integration, and infrastructure with an AI first approach.
- Translate business requirements into clear architectural designs and technical specifications.
- Ensure solutions align with agreed architectural principles, standards, and roadmaps.
- Produce and maintain architecture artefacts (e.g. solution diagrams, design documents, decision logs).
- Work closely with product owners, PM’s, business analysts, DevOps, and third-party suppliers.
- Engage with stakeholders to explain architectural options, risks, and trade-offs in clear, non-technical terms.
- Support delivery teams throughout the lifecycle, from discovery through to implementation and handover.
- Review and assure technical designs produced for delivery teams and by suppliers.
- Identify and manage architectural risks, technical debt, and dependencies.
- Ensure solutions meet non-functional requirements including security, performance, resilience, and compliance.
Requirements
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Solution Architect.
- Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in IT systems administration, Child Care technology, or information systems.
- Exposure to TOGAF, Zachman, ITIL, CoBiT, Prince2 frameworks or similar would be an advantage. Evidence of ongoing learning ability essential.
Essential
- Proven experience as a Solution Architect or in a senior technical design role.
- Strong understanding of modern application architectures (e.g. cloud-native, API-led, microservices, AI driven).
- Experience designing solutions across multiple domains (applications, data, integration, infrastructure).
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
- Working in agile and multi-disciplinary delivery teams.
- Experience with cloud platforms (e.g. Azure, AWS, or GCP).
- Knowledge of integration patterns, data platforms, and security principles.
- Experience working with third-party vendors and system integrators.
Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.
Solution Architect in Birmingham employer: Compass Community
Contact Detail:
Compass Community Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Solution Architect in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend meetups, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Understand how your skills as a Solution Architect align with their mission of transforming lives. This will help you stand out and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your experience and how it relates to the role. Use clear, non-technical language to communicate complex ideas, especially when discussing architectural options with non-tech stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission to support children and young people.
We think you need these skills to ace Solution Architect in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Solution Architect role. Highlight your experience with modern application architectures and how you've tackled similar challenges in the past. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to our team!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be bridging the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to explain complex concepts in simple terms. Use examples from your previous roles where you've successfully communicated technical details to non-technical audiences.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Don’t forget to emphasise your experience with cloud platforms and architectural frameworks like TOGAF or ITIL. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make sure we know about your relevant qualifications and projects!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details directly and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our mission to transform lives!
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Community
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of modern application architectures, especially cloud-native and AI-driven solutions. Be ready to discuss how you've designed solutions in the past and how they align with business needs.
✨Speak Their Language
Since you'll be acting as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders, practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. This will show that you can communicate effectively with non-technical audiences, which is crucial for this role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your previous roles where you've successfully managed architectural risks or worked with third-party vendors. Highlight your experience with frameworks like TOGAF or ITIL, as these will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage and Ask Questions
During the interview, don’t hesitate to ask questions about their current technology strategy and transformation programme. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to their mission of putting children first.
