TECHICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ARCHITECT in Leatherhead

To provide technical infrastructure architecture leadership and design assurance for the Tech Fundamentals workstream, ensuring Safe & Legal Day-1 requirements are met and that staff can securely access core systems, applications and data during transition to the new authorities. The role leads the assessment of legacy infrastructure across the 12 councils and develops safe, resilient transition and convergence options across networks, identity, Microsoft 365, telephony and cyber-security controls.

Key outputs:

• Current-state baseline of core infrastructure, dependencies and risks across all councils
• Assured transition and convergence options for key technical domains, including network interconnect, identity, Microsoft 365, telephony and security controls
• Technical design standards and decision records to support consistent implementation
• Clear management of technical risks, dependencies and service continuity requirements

This role supports Surrey’s Local Government Reorganisation within the IT & Data theme, working in the Technical Fundamentals workstream to help deliver Safe & Legal requirements. Working with SMEs across the 12 councils and delivery partners, the postholder reviews current tools, enterprise platforms, configurations and infrastructure constraints to ensure transition designs are practical, assured and deliverable.

Key areas of focus include networking and connectivity, Microsoft 365 tenant and domain dependencies, telephony and contact centre transition, identity and access management, and cyber-security controls. No formal line management responsibility. The postholder coordinates multi-disciplinary delivery teams across concurrent projects, including third-party/supplier resources, and provides task direction, prioritisation and escalation to maintain delivery. May provide coaching and delivery support to project managers within the workstream.

Analysis, Reporting & Documentation

• Advise on the analysis and interpretation of data, identify trends and test solutions, present results and put forward recommendations to support the resolution of issues and support decision making.

Service Delivery

• Review the operations of the teams to identify improvements in systems, processes, procedures and working methods, and propose changes to secure greater efficiency and compliance.
• Apply specialist/professional expertise and use judgement to make decisions where solutions are not obvious, to deliver services that meet customer requirements and service standards.
• Ensure professional and quality service standards are maintained and applied within their area of activity.

Planning & Organising

• Lead or contribute to the operation of an efficient and effective service ensuring the work of the team supports service plans and that necessary resources are secured.
• Lead major projects and reviews within a defined area of work to support and enhance service delivery.

Finance/Resource Management

• May monitor, analyse and manage delegated budgets, funding and resources in accordance with organisation's policies and procedures.

Work with others

• Liaise internally and externally to ensure the department/service issues are appropriately represented and acted upon.
• Work with managers, service representatives and partners to identify and apply cost effective means of delivering improvements to business processes and strategies.

People Management

• Directly or matrix manage a diverse group of staff to ensure the successful delivery of a service.
• Monitor and support the performance management and development of team members using a coaching approach, to support individual development and ensure that individual contributions are maximised.

Duties for all

• Values: To uphold the values and behaviours of the organisation.
• Equality & Diversity: To work inclusively, with a diverse range of stakeholders and promote equality of opportunity.
• Health, Safety & Welfare: To be responsible for ensuring health & safety policies, procedures and legislation are implemented, communicated and managed including making sure that health and safety responsibilities are fully understood and carried out by employees within their service area.
• To have regard to and comply with safeguarding policy and procedure as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Degree or equivalent, or significant vocational experience showing development in a series of progressively more demanding relevant work/roles.
• Professional qualification or evidence of high level understanding of relevant business disciplines.
• Extensive and comprehensive knowledge of computerised business systems, able to promote the use of IT systems within the service (some roles).
• Extensive knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures relating to business planning and financial and organisational management.
• Proven written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with established negotiation and influencing skills and the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners/professionals.
• Ability to understand, meet and exceed customer expectations.
• Proven problem solving skills with the capacity to devise and implement innovative solutions.
• Proven ability to manage a wide range of complex projects or programmes.
• Significant work experience at management level in one or more relevant specialist areas.
• Demonstrable experience in successful recruiting, managing, coaching and developing of staff.