Digital Solutions Development Architect

Job title: Digital Solutions Development Architect

Grade: G

Salary: £45,529 - £48,737 per annum (rising by annual increments to £48,737) More information on salaries and progression can be found on our pay and policies page.

Hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week

Location: Service Headquarters at Five Rivers Salisbury OR Dorchester Support Offices depending on the successful postholders home location - There will be a requirement to attend your centre of duty location approximately 1 day a week for key activities as well as 1 day a month at Service Headquarters, Salisbury for team meetings. When you are not working from your centre of duty location there will be the flexibility to work from home / DWFRS Stations / Support Offices, and we will welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what type of flexible working arrangement will work best for you.

Appointment Type:Permanent

Contact: For a chat about this post, please contact Emily Gadd, Digital Transformation Manager on 01722 91169 / Emily.Gadd@dwfire.org.uk.

Closing and Interview date: The closing date for applications is Sunday, 29 November 2026 (midnight). We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. It is intended that interviews will take place on Tuesday, 15 December 2026. Should you be shortlisted for interview, further details regarding the interview format / location will be provided before the interview date.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, an organisation that is passionate about changing and saving lives. Our corporate staff are absolutely vital in helping to make our communities safer and healthier. Without them, we couldn’t do it.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits and strive to ensure that staff are valued and rewarded. For example, we offer a flexi time scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, a generous annual leave allowance, a variety of family friendly schemes including 39 weeks’ full pay during maternity leave (subject to qualifying criteria) and health & well-being services.

As a Digital Solutions Development Architect in our ICT department, you will:

• Develop Service systems using a range of software tools, including Microsoft Power Platforms, working with stakeholders on design, testing and implementation of products. Producing on screen help and system documentation for advice and guidance to deliver systems that meet requirements.
• Build and maintain effective Supplier relationships and work with Suppliers to ensure databases and systems are inter-operable and continue to meet Service needs, both operationally and corporately, in line with policies.
• Lead on Systems Development and Software Plan and contribute to wider Digital Data and Technology Strategy through effective working with other members of the Digital, Data and Technology teams.
• Recommend solutions to meet Service needs that best meet requirements and deliver effective joined up management tools/systems with best value for money, whilst providing required rigour and effectiveness in line with Service policies.
• Ensure all systems meet the security needs of the Service to ensure legislative compliance and good information management practices.

What makes you our ideal Digital Solutions Development Architect?

• Experience of all aspects of the software development lifecycle from client specification to deployment
• Excellent communication skills and a positive attitude to internal/external stakeholders, along with the ability to confidently participate in meetings as a key stakeholder
• Ability to work in both a collaborative environment and independently
• Level 5 qualification in computer development or relevant equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge in M365 Product Suite, including Microsoft Power Platform

For full details of the role and requirements please have a look at the job description and person specification.

Other Information:

• You must be able to fulfil the travel requirements of the role. Travel requirements are once a week for meetings/training.
• A Standard Disclosure & Barring Service Check (DBS) clearance will be undertaken on the successful individual prior to offer of employment.
• Any offer of employment will be subject to full pre-employment checks which include identity checks, right to work in the UK, medical, receipt of satisfactory references, verification of employment history and an explanation of any gaps in employment in the last 3 years.
• Please click here for information relating to raising tax awareness and pension considerations when applying for a job.

To find out more and apply:

Our Candidate Charter outlines the commitments we make to you when applying for a vacancy with us.

Please note we do not accept CV’s in place of application forms.

We welcome the use of AI responsibly and ethically to demonstrate your skills in your application, but please don’t allow it to overshadow your own unique voice.

While we appreciate innovative approaches, we also value authenticity. Our assessment considers both the content of the application and how it was created, ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all applicants. At the end of the day – we want YOU to work for us!

You should ensure you include satisfactory evidence in your application to demonstrate all of the areas stated as being measured at the Application Stage on the Person Specification.

This will ensure you have the best opportunity of progressing to the next stage of the selection process.

We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. All applications will be treated on merit and staff involved in recruitment and selection processes undertake unconscious bias training.

We are committed to the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee an interview to applicants with a disclosed disability if they meet the minimum criteria for the post to which they are applying. Please tell us in confidence if this applies to you, or if there are any reasonable adjustments that would help you apply for this post. To find out more, please see our website.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Adults, Children and Young People. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

If you hold international qualifications, you will be required to provide official evidence that shows how these compare to UK Qualifications. We will accept a Statement of Comparability from a UK organisation called ENIC which can be obtained via their website. Please note that UK ENIC charge for this service, so if you request a Statement of Compatibility, you will be required to pay for it as we are unable to reimburse you.

For further guidance on how to complete your application, please refer to the Job Application Guidance Notes. If you are experiencing difficulties completing your application or have a need to complete your application in an alternative format due to a disability, please contact HR Resourcing on 01722 691444 within plenty of time of the closing date of the position you are applying for.

Values & Behaviours Framework

Our recruitment, assessment and progression processes are based on our Code of Ethics that has been developed specifically for Fire and Rescue Services. When recruiting, we identify the most important behaviours for the role and these are used as part of the short-listing and selection process.