Solution Architect

The Digital Design function manages and defines a conceptual architectural blueprint of digital technology, structure, and operation to achieve and evolve organizational objectives effectively. The team comprises an Enterprise Architect, Solution Architects, and Business Analysts. As a Solution Architect, you will manage architectural principles related to design, implementation, security, and business technologies, ensuring efficiency and efficacy through collaboration with colleagues and team members to design IT solutions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader with a deep understanding of business goals, processes, and enterprise architecture to conceptualize and create solution architecture designs that meet business needs and align with existing architectures.
• Enhance and accelerate projects while ensuring alignment with the standards and reference architectures defined by technical domains and enterprise architects.
• Collaborate closely with delivery leads, project managers, business analysts, technical architects, and external vendors to deliver the architectural design of technology solutions.
• Ensure compatibility and alignment of proposed solutions with the digital design enterprise architecture.
• Review and validate digital delivery and third-party technical designs to ensure alignment with enterprise and solution architecture.
• Populate and maintain the solution architecture repository to ensure all solution designs are documented.
• Work in an agile team to incrementally develop the solution and support team members.
• Identify, manage, and mitigate all technical risks that could impact the directorate and the organization's objectives.

Behaviours

• Co-creating: Collaborates to generate the best ideas and solutions for the organization, its stakeholders, and its staff.
• Evolving: Focuses on continuous improvement and innovation to create a better future.
• Aligning: Concentrates on what is in the best interests of the organization and its stakeholders, positively aligning with the overall strategy.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in software engineering, software testing, computer science, or computing infrastructure.
• TOGAF certification is desirable.

Background & Experience

• Extensive experience in at least two IT disciplines (such as technical architecture, network management, application development, Middleware, information analysis, database management, or operations) in a multitier environment, or significant experience in business analysis or business strategic planning.
• Experience with public, private, and hybrid cloud environments and design is desirable.

Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) - IT Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Planning (Level 5): Ensures adherence to the strategic management approach and timetables, collates information, and creates reports to support strategy management processes. Develops and communicates plans to drive the strategy forward.
• Information Governance (Level 5): Understands the implications of internal and external information and makes decisions based on that information, including the need for system changes. Reviews new change proposals and provides specialist advice on information and records management.
• Consultancy (Level 5): Takes responsibility for understanding client requirements, collecting data, delivering analysis, and resolving problems. Identifies, evaluates, and recommends options, implementing solutions if required.
• Specialist Advice (Level 5): Maintains recognized expert-level knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms, providing definitive and expert advice.
• Enterprise and Business Architecture (Level 5): Contributes to creating and reviewing a systems capability strategy that meets strategic business requirements, developing models and plans to execute the strategy.
• Emerging Technology Monitoring (Level 5): Monitors external environments to gather intelligence on emerging technologies, assesses their impacts, and creates reports and technology roadmaps.
• Solution Architecture (Level 5): Leads the development of solution architectures in specific business, infrastructure, or functional areas, ensuring the correct application of tools, methods, and technical strategies.

Commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

We are committed to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This includes achieving greater diversity within our workforce and creating an inclusive working environment. We strive for a collaborative and innovative culture that adapts to the changing needs of our clients, with EDI at its core. In this role, you can expect to contribute to and challenge how we address equity disparities, embrace diversity, and become more inclusive. Our shortlisting and interview panels aim to be diverse in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, nationality, and socio-economic background. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Solution Architect to join a dynamic team and make a significant impact on our digital transformation journey. Apply today to be part of an organization that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.