Solutions Architect in Wilmslow

The role will provide technical guidance and direction throughout the solution development lifecycle, including requirements validation, technology evaluation, design and benefits realisation tracking. The successful candidate will collaborate and consult with a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure solution design decisions are aligned with Enterprise Architecture strategy. The role will carry out horizon scanning across the industry and wider technological landscape, identifying innovative tools and trends that could enhance the capabilities of the ICO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Developing and delivering the ICO’s Solution Architecture vision, strategy and roadmaps.
• Collaborate closely with stakeholders and product managers to gather and analyse requirements for new solutions.
• Create a library of architecture and solution building blocks to direct and guide effective and robust solution design.
• Creating and managing the solution design and development of services of various sizes, including how they interact with their surroundings and how they evolve over time.
• Supporting technical specialists in multiple projects and services on problems that require broad architectural thinking.
• Defining how we build user-centred systems in an agile environment to serve a variety of citizen and business needs.
• To challenge existing practices, looking for deeper problems to solve and larger opportunities for digital transformation.
• Communicating the architecture vision to technical and non-technical stakeholders and to work in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Playing an active role in the ICO Architecture community and related communities of practice where you will share your knowledge of best practice, tools and techniques.
• Helping to build a diverse, inclusive culture across the architecture community, growing awareness, inclusivity and balance.
• Working with other architects, colleagues and peers to define standards and guidance around best practice.
• Engaging and networking with people across the ICO up to Director level to understand their needs and ensure they are aligned with the Enterprise Architecture vision.
• To participate in the development of best practices and standards for Azure solution development and implementation.
• To be an evangelist for Azure solution architectures and best practices.

Essential criteria assessed at application stage:

• Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
• Experience of working with cloud-first architectures and how to design solutions that take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
• Experience of working with technical teams and delivering user-centred services in an agile environment.
• Experience of working with stakeholders of all levels to make decisions on technology choices, using the most appropriate languages, frameworks and tools to meet user and business needs.
• Experience of working with Enterprise Architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman) and C4, UML Modelling.
• Proven ability to design and document end-to-end solutions, including consideration of data and infrastructure components.
• Knowledge of a wide range of technologies including cloud platforms (Microsoft Azure), microservices, APIs and enterprise software.

Essential criteria assessed at interview stage:

• Excellent analytical skills to diagnose issues, evaluate risk and develop viable solutions.
• Knowledge of a wide range of technologies including cloud platforms (Microsoft Azure), microservices, APIs and enterprise software.
• Proficiency in creating solution architecture design diagrams, roadmaps and associated artefacts.
• Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity, creative problem solving and developing innovative solutions.
• Able to communicate complex insights and principles simply and with impact, particularly across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Competent at negotiating and persuading where necessary, whilst applying a highly ethical approach.
• Commercial acumen, understanding how solution architecture links to business value creation.

Equality, diversity and inclusion:

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for this vacancy will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you have a disability or impairment and require an alternative application method, please email the HR team.

Closing Date: Please submit your CV by 23:59 on Thursday 5th March 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. To ensure your application is considered, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact us.

In the event of a high volume of applications, we may not be able to invite all candidates who meet the minimum criteria to interview. However, we encourage you to stay in touch and apply for future roles that match your interests. All candidates who meet the minimum criteria and apply in-line with our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants will be interviewed.

Clearance Required for this role: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)