Chief Architect in Leeds

Chief Architect in Leeds

Leeds Full-Time 69001 - 98061 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Inspire People

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and governance of transformative digital services for millions across the UK.
  • Company: Join DVSA, a mission-driven agency shaping national digital services.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, excellent pension contributions, and flexible hybrid working.
  • Other info: Shape the future of digital services with excellent career progression opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on digital transformation and influence senior stakeholders.
  • Qualifications: Proven enterprise architecture leadership and experience in large-scale technology transformation.

The predicted salary is between 69001 - 98061 £ per year.

Become part of a mission-driven digital team helping to build secure, resilient services used by millions across the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working with Inspire People to recruit a Chief Architect with strong enterprise architecture leadership, target architecture design, governance and large-scale digital transformation expertise. Hybrid working with minimum 60% office-based in your designated office in either Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Oldham, Newcastle, Swansea or Yeading.

Salary up to £98,061 (base pay of £69,501 plus an additional Digital and Data Profession allowance up to £28,560) plus £20,134 employer pension contribution per annum plus excellent Civil Service benefits. This role requires a minimum continuous UK residency of 10/10 years for DV vetting.

Shape the Future of Digital Services at DVSA:

  • Provide technical leadership in the development, operation and continuous improvement of complex, transformational digital services serving millions of users.
  • Direct the development of long-term enterprise-wide business design, information architecture and processes.
  • Own and promote enterprise architecture strategy, governance, principles, standards and tools.
  • Lead target architecture design aligned to organisational strategy.
  • Chair and support enterprise architecture governance ensuring compliance and quality.
  • Oversee architectural design across complex systems, ensuring documentation is timely and accurate.
  • Provide specialist architectural advice influencing senior stakeholders across the organisation.
  • Evaluate supplier proposals and make recommendations to senior leadership.
  • Oversee budgets and delivery from external partners ensuring scalable, secure and reusable solutions.
  • Lead the evolution of enterprise architecture across the organisation and wider government landscape.
  • Build capability, develop teams and promote best practice across the architecture community.
  • Drive continuous improvement across systems, technology and service delivery.

Essential skills for the Chief Architect include:

  • Strong track record of hands-on enterprise architecture leadership in complex, multi-service environments.
  • Significant experience defining and delivering strategic target architecture and business design.
  • Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills at senior level.
  • Experience working in matrix organisations aligning technology with business strategy.
  • Proven experience delivering large-scale technology transformation.
  • Deep knowledge of modern architectures including cloud, infrastructure, data and software delivery lifecycle.
  • Experience establishing and governing architecture frameworks, standards and controls.
  • Strong understanding of commercial, procurement and supplier delivery environments.
  • Experience developing high-performing technical teams and capability.
  • Aware of ITIL, ISO9001 and ISO27001 frameworks.

Desirable skills for the Chief Architect include:

  • Degree in a Digital, Technology or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
  • TOGAF, Zachman or equivalent enterprise architecture certification.
  • Azure or AWS cloud architecture certification.
  • Architecture modelling experience (Archimate, UML, BPMN).

In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:

  • Salary up to £98,061 (base pay of £69,501 plus an additional Digital and Data Profession allowance up to £28,560) £20,134 employer pension contribution per annum.
  • Excellent Civil Service benefits.
  • Hybrid working with flexible arrangements.
  • Access to learning, development and career progression opportunities.
  • The opportunity to shape national digital services at scale.

Why Join DVSA?

This is a critical leadership role where you will shape enterprise-wide architecture, guide strategic technology decisions and reduce technical debt across services used by millions, while influencing senior stakeholders and driving digital transformation across the organisation. Apply now through Inspire People to lead enterprise architecture at DVSA and play a defining role in its digital future.

Chief Architect in Leeds employer: Inspire People

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an exceptional employer, offering a mission-driven environment where you can lead the charge in shaping secure and resilient digital services that impact millions across the UK. With a flexible hybrid working culture, generous salary packages, and extensive Civil Service benefits, DVSA prioritises employee growth through continuous learning and development opportunities, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful difference in the public sector.
Inspire People

Contact Detail:

Inspire People Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Chief Architect in Leeds

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in a role you’re aiming for. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your projects and achievements. This is your chance to demonstrate your expertise in enterprise architecture and digital transformation, so make it shine!

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their mission and values, especially at DVSA. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their digital services.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, hit that apply button and let’s get you on board!

We think you need these skills to ace Chief Architect in Leeds

Enterprise Architecture Leadership
Target Architecture Design
Governance
Digital Transformation Expertise
Stakeholder Engagement
Influencing Skills
Negotiation Skills
Cloud Architecture (Azure or AWS)
Architecture Frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman)
Architecture Modelling (Archimate, UML, BPMN)
Budget Management
Supplier Evaluation
Technical Team Development
Continuous Improvement
Understanding of ITIL, ISO9001 and ISO27001

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Chief Architect role. Highlight your experience in enterprise architecture and digital transformation, as these are key areas for us at DVSA.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you've led teams and projects in the past. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to influence stakeholders and drive change in complex environments.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the point.

Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at Inspire People

✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out

As a Chief Architect, you’ll need to demonstrate your deep understanding of enterprise architecture. Brush up on modern architectures, cloud solutions, and the software delivery lifecycle. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past roles.

✨Engage with Stakeholders

Strong stakeholder engagement is key for this role. Prepare examples of how you've influenced senior leaders and navigated complex organisational structures. Think about specific situations where your negotiation skills made a difference.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

This position requires leading high-performing teams. Be prepared to talk about your leadership philosophy and how you've built capability within technical teams. Share success stories that highlight your ability to drive continuous improvement.

✨Understand the Bigger Picture

The DVSA is focused on digital transformation at scale. Familiarise yourself with their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can shape enterprise-wide architecture and guide strategic technology decisions.

Chief Architect in Leeds
Inspire People
Location: Leeds

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