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- Tasks: Lead the design of telephony and unified communications systems for a major transformation programme.
- Company: Join DVLA, a mission-driven agency impacting millions across the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, a generous pension, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working culture with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape national digital services and modernise critical platforms at DVLA.
- Qualifications: Strong architectural background in telephony and unified communications required.
The predicted salary is between 82430 - 82430 £ 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 Licensing Agency (DVLA), in partnership with Inspire People, is seeking a Lead Unified Communications Architect with strong experience across telephony, unified communications and contact centre platforms, alongside additional capability across networking or broader infrastructure domains (e.g. cloud, identity, Active Directory). You will act as the Lead Architect for a new 6,000-seat, multi-million-pound telephony programme, while also contributing to other key infrastructure initiatives.
Based in Swansea on a permanent appointment, this role offers a salary of up to £82,430 plus 29% employer pension contribution and excellent Civil Service benefits, with hybrid working (minimum 60% in Swansea). DVLA delivers national-scale digital services that support the safe and lawful use of vehicles across the UK, reaching millions of citizens and businesses every year. As DVLA continues to modernise its technology landscape, the organisation is investing in strong technical architecture capability to ensure services are secure, well-governed, scalable and aligned to wider government strategy.
As a Lead Technical Architect, you will work across DVLA's IT Services Directorate and business teams, collaborating closely with engineering squads to design, assure and deliver modern digital solutions. You will play a key role in shaping architectural patterns, influencing technical decisions and mentoring other architects.
As the Lead Unified Communications Architect you will:
- Lead the technical design of telephony, unified communications and contact centre systems
- Define and assure solution architectures, ensuring alignment with enterprise and government architecture strategy
- Work collaboratively with engineering teams to deliver new solutions and transition them into live service
- Establish and apply architectural governance, ensuring consistency, quality and security by design
- Assure service and system quality, identifying risks, dependencies and cross-domain impacts
- Explore opportunities for cross-government alignment and reuse
- Provide leadership and mentoring to other architects and technical colleagues
- Engage with senior stakeholders, communicating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
Essential skills for the Lead Unified Communications Architect include:
- A strong architectural background delivering enterprise-scale solutions
- Proven experience in telephony, unified communications or contact centre platforms
- The ability to design and assure solutions across complex, multi-domain environments, understanding how networking, telephony and wider infrastructure integrate
- Experience working beyond a single specialism, with exposure to broader infrastructure such as servers, Active Directory or cloud platforms.
- Strong experience of architectural governance and assurance
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Desirable skills for the Lead Unified Communications Architect include:
- Experience with enterprise platforms such as Cisco UCC, Microsoft Teams Voice, Webex or similar
- Experience with omni-channel or cloud contact centre platforms (e.g. Content Guru Storm or equivalent)
- Experience supporting or leading large-scale telephony or UC transformation programmes
- Proven experience in either enterprise networking (LAN/WAN/WLAN) or broader infrastructure domains (e.g. cloud, identity, Active Directory)
- Experience working in government or other regulated environments
- Exposure to large-scale digital transformation programmes
- Experience mentoring architects or senior engineers
- Familiarity with Agile delivery and modern CI/CD practices
In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:
- Hybrid working with a minimum 60% office-based in Swansea
- Flexible working patterns to support work-life balance
- A Civil Service pension with employer contributions of circa 29%
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and a privilege day
- Access to learning, development and digital career frameworks
Why Join DVLA? This is a unique opportunity to lead the network architecture for a major, multi-million-pound telephony transformation programme while shaping the wider infrastructure landscape at DVLA. You will work at national scale, ensuring secure, resilient connectivity for services used by millions across the UK, and play a key role in modernising critical platforms that underpin DVLA's digital services. If you want to help shape nationally significant digital services at DVLA, apply via the link and one of the Inspire People team will be in touch.
Locations
Lead Unified Communications Architect in Swansea, Wales employer: Inspire People
Contact Detail:
Inspire People Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Unified Communications Architect in Swansea, Wales
✨Tip Number 1
Network, network, network! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews like a pro! Research the company and its projects, especially those related to telephony and unified communications. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs and think of examples that showcase your skills in action.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio or a personal website where you can highlight your past projects, especially those involving complex architectures or telephony systems. This gives potential employers a tangible sense of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s a great way to show your enthusiasm for joining our mission-driven team.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Unified Communications Architect in Swansea, Wales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Lead Unified Communications Architect role. Highlight your experience with telephony, unified communications, and any relevant infrastructure skills. We want to see how your background aligns with what DVLA is looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how your skills can contribute to DVLA's mission. Keep it engaging and make sure to mention specific projects or experiences that relate to the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, don’t forget to showcase your technical expertise. Mention any experience with platforms like Cisco UCC or Microsoft Teams Voice, and how you've successfully led architectural governance in past roles. We love seeing concrete examples of your work!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at DVLA!
How to prepare for a job interview at Inspire People
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of telephony, unified communications, and contact centre platforms. Be ready to discuss specific technologies like Cisco UCC or Microsoft Teams Voice, and how they integrate with broader infrastructure. This will show that you're not just familiar with the concepts but can also apply them in real-world scenarios.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Lead Architect, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor others. Prepare examples of how you've guided teams in the past, especially in complex projects. Highlight your experience in architectural governance and how you've ensured quality and security in your designs.
✨Communicate Clearly with Stakeholders
You'll be engaging with both technical and non-technical audiences, so practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms. Think about how you can convey your ideas effectively to senior stakeholders, ensuring they understand the value of your architectural decisions.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in multi-domain environments. Be ready to discuss how you would approach specific challenges, such as integrating new solutions into existing systems or managing risks across different domains. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.