Technical Architect (Home based/North Kent/Chelmsford)

Location of Role: North Kent - Home based

Advert Closing Date: 23/04/2026

Starting Salary: £59,511.00 (pro-rata for part‑time vacancies)

Part/Full Time: Full Time

Contract Type: Secondment/fixed‑term

Working Pattern: Mon-Fri

Weekend/Evening Working: No

IT Services are seeking a Technical Solutions Architect for a 2‑year temporary contract, to continue to help lead their Architecture team. This team is tasked with ensuring that all IT solutions (new and existing) adhere to the high technical, security and non‑functional standards that are required to meet national Policing requirements.

Working closely with all other teams within the joint IT Services Department of Kent Police and Essex Police, as well as other key stakeholders such as Information Management teams, the successful candidate will document proposed solutions to meet the business requirements of both operational Policing colleagues and back‑office staff alike. The role holder will oversee the design architecture for new systems, aligning with business goals, industry practices and policing security protocols.

They will collaborate with development teams, suppliers, product owners and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions, stay up‑to‑date with the latest technology and trends, and provide technical guidance, designs and solution mentorship to IT team members, fostering a knowledge‑sharing culture and continuous learning.

The role leads a team of designers who require guidance, leadership, and management. It also resides within the Department Management Team (DMT) and serves as the voice of expertise, influencing the Senior Management Team (SMT). Additionally, the role shares a key responsibility within a rota overseeing the management of reactive Critical Incidents, ensuring return to function of any failing IT service provided to or consumed by the Forces.

In addition to managing the team, the Technical Solutions Architect is also responsible for peer‑reviewing the designs of the team and chairing the Force Technical Design Authority (TDA) which scrutinises, identifies technical risk and approves all solution designs of projects being purchased/implemented/reevaluated in either force. Their influence extends more broadly with responsibility of representing Kent Police and Essex Police at both regional and national Police TDA’s.

Additionally, the post holder will be part of the IT Departmental Management Team and must be able to represent the department on the out‑of‑hours on‑call rota for critical incidents and stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in technical architecture with a strong understanding of various technologies and platforms, in particular contribution/production of high and low level system designs, knowledge and application of baseline security principles, functional and non‑functional requirements.
• Education to degree level, together with an appropriate IT professional qualification and possess an extensive knowledge of policing and business operating environments.
• Your experience of solution delivery from design, procurement, delivery and post support.
• Detail your broad business knowledge and extensive understanding of current and emerging information and communication technologies and products, services, methods and techniques for solutions delivery.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; with the ability to effectively communicate technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Ability to motivate and inspire those within a team, and an ability to give critical feedback whilst being compassionate/constructive.

Benefits

• A competitive salary and a good benefits package, inclusive of ‘flexi time’, a secure pension, supportive employee T&Cs and access to bluelight discounts.
• Flexible working, noting on‑site working will be required and could include travel to both Kent Police and Essex Police locations.
• An opportunity to work on a challenging and impactful project.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Continuous learning and development opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Statements

Kent Police and Essex Police welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, sex, or employment status. Essex Police is a Disability Confident Leader, we have subjected our Disability Confident self‑assessment to external challenge and validation and are taking an active leadership role in encouraging and helping other employers on their journey to becoming Disability Confident.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion are central to the values of our organisation. At Essex Police we value and embrace the unique experiences, identities and abilities that each of us bring to our roles. We strive to empower everyone to bring their authentic self openly and safely to work. Through the dedicated commitment of our support networks, DE&I team and wider HR departments, we are on a journey to embed our DE&I commitments, ensuring Essex Police is an employer of choice; where everyone feels included. Essex Police and Kent Police are an equal opportunities employer.

Communications may be recorded for monitoring purposes.