At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of innovative cloud platforms for Liverpool City Council.
- Company: Join Liverpool City Council and make a real difference in your community.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of digital transformation, impacting over half a million residents.
- Qualifications: Experience in cloud platforms, especially Microsoft Azure, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 61816 - 75552 £ per year.
A bit about us:
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!
The role:
Liverpool City Council is embarking on an ambitious programme of digital transformation, modernising the technology platforms that support services for residents, communities and employees across the city. We are looking for an experienced Cloud Platform Architect to collaborate on the design, governance and strategic development of our cloud platforms, with a particular focus on Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 technologies. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering secure, resilient and innovative cloud solutions that enable the Council to provide modern, efficient and reliable services to over half a million residents.
The role will provide technical leadership across cloud infrastructure, security, architecture standards, automation, identity management, and platform governance. As the Cloud Platform Architect, you will act as the Council's subject matter expert for cloud technologies and platform architecture. You will be responsible for defining cloud strategy, developing architecture standards, assuring technical designs, and ensuring that cloud solutions are delivered securely, efficiently and in line with business objectives. You will work closely with ICT teams, project managers, security specialists, suppliers and business stakeholders to deliver modern digital solutions while maintaining operational resilience, compliance and value for money.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Platform architecture, governance and strategic development of the Council's cloud platforms
- Design and assure Azure-based solutions supporting critical business services
- Provide expert guidance on cloud security, identity management, networking and resilience
- Develop and maintain cloud standards, reference architectures and governance frameworks
- Support cloud migration, application modernisation and digital transformation programmes
- Drive automation, infrastructure-as-code and platform optimisation initiatives
- Ensure compliance with security, regulatory and information governance requirements
- Assist as the technical authority for platform architectural decisions and cloud platform investments
- Mentor technical teams and promote best practice across ICT services
- Collaborate with suppliers and partners to maximise value from cloud technologies
What We're Looking For
You will have:
Essential Skills and Experience
- Significant experience designing and managing enterprise cloud platforms
- Strong technical expertise in Microsoft Azure
- Experience of cloud security, governance and risk management
- Knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access and identity governance
- Experience developing architecture standards, policies and technical roadmaps
- Understanding of hybrid cloud infrastructure, networking and platform resilience
- Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code, automation and modern deployment practices
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
- Experience translating business requirements into practical technical solutions
Desirable
- Azure architecture certifications
- Experience within local government or public-sector organisations
- Microsoft 365 architecture experience
- Knowledge of Power Platform governance and cloud cost optimisation
- Experience supporting data and AI platform development
Our offer to you:
- At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
- Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
- Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
- Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
- Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
- Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
- Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
- Discounted Gym Memberships
- Employee Volunteering Scheme
- Medicash
Next steps:
Closing date: midnight on Monday 26th October 2026
Shortlisting date: w/c Monday 9th November 2026
Interview date: w/c Monday 16th November 2026
Interview type: Face to face
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment.
If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact James Penter via james.penter@liverpool.gov.uk
Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.
If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.
Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.
Platform Architect in Liverpool employer: Liverpool European Partnership
Liverpool City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the community while working in a supportive and ambitious environment. With generous benefits such as at least 31 days of holiday, flexible working arrangements, and extensive training opportunities, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive. The vibrant culture of Liverpool, combined with a commitment to public service, makes this role not just a job, but a chance to contribute to the betterment of local lives.
Contact Details:
Liverpool European Partnership Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Architect in Liverpool
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Liverpool European Partnership or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Liverpool European Partnership.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Liverpool European Partnership.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Liverpool European Partnership that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Architect in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Liverpool European Partnership.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Liverpool European Partnership and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Liverpool European Partnership
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Liverpool European Partnership uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
