Overview
As Lead Solution Architect, you shape architecture for national NHS programmes, translating ambitious plans into practical, scalable designs. You will lead a small team across multiple directorates, aligning architecture roadmaps with governance and strategy to enable data-driven care at national scale. You’ll influence executive stakeholders and drive cross‑organisational collaboration while mentoring staff and fostering a community of practice. This is a mission‑critical role at the heart of NHS England’s digital transformation.
Pay / Benefits
- Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRP) 20%
- Permanent contract
- Flexible working
- Office-based time (approx. 40%)
- Salary band 8d, competitive package
- Opportunity to shape national NHS programmes
Responsibilities
- Accountable for architecture across a portfolio of national products and programmes, coordinating internal staff and suppliers
- Lead and influence 5–10 staff across directorates and complex programmes
- Drive team decision making and manage relationships with executive stakeholders at board level
- Develop and maintain NHS England technical governance, architectural roadmaps and contribute to strategic planning
- Maintain broad technical experience across Data, Security, Applications and Platforms
- Mentor and develop team members and contribute to the architecture function and community of practice
- Participate in architecture governance, including attendance at relevant Boards
- Influence direction across NHS England, DHSC, arm’s length bodies and suppliers
- Provide strategic direction for multi‑million‑pound technical spending decisions
- Demonstrate leadership in architectures for complex national‑scale systems
Key requirements
- Substantial industry IT experience with deep subject-matter expertise
- Proven technical leadership across large, complex programmes
- Experience implementing large-scale Big Data platforms
- Knowledge of architecture frameworks, methodologies and applicable methods
- Team leadership with matrix‑organisational management experience
- Experience developing and managing technical governance processes
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Masters in Computing or equivalent (or equivalent experience)
- Experience with cloud platforms and multi-cloud/enterprise-scale designs
- Demonstrated leadership in national-scale architectures
- strategic thinking
- stakeholder engagement
- mentoring and people development
- Cloud platforms knowledge (multi-cloud, cost optimisation)
- Apache Spark data platform services and architectures
- Big Data platform implementation
Lead Solution Architect in Leeds employer: National Health Service
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment for healthcare professionals in North Wales. With a commitment to employee development and a focus on compassionate care, staff have access to continuous professional development opportunities and the chance to make a meaningful impact in both acute and community paediatrics. The Health Board's integrated approach ensures that employees are part of a dynamic team dedicated to improving health outcomes for the local population.
