Systems Architect in Cardiff

We are looking for a skilled and driven Systems Architect to steward Public Health Wales' digital & data estate and transformation portfolio. This pivotal role ensures high-impact services and products are well designed, future-resilient and part of an increasingly robust, interoperable and streamlined state. You will mature our architectural capability, establishing best practice guidance, providing hands-on support, upskilling and mentorship to our technical teams, conducting analysis and impact assessments. Acting as a key liaison between technical and non-technical stakeholders, you'll translate complex digital concepts into accessible language and ensure seamless communication. The role sits within the Research, Data and Digital Directorate and contributes directly to the organisation's strategic goals. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams, senior leaders, and external partners to help shape effective, future-ready services across the health system. If you're passionate about national-scale digital transformation, making product roadmaps a reality, and public health innovation--this is your opportunity to make a real difference.

Main duties of the job

The Systems Architect will be responsible for taking a strategic view across multiple highly complex systems and workstreams, from business and technical perspectives, ensuring alignment with the organisation's vision for digital enablement and support of key healthcare programmes. They will own the architectural vision, strategy and roadmaps, including As Is, To Be and Transitional states, which will enable the delivery of improved Services for the population of Wales. The Systems Architect will work with other PHW Domain Architects and Specialists to deliver holistic solutions to highly complex problems, that take into consideration PHW and National initiatives, principles and plans. They will provide a solution design capability and be responsible for leading the technical design of systems and services, justifying and communicating design decisions. They will provide an outline planning capability for the mid-term planning horizon, supporting teams to maximise the use of resources and ensure cohesive developments which contribute to the long-term strategic goals.

What You'll Do

• Strategic Oversight: They will own the architectural vision, strategy and roadmaps, including As Is, To Be and Transitional states, which will enable the delivery of improved Services for the organisation.
• Architecting Capabilities for the Organisation: Ensure good practice in the development and maintenance of our systems by ensuring our teams adopt and abide by PHWs architectural principles, policies and standards.
• Service Solution Design: Provide a solution design capability and be responsible for leading the technical design of systems and services, justifying and communicating design decisions.
• Planning and Organisational Skills: The postholder will be required to develop and manage strategic plans within their own sphere of responsibility.
• Lead: Coaches and mentors colleagues and project team members to achieve shared objectives.

What You Bring

• Experience of working in diverse technical environments, identifying and addressing architectural risks that affect multiple teams or domains.
• Experience of architecting and delivering complex solutions in Cloud or Hybrid environments.
• Experience of leading teams and driving changes in technology whilst fostering a supportive development and collaborative culture alongside other roles and disciplines.
• Proven success in crafting secure, scalable solutions.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Masters degree or equivalent experience in an associated professional field.
• You will have knowledge of infrastructure, governance, and industry standards.
• Professional certification e.g. Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect, TOGAF Certification or similar.

Skills and Attributes

• Collaborating with other domain architects within the organisation to develop complete understanding of current and future complex deliveries.
• Comfortable working in agile environments, collaborating with diverse teams, and adapting to change.
• Manage, coach and mentor peers and team members.
• Adept at communicating technical value and facilitating architectural and product decision making.
• Exceptional leadership and influencing skills, thriving independently in complex settings.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.