At a Glance
- Tasks: Design innovative architectural solutions for digital transformation in a national charity.
- Company: StepChange, a charity focused on digital innovation and support for people in problem debt.
- Benefits: Fixed-term contract with opportunities for professional growth and impactful work.
- Why this job: Shape the future of digital services and leave a lasting legacy in a meaningful organisation.
- Qualifications: Strong background in enterprise IT, cloud environments, and architectural governance.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Ready to shape the architectural vision that will power StepChange's next five years of digital transformation? Want to lead on modern service design and guide how SaaS, integration, and enterprise solutions come to life across a national charity? Excited by the chance to build a brand-new function and leave a lasting legacy in an organisation putting digital at its core? StepChange is embarking on an ambitious new five-year strategy with digital innovation at its heart, and we're looking for a Senior Solution Architect who's excited to shape that future.
In this brand-new role, you'll bring deep enterprise architecture expertise and solution-level insight to design modern services, guide complex integrations, and influence how SaaS products and workloads are delivered across the charity. Reporting into the Head of Architecture and Data, you will be pivotal in maturing our architectural discipline and enabling truly transformative service design as we reimagine how we support people in problem debt. This role is a fixed term contract for 18 months.
What you'll be doing:
- You’ll take ownership of designing the critical architectural foundations that power our new digital advice journey, shaping detailed solutions across enterprise, business, integration, data, technology, and cloud domains.
- Your work will focus on a new greenfield architecture landscape, drive the creation of high-quality artefacts aligned to our Charity Design Catalogue, and ensure every decision is grounded in well-considered architectural viewpoints.
- You’ll play a key role in major programme decisions, support RFP activity for essential capabilities, and champion strong governance across design, integration, and application portfolio management.
- You’ll bring your breadth of architectural expertise with software engineering background knowledge, to shape high-quality, programme-level decisions, guiding solutions that cut across every domain of the organisation.
- From enterprise and business architecture to integration, data, technology, and cloud, you’ll design cohesive, full stack solutions that ensure StepChange's digital services are robust, scalable, and aligned to our strategic ambitions.
- Your ability to operate confidently across multiple architectural layers will make you a key voice in how we build and evolve the systems that power our mission.
About you:
- You’ll bring a strong grounding in enterprise IT and cloud-native environments, paired with the architectural insight to shape public-facing digital experiences across UX, content management, CRM, and external communications.
- Your understanding of integration technologies and data-movement patterns ideally within an API-first landscape will help you design solutions that are seamless, scalable, and secure.
- With exposure to modern security principles across public, private, and hybrid cloud setups, you’ll confidently navigate a varied portfolio, switching between core business architecture and bespoke, finance-focused technology design.
- Your experience in architectural governance and large-scale transformation means you know how to apply structure without slowing agility, and you bring well-formed, principled views shaped by real-world delivery.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Equality, diversity, and inclusion are incredibly important to us; we have a culture of belonging. We're always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce to ensure we can provide the best service possible for everyone. It's not just about the professional experience you bring; we're interested in who you are and your potential. If there's an adjustment to our recruitment process that would help you to be your best, speak to our team and they'll be happy to help.
Locations
Senior Solutions Architect in Leeds, Yorkshire employer: StepChange Debt Charity
Contact Detail:
StepChange Debt Charity Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect in Leeds, Yorkshire
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your skills align with their mission, especially around digital transformation.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your past work to interviews, especially those that highlight your architectural insights and problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people and shows you’re genuinely interested in joining us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solutions Architect in Leeds, Yorkshire
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the Senior Solutions Architect role. Highlight your expertise in enterprise architecture and SaaS solutions, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share your successes! Use concrete examples of how you've shaped architectural visions or led digital transformations in previous roles. This helps us see the impact you've made and how you can contribute to our mission.
Be Authentic: We want to know the real you! Share your passion for digital innovation and how it aligns with our values at StepChange. Being genuine in your application can really set you apart from the crowd.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our website. This ensures we receive all the necessary information and can process your application smoothly. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at StepChange Debt Charity
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of enterprise architecture principles and the latest trends in SaaS and cloud-native environments. Be ready to discuss how your past experiences align with the architectural vision of the organisation, especially in relation to digital transformation.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex integration challenges or designed innovative solutions in previous roles. Highlight your ability to balance structure with agility, as this will resonate well with their focus on transformative service design.
✨Understand Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with StepChange's mission and values, particularly around supporting people in problem debt. This will help you articulate how your architectural insights can directly contribute to their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your understanding of the role and the organisation's strategic ambitions. Inquire about their current architectural challenges or how they envision the new function evolving over the next five years. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also your strategic thinking.