At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and governance of infrastructure architecture at a world-class university.
- Company: Join the University of Sheffield, a diverse and innovative institution.
- Benefits: Enjoy 41 days annual leave, flexible working, and generous family-friendly policies.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive community that values diversity and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital transformation and innovation in education and research.
- Qualifications: Experience in enterprise architecture and strong collaboration skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university. We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement, a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more.
Overview: IT Services at the University of Sheffield provides a comprehensive range of technology and digital services that underpin teaching, learning, research and professional services across the University. This role supports delivery across our three strategic product areas: Education, Research and Innovation, and One University. These product areas utilise modern product-based and agile delivery approaches to improve services, simplify processes and accelerate digital transformation.
The Lead Domain Architect – Infrastructure is a senior leadership role within the Architecture Practice. The role is responsible for defining and governing the University’s infrastructure architecture, ensuring technology platforms are secure, resilient, scalable and aligned to the University’s strategic direction. The post holder will provide technical leadership across infrastructure architecture, including networking, cloud, end user computing, hosting, data centres, storage, virtualisation and core infrastructure services. They will lead a small team of domain architects, establish architectural standards and roadmaps, and work closely with product, project and engineering teams to ensure technology investments support long-term business outcomes.
Main Duties And Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop the University’s Infrastructure Architecture capability within the Architecture Practice.
- Provide day-to-day leadership, mentoring and professional development for the Cloud Architect and End User Compute Architect.
- Build a collaborative architecture culture focused on innovation, consistency and continual improvement.
- Support the Lead Architect in developing the overall Architecture Practice, governance processes and standards.
- Lead the architectural design of major infrastructure initiatives including cloud adoption, networking, hosting, identity, end user technologies, data centre modernisation and technology refresh programmes.
- Work with Solution Architects to ensure infrastructure requirements are appropriately incorporated into project architectures.
- Support engineering teams in developing detailed technical designs while maintaining architectural integrity.
- Ensure infrastructure solutions deliver appropriate levels of resilience, performance, availability, security and operational supportability.
- Build strong relationships with senior technical leaders, product teams, project managers and suppliers.
- Lead the organisation in exploiting technology, using knowledge of IT solutions to support innovative and high-impact business capabilities.
- Maintain awareness of emerging technologies that might benefit the University, identifying and mitigating business and architectural risks.
- Provide architectural guidance and technical support to project teams, assisting with business cases and reviewing vendor proposals for architectural alignment and cost-effectiveness.
- Support engineers in developing engineering level designs and embed the University's sustainability principles in all activities.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification:
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and are respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria:
- Significant practical experience as an enterprise, solution, domain or systems architect in a large, complex organisation.
- Experience of undertaking complex analysis, facilitating and re-designing strategically critical business systems.
- Broad knowledge of networking, cloud, end user computing, identity, virtualisation, storage, compute and enterprise infrastructure technologies.
- Experience developing technology roadmaps and target architectures.
- Strong collaboration and influencing skills with both technical and non-technical colleagues across the organisation to assure solution design.
- Strong analytical and conceptual thinking with the ability to translate business strategy into technology roadmaps.
- Ability to learn new technologies and techniques quickly, while ensuring compliance with governance and policy requirements.
- Experience with recognised methods (TOGAF), notation standards (ArchiMate), and agile environments with strong communication skills.
Further Information:
- Grade 8
- Work arrangement: Full-time
- Line manager: Lead Domain Architect - Infrastructure
- Direct reports: 2
For informal enquiries about this job contact Arthur Clune at a.clune@sheffield.ac.uk.
Next steps in the recruitment process: We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks of the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact it-services-recruitment@sheffield.ac.uk.
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
Closing Date: 19/10/2026
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience.
Lead Domain Architect - Infrastructure in Sheffield employer: The University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant academic environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a strong emphasis on research and teaching excellence, employees benefit from numerous opportunities for professional development and career progression, all while contributing to impactful projects that shape the future of management education.
Contact Details:
The University of Sheffield Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Domain Architect - Infrastructure in Sheffield
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what The University of Sheffield values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges The University of Sheffield might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at The University of Sheffield!
✨Direct Apply to The University of Sheffield
Let's not forget to apply directly through the The University of Sheffield website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Domain Architect - Infrastructure in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at The University of Sheffield.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at The University of Sheffield. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at The University of Sheffield
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
