Senior Solutions Architect in Manchester

Transform is a fresh alternative to Big Consulting.

As an end-to-end transformation partner, we define, design, build and operate systems that solve our clients’ toughest challenges and seize their biggest opportunities.

That often means combining strategy, data, AI, technology, and change management.

Sometimes we manage and operate the systems we create; other times, we hand it over for the client to run – standing by to make improvements when things change.

It all comes down to making an impact: improving lives, supporting citizens, streamlining workflows, and making the world a better place.

We specialise in public sector and public-facing organisations—from government agencies and local authorities to energy, utilities, transportation and healthcare.

We also work for some of the world’s most dynamic brands across automotive, retail, financial services, and consumer goods.

We work closely (often on site) with our clients; to deliver impact you are keen to help us build the workforce of the future, we should talk.

We’re all in! That's what gets us out of bed every day. We hope you feel the same.

The Role: Senior Solutions Architect

We are looking for business-oriented Solution Architects at Senior level to join our consulting firm.

In this role, you will shape end-to-end solutions that align technology with business strategy across complex environments in both public and private sector organisations.

This is not a role for a specialist in one software product.

We are looking for architects who can work broadly across applications, data, integration, cloud and security, and who can bring pragmatic judgement in large organisations with multiple stakeholders, constraints and legacy considerations.

You will contribute to solution delivery, client advisory and growth, with increasing responsibility at Principal level for strategic direction, senior client leadership and development of our architecture capability.

Key Responsibilities

• Design end-to-end solution architectures aligned to business outcomes, considering application, data, integration, cloud and security perspectives
• Translate business and user needs into pragmatic, scalable and supportable solution designs
• Work across delivery phases from discovery and shaping through to implementation and transition
• Provide design leadership and assurance to delivery teams, ensuring solutions are coherent and achievable in practice
• Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory
• Engage business and technology stakeholders to understand organisational challenges and shape solution direction
• Explain architecture options, trade-offs and risks clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders and guide decision-making in complex environments
• Operate effectively within large organisations, including public sector bodies, where governance, assurance and change management are critical
• Support early-stage client engagements by shaping solution options, architecture approaches and delivery considerations
• Contribute to proposals, bids, RFP responses and presentations, helping articulate business value as well as technical fit
• Work with account and delivery teams to identify where architecture can help clients solve complex business and technology challenges
• Bring a practical consulting mindset that balances ambition with delivery realism
• Governance, Standards & Assurance
• Contribute to or lead architecture governance activities, including design authorities and assurance reviews
• Ensure solutions align with enterprise principles, security requirements, regulatory expectations and delivery standards
• Apply structured thinking across business, application, data and technology domains to maintain alignment and manage complexity
• Support good architectural practice by defining or applying principles, patterns and guardrails
• Internal Capability Creation and Enhancement
• Develop and enhance solution architecture methods, tools and reusable assets
• Mentor consultants and architects internally and within client teams, supporting growth in architectural capability
• Contribute to the development of architecture-related consulting offerings and ways of working
• Lead or contribute to internal knowledge-sharing, communities of practice and continuous improvement activities
• Own the end-to-end solution architecture for projects or major workstreams, ensuring designs are robust, pragmatic and aligned to client outcomes
• Operate independently in complex delivery environments, making sound trade-offs across business needs, technical constraints and delivery realities
• Bring broad knowledge across cloud, security, integration and enterprise delivery patterns, with depth in one or more areas but without relying on narrow product specialism
• Engage confidently with senior stakeholders, contribute to pre-sales activity and support less experienced architects and consultants

Key Skills/Experiences

• Experience in solution architecture, enterprise architecture or related technology leadership roles within complex environments
• Proven ability to align technology decisions with business strategy and delivery objectives across large organisations
• Broad understanding across architecture domains including business, data, application, technology, infrastructure and security
• Working knowledge of cloud platforms, security and compliance considerations, integration approaches and enterprise technology landscapes
• Experience of architecture governance and assurance, including participation in or leadership of Technical Design Authorities or equivalent forums
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including the ability to work with senior client audiences
• Experience building organisational maturity in architecture practice and supporting delivery from discovery through implementation
• Consulting experience or a strong consulting mindset, with an ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, multi-stakeholder environments
• Understanding of standards and frameworks such as ISO27001, ITIL V4, Cyber Essentials+ and, where relevant, public sector expectations such as the GDS Service Standard
• A growth mindset
• AI curious and ready to embrace opportunities
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks and methods such as TOGAF, DAMA or equivalent recognised approaches
• Experience with architecture modelling or repository tools such as Bizzdesign, Sparx EA or similar
• Industry experience in one or more sectors such as public sector, healthcare, utilities or regulated enterprise environments
• Certifications such as TOGAF, AWS, Azure or other relevant cloud, security or architecture qualifications
• Experience leading or supporting transformation initiatives involving cloud migration, data strategy, operating model redesign or modernisation of legacy estates
• Experience working across adjacent disciplines such as Agile delivery, product management, Dev Ops, cyber security, user-centred design or service design

Our culture is built on

• We raise the bar
• We look out for each other
• We shape a changing world

Our benefits include

• Holiday entitlement, 28 days with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days (note that 3 days are held for Christmas holidays)
• Day off (on or in the week of) your birthday
• Pension eligibility, up to 5% matched contributions
• Life assurance
• Enhanced maternity and enhanced paternity and shared parental leave
• Cycle to work schemes
• A range of other benefits from our flexible benefits package

At Transform, you can expect meaningful work, with real impact and the space to grow as people as well as a professional.

You’ll work alongside curious, authentic experts who care deeply about doing the right thing, for our clients and for each other with no egos, no blame, and no standing on the sidelines.

We’re all in on creating an environment where people feel supported, included and trusted to do their best work.

In return, we ask for curiosity, honesty and a willingness to lean into learning, quality, teamwork, and to making change that truly lasts.

We’re committed to equality of opportunity for all, and we actively seek applications from all ethnicities, orientations, beliefs, gender identities + those with neurodiverse traits and disabilities.

We want you to have the best opportunity to show us who you are and what you can do. Please do let us know if you need any adjustments now or at any point in the recruitment process.

If this sounds like you, please get in touch to discuss in more detail.

Use of AI in CV and Interviews

We value authenticity and transparency in our hiring process.

To ensure fairness and accuracy in assessing your skills and experience, we ask that you refrain from using AI-assisted tools to generate answers during the application process or within interviews.

We are looking for genuine insights into your abilities, experiences, and personality.

Any misrepresentation through AI-generated content may impact our ability to make an informed decision.

We look forward to getting to know the real you!

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