At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects in Managed Print & Document Services and design scalable solutions.
- Company: Join XMA, a top UK tech solutions company with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, generous holiday, gym discounts, and more perks.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to supporting diverse talents and career growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of document services and make a real impact in a growing team.
- Qualifications: Experience in Managed Print Services and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Reading, Nottingham or Manchester (hybrid working out of one of these locations)
Salary: £70,000 – £80,000 + £6,000 Car Allowance
Benefits: Private Healthcare, Pension, 25 days holiday rising to 30 over 5 years, Group Life Insurance, Income Protection, Gym Discounts, Free Fuel Fridays, Employee of the Quarter, Employee Referral program and many more.
We are looking for a commercially minded and technically strong Service Portfolio Architect to join a growing team focused on Managed Print & Document Services (MPDS). This is a high-impact opportunity for someone who enjoys blending solution architecture, bid leadership, and product ownership within a customer-focused environment.
In this role, you will act as the technical authority across pre-sales engagements, complex tenders, and service portfolio development. You’ll play a key role in evolving traditional Managed Print Services into broader document-centric solutions covering workflow automation, document capture, governance, and lifecycle management.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Pre-Sales & Solution Architecture
- Lead discovery sessions to understand customer document environments, print estates, workflows, and operational challenges.
- Design scalable, commercially viable Managed Print & Document Services solutions.
- Act as the technical authority across solution design, ensuring services are deliverable and aligned to operational capability.
- Support customer-facing engagements and provide technical leadership during solution discussions.
- Tender & Bid Leadership
- Own end-to-end solution responses for complex tenders and competitive bids.
- Develop technical solution narratives, service governance models, costing assumptions, and risk frameworks.
- Collaborate with Commercial, Finance, Service Delivery, and Sales teams to produce high-quality, compliant submissions.
- Lead internal governance and solution assurance reviews prior to submission.
- Support customer presentations, clarifications, and negotiation activity.
- Service Portfolio Ownership
- Help define and evolve Managed Print & Document Services offerings.
- Identify opportunities to expand services into document workflow, automation, capture, and information governance.
- Work with internal teams and technology partners to develop repeatable, scalable service components.
- Ensure service propositions are clearly packaged, commercially viable, and aligned to market demand.
What We’re Looking For:
- Essential Experience
- Strong experience and knowledge with vendors such as PaperCut and Tungsten, or similar technologies.
- Strong background in Managed Print Services, Document Management, or related service environments.
- Experience leading pre-sales solution design and complex tender responses.
- Proven ability to work across technical, commercial, and operational stakeholders.
- Strong customer-facing communication and presentation skills.
- Experience producing structured proposals, governance frameworks, and solution documentation.
- Commercial awareness with exposure to costing, pricing assumptions, and risk management.
- Exposure to public sector or regulated industry tenders.
- Ability to operate in deadline-driven bid environments.
We’re proud to be recognised as a Disability Confident Level 3 Employer—the highest level in the UK Government’s scheme. This reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through our inclusive recruitment practices, we ensure that individuals with disabilities are given fair and equal access to opportunities within our organisation. As part of this commitment, we participate in the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, which offers an interview to any candidate with a disability who meets the essential criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals who have a disability are provided reasonable accommodation, to enable full participation in the job application and interview process. If you have any such requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Keywords: MPS, Managed Print Services, Document Management Systems, Pre-sales Architect, Service Portfolio Architect, Solutions Architect, Tender Management, Bid Management, Pre-sales, Solution Design, Workflow automation.
Service Portfolio Architect in Reading employer: XMA
XMA is an exceptional employer that values both professional growth and a supportive work culture, making it an ideal place for the Group Lead Internal Auditor role. With a commitment to continuous improvement and governance, employees benefit from dedicated management training programmes and opportunities to shape the future of compliance within a diverse and inclusive environment. The remote working flexibility, combined with occasional travel and a focus on employee well-being, ensures a rewarding and meaningful career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Service Portfolio Architect in Reading
✨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 XMA 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 XMA 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 XMA!
✨Direct Apply to XMA
Let's not forget to apply directly through the XMA 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 Service Portfolio Architect in Reading
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 XMA.
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 XMA. 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 XMA
✨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.
