Solution Architect - Inside IR35

Solution Architect - Inside IR35

To provide Solution Architecture services across the Client and within specific service areas. Support the development and ongoing management of the Client’s Architecture Vision and Principles to ensure all IT and Digital are solutions consistently designed and meet the strategic and service needs of the Client.Solving business problems by reviewing systems and identifying areas for improvement, working across the Client to develop and integrate systems.

As part of the Windows 11 deployment a number of issues are being identified that require solutions to be architected. These posts will support the identification of these solutions and will manage the design and implementation through to transition into the IT support team.

1. Lead and manage the evaluation, identification, development, and delivery of solutions to improve and digitalise ICT services.
2. Keep abreast of technology choices and changes within the ICT industry and determine how the client can benefit from such changes. Deliver on these benefits.
3. Engage with Heads of Service, other Senior Officers and service leads across the organisation to define Digital & ICT requirements and develop solutions to meet these requirements.
4. Inspire and communicate within the organisation the progress being made, the exciting initiatives and stories and the positive impact to the business objectives, to build enthusiasm, belief, and momentum in the digital space.
5. Be a role model, develop and implement innovative strategies to encourage a high- performance culture that delivers excellence, best value, promotes success and continuous improvement.
6. Analyse systems and enhance procedures, reviewing and updating documentation standards and templates.
7. Review and update the transition of projects into the ICT Services team for BAU.
8. Source new ICT products and services ensuring adherence to corporate procurement practices.
9. Represent the Client externally in meetings, seminars, user groups etc, taking a lead role in the development and delivery of new ICT products and services.
10. Analyse and identify where savings can be made to the Client’s ICT services and implement any such changes.

Qualifications:

• Qualifications and experience relevant to the realm of technical expertise for the role (minimum Degree or significant managerial experience).
• Relevant professional qualification e.g., Chartered IT Professional (CITP), BCS Practitioner, or certified in an architecture design methodology e.g., TOGAF.

Knowledge & Skills:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of major trends and themes in technology, specifically in local government and public services.
• Detailed understanding of ICT strategy and technical architecture and its application
• Evidence of a thorough understanding of large-scale corporate data and systems management
• Excellent problem solving and analysis skills.
• Sound knowledge of relevant IT Management Standards and approaches including, but not limited to, ITIL, TOGAF, DevOps
• Highly confident networker, able to build and develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• The ability to strongly influence technology strategy, design patterns, policies, and behaviour.

Experience:

• Demonstrable recent evidence of successfully delivering major service redesign/improvement, driving associated culture change to embed performance improvements.
• Delivering digital transformation, by effectively bringing business, application and technology architecture viewpoints together
• Hands-on experience in the delivery of emerging technologies and architectural trends
• Experience with conducting architectural assessments and creating roadmaps, including technology gap assessments, cloud transition approaches, patterns for introduction of disruptive technologies into legacy estates and architectural governance.
• Proven track record of high performance and achievement at a senior level within ICT in a large, multi-functional organisation with comparable scope, size and complexity.
• Experience of providing expert professional advice on all ICT matters to senior leaders.
• Significant experience of managing and motivating employees building effective teams and achieving change.
• Conducting staff appraisals and regular performance reviews.
• Applying corporate HR policies, including capability and disciplinary procedures.
• Experience of resource allocation and monitoring.

Desirable Criteria

Qualifications:

• Management qualification.
• Technical qualifications, e.g., MCPs, CCNA
• Prince2 or other Project Management qualification.

Experience:

• Budget forecasting and monitoring
• Direct experience of digital services transformation in public services
• Developing services that takes account of the needs of diverse users.
• Working with APIs and microservices architecture and managing the relationships between interdependent product and platforms teams

Knowledge and skills:

• Knowledge of cross-government procurement frameworks and processes
• Knowledge of cross-government platforms like GOV.UK Pay and Notify
• Knowledge of the environmental footprint of technology, and the Client climate emergency declaration