Senior Solution Architect

As part of our Solution Architect team, you’ll work closely with stakeholders and technology professionals to ensure that Data Design & Architecture (DD&A) solutions meet the business and technology requirements. You will develop solution designs across AWS, Azure, and on-premises infrastructure, ensuring the most effective use of components which also meet current and future requirements. You will be responsible for ensuring that solutions are properly elaborated and documented, reporting to the Lead Solution Architect on progress, and leading the delivery of solutions on daily stand-ups. You will also co-present these solutions for review to the appropriate governance bodies for approval. When required, you will also support implementation of architecture, lending expertise to ensure any implementation challenges are overcome while aligning to the approved architecture., Your role as Senior Solution Architect will include:
+ Gathering, analysing, and documenting requirements for solutions across cloud and on-premises infrastructure Confluence and LeanIX
+ Creating and managing solution designs for required solutions
+ Creating design patterns and blueprints for solution architecture
+ Aligning to best practice using TOGAF and Government Digital Services frameworks
+ Identifying opportunities for improvement in current solution architecture
+ Meeting tactical requirements where applicable with strategic thinking
Senior Responsibilities
+ Taking a specific area of accountability on data ecosystem solution architecture, e.g., master data management, reference data management, enterprise data catalogue, metadata
+ Taking a specific area of responsibility in organisation wide data policies, e.g., data privacy, data archival, data lifecycle management, data processing, data analysis
+ Ensuring specific areas of accountability and responsibility are accurately reflected in Enterprise Data tooling, including LeanIX enterprise architecture diagrams, data solution and data platform reference models, architecture principles, blueprints and implementation patterns
+ Building strong relationships with equal grade counterparts, e.g., enterprise architecture, information management and privacy, engineering and enablement, and devops
The UKHSA Data Design & Architecture (DD&A) team is responsible for supporting data architecture and data solutions across the organisation. We are a small team of solution architects, data architects, and data modellers. We also work closely with other parts of the organisation who also are involved in development and maintenance of infrastructure and software, including Programme Teams, Engineering & Enablement, Surveillance Systems, Data Services & Quality, Genomics, Enterprise Architecture and the Development and Operations team.
The DD&A team supervises and actively develops solutions and data architecture which meet both our own and wider strategies and design principles/blueprints. We also work on solution migration, consolidation, transformation, improvement, stabilisation, and decommissioning. We are seeking solution architects with AWS/Azure experience.
This role will be a senior solution architect with direct accountability for specific solutions.
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description., This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success profiles
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
+ CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
+ 500 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on Cloud architecture expertise, AWS or Azure
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 500words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, ability and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Making effective decisions
• Changing and Improving
Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.
An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.
This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:
Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check
International Police check:
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

• Understanding of TOGAF and other major data and solution related architecture frameworks (DMBOK)
• Cloud architecture expertise, AWS or Azure
• Strong communication skills and ability to translate complex topics into simple language
• Development of architectural principles and blueprints
• Integration experience

Alongside your salary of £51,824, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,992 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%