Systems Solution Lead

NS&I is currently looking for a Systems Solution Lead to join the IT Solutions Delivery Team and augment the technical aspect of delivery capability. While NS&I relies on and trusts its suppliers to provide the project execution capabilities, it is also building a team responsible for leading the technical aspects of delivering digital and data solutions that will play a crucial role in providing confidence in the quality of deliverables.
Enthusiastic about all aspects related to delivering a quality outcome, this role will play a critical role in realising the business and IT needs by overseeing the technical aspects of project and by providing guidance and direction to developers, system analysts, and other technical specialists. This role will closely work with technical stakeholders to understand technical specifications to ensure chosen solutions align with DDaT principles, government security standards, and best practices.
The role will report into the Head of IT Solutions and the appointed person will work closely with the Transformation Programmes and BAU Portfolio, contributing directly to the efficiency and effectiveness of the enterprise. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about and able to demonstrate:
+ Thought leadership and best practices in the technical delivery assurance domain.
+ Lead the technical vision and execution of complex IT solutions, ensuring they align with our business goals and technological roadmap.
+ Collaborative mind-set to work with various stakeholders within NS&I as well as with stakeholders in a multi-supplier environment., As Systems Solution Lead you will lead the technical vision and execution of complex IT solutions, ensuring deliverables are aligned with our business goals and technological roadmap. This role will provide expert guidance and leadership to development teams, fostering a collaborative environment that delivers innovative and high-quality solutions.
The Systems Solution Lead will also provide technical steering in multi-vendor engagement by aligning to the enterprise systems technical roadmap among other associated enterprise standards and manage the system delivery by supporting the program / project directions.
Responsibility
• Help supplier(s) in translating business requirements into clear and concise technical specifications.
• Lead the technical implementation process, ensuring adherence to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Technically, lead the design and implementation of innovative and cost-effective IT solutions.
• Select and implement appropriate technologies considering scalability, security, performance, and integration needs.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement new technologies to optimize the IT infrastructure.
• Lead and mentor technical teams, fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Collaborate with technical stakeholders to understand their needs, challenges, and desired outcomes using technical solutions.
• Manage technical risks associated with projects and develop mitigation strategies.
• Oversee technical aspect of project timelines, budgets, and technical resource allocation.
• Work collaboratively with Development, Operations, and Security teams to ensure successful solution deployment and ongoing maintenance.
• Stay up to date on the latest IT trends and technologies relevant to financial industry.
• Maintain technical documentation, including architecture diagrams and solution roadmaps.
Management, co-ordination and other
• Identify and mitigate technical risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Participate in proof-of-concept (POC) development and testing to ensure solution effectiveness.
• Work in close partnership with cross-functional teams and management.
• Determine process improvements, best practices, and develop new ones as applicable.
• Establish reports & perform reviews with partners for technical services.
• Effective RAID management for the technical design
Provide expert technical guidance and leadership to development teams, fostering a collaborative environment that delivers innovative and high-quality solutions.
This role may some travel to other sites, + Job history – detailing career history and responsibilities, highlighting any key experience, relevant projects and skills gained.
+ Effective communication and collaboration skills to effectively bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.
+ Exposure in large scale transformation programmes in at least one of the following: core banking transformation, digital transformation or business transformation.
+ Experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex IT solutions.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the following lead key criteria only:
+ Job history - detailing career history and responsibilities, highlighting any key experience, relevant projects and skills gained.
Please note there is no expectation for you to meet the maximum word count provided for the statement. Feel free to use as many words as you need within the limit to demonstrate your experience in a concise and clear manner.
If shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a 1 hour panel interview via video call, that will assess your experience and technical skills.
As part of this interview you will be asked to make a 10 minute presentation aimed at demonstrating your communication and technical skills.
Interviews will take place w/c 27 January 2025.
Note we are unable to accept CVs.
This role is subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standard and financial credit checks.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made., NS&I is currently working in a hybrid way with colleagues expected to work in the office for 40% of their working month and this will be increasing to 60% of their working month in early 2025. If you are applying to work in London, the role is currently based in Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BT and in early 2025 it is anticipated that NS&I will be moving out of Sanctuary Buildings and into our new NS&I London office location, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 9HA.
Any move to NS&I from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
If you are applying for a role at the same NS&I band as you are currently and the advertised salary of the role is higher, if you are successful, any salary increase will be at the discretion of NS&I and will be reviewed as part of the next annual pay review, in accordance with the NS&I employee handbook.
Note to existing permanent employees at NS&I - Please be aware that if you are a permanent employee appointed to a fixed term role, our recruiting principles ensure you will retain your permanent status at the end of this contract. However, you are not guaranteed to return to your original role. At the conclusion of this fixed term period, you may be redeployed to another suitable role at NS&I, offered retraining or will be given priority mover status to find another role in the civil service.
NS&I employees on a fixed term contract moving to another fixed term role, will continue to be employed for a fixed term to the end date of this role. You may apply for suitable roles within NS&I or the civil service.
Note to existing permanent employees at NS&I - Please be aware that if you are a permanent employee appointed to a fixed term role, our recruiting principles ensure you will retain your permanent status at the end of this contract. However, you are not guaranteed to return to your original role. At the conclusion of this fixed term period, you may be redeployed to another suitable role at NS&I, offered retraining or will be given priority mover status to find another role in the civil service.
NS&I employees on a fixed term contract moving to another fixed term role, will continue to be employed for a fixed term to the end date of this role. You may apply for suitable roles within NS&I or the civil service.
This role may require some travel to other sites, please be aware if you travel to a second location on average 4 days a month, you may be liable for P11D taxation. If you have any queries concerning this please contact the NS&I HR Team.
Further information
Please visit our website http://nsandi-corporate.com/about-nsi for further details about NS&I.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.
Essential skills and experience
+ Significant experience in a technical role, combined with direct experience of leading and mentoring technical teams.
+ Proven experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex IT solutions.
+ In-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure, including networking, security, and storage solutions.
+ Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies (Agile, Waterfall etc.).
+ Experience with various programming languages and technologies relevant to financial industry (e.g., Java, Python, cloud platforms etc.).
+ Excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.
+ Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve complex technical issues.
Essential technical knowledge
+ Working experience in architect/designer/SME preferably with exposure to Banking and/or Payment’s areas
+ Any of the following certification,
o AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
o Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert
o Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect
+ Involved in or led design delivery processes.
+ Project Management methodologies (Agile and Waterfall)
+ Exposure in large scale transformation programmes in at least one of the following: core banking transformation, digital transformation or business transformation.
+ Knowledge of enterprise architecture / business architecture methodologies, Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Proven experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex IT solutions.
+ Essential Technical knowledge
+ Essential Technical knowledge
+ Essential Technical knowledge
+ Essential Technical knowledge
+ Essential Technical knowledge
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
+ Proven experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex IT solutions.

Alongside your salary of £53,580, National Savings and Investments contributes £15,522 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
NS&I is one of the largest savings organisations in the UK with more than 24 million customers and over £218 billion invested. We are both a government department and an Executive Agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Our origins can be traced back more than 150 years to 1861.
A small company with a big reach, we offer a range of benefits including flexible working, great opportunities for development and a generous pension scheme. We care for colleagues, respect one another, invest in our people and manage talent effectively.
Some benefits of working at NS&I include:
+
o Learning and development tailored to your role
o An environment with flexible hybrid working options
o 9 day fortnight scheme
o A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
o A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 97%
o Generous annual leave – starting at 25 days, increasing to 30 days
o Performance related variable pay bonus
o Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave