Chief Solutions Architect

Job Description

Location: FlexibleReporting to: CTO, HDR UKAbout Health Data Research UKHealth Data Research UK (HDR UK) is the national Institute for data science in health. Our UK team of experts develop and apply cutting-edge data science approaches to clinical, biological, genomic and other multi-dimensional health data to address the most pressing health research challenges facing the public.Our mission is to make game-changing improvements in the health of patients and populations through data science research and innovation.For the first time we are bringing together our unique nationwide data assets and specialists across academia, research and healthcare to unlock knowledge and deliver new insights from molecule to man. By undertaking research at scale, across a population of up to 65 million people, we have an unrivalled opportunity to use data to the highest ethical standards to drive breakthroughs in medical research. This unleashes the potential to improve the way we are able to prevent, detect and diagnose diseases such as cancer, heart disease and asthma.At Health Data Research UK, we employ talented individuals who bring their own unique skills and experience to support the vision and benefit the whole team.Purpose of the postHDR UK requires the services of an experienced Chief Solution Architect to lead technology services and solutions across the organisation, leading and maintain technical strategies, architectures and roadmaps.The role will involve solution design production and review for all aspects of the gateway (technical design authority). Software development skills will be required to help with prototyping new solutions.The role reports to HDR UKs CTO, and includes responsibility for governance of a new technology approval board.Main Responsibilities: Solution Architecture: Chief Solution Architect for the whole of HDR UK Lead the development and maintenance of HDR UKs solution architecture, big data and integration strategies, frameworks, standards and technical roadmaps Lead the architecture oversight of new technology components including vendor selections, software design, delivery, security, integration. Explaining complex software options to multiple stakeholders. Design the specifications, models and guidelines within a coherent architectural blueprint to meet user requirements reflecting HDR UKs established development principles Documenting and approving designs in Confluence and manage the technical backlog in JIRA Evangelist for the Gateway and HDR UK technologies building relationships with peers at conferences & events. Identify, review and make technology recommendations on new HDR UK strategic opportunities and projects to ensure they conform with a consistent architecture framework, provide adhoc specialist input to projects, and incoporating these into strategic plans, frameworks and roadmaps.Lead Development: Lead developer responsibility for PoCs Lead development team through complex design issues Single solution design Architecture Governance Design, implement and run new technology governance board for approving all new technologies introduced to HDR UK Responsible for achieving and maintaining ISO27001 accreditation and NHS Digital ToolkitPlanning and Organising: Facilitating the development and regular updating of an integrated project plan to ensure overall initiative and Process Owner(s) deliver the roadmap. Tracking of and reporting on all aspects of project management cycle including progress, budget, milestones etc. to key internal/external stakeholders Creating processes and systems to enable efficient working and process improvement, including working with others to develop tracking systems. Decision making: The post-holder will make all day-to-day operational decisions for their own workload. With support from the Chief Technology Officer, the Chief Solution Architect will identify, initiate and develop opportunities for collaborative working with the members of the HDR UK extended technical team, relevant national and international partners and organisations Recommend preferred options to and enacting decisions of new technology approval board Technical project decisions necessary in daily scrums to advance progress of all technical partner projects Determine whether technical projects are conforming to HDR UK architectural principles and best practices. Direct involvement in all product & solution selections.Continuous Improvement:HDR UK is dedicated to continuous improvement through our quality management system and demonstrated by our commitment to achieve ISO 9001 accreditation. The post-holder will review, analyse, identify and implement opportunities for quality improvement within their specialism and as part of the wider team through our strategy development and internal audit processes.Key contacts / relationships:The post holder will build and maintain effective working relationships both within HDR UK and externally with 3rd party System Integrators, software vendors, infrastructure providers and end-users (academics and corporate users). Work closely with the internal product owners and the external UX/UI designers. Quality control the work of the external providers.Knowledge, skills and experienceEssential: At least 7 years software development experience with knowledge of JavaScript, React.js, Node.js, Python, RESTful API design, GraphQL, JSON, XML and CSS At least 5 years senior experience as either a Technical Architect or Solutions Architect producing technical and solution designs and leading a design authority function Solution architecture experience in vendor selections Any experience in intelligent search and text analysis solutions would be positively useful Ability to analyse complex scenarios, distil key points and take pragmatic action to move projects forwards in an agile manner. Ability to setup and drive Agile scrum tooling to support projects (Atlassian Confluence & JIRA) High quality and concise communication skills, written and verbal. Able to persuade, motivate and lead others at all levels, and to explain concepts without technical jargon. An ability to act at pace with a high degree of accuracy and independence, across international time zones. Ability to work in self driven fashion in a dynamic, fast-moving international environment establishing structures and processes, clear information flow and ensuring effective stakeholder engagement. Ability to see the big strategic picture in combination with flexibility to operate at a tactical, hands-on level. Experience in implementing strategic plans Previous experience of working as a design authority Alignment to the HDR UK values.Desirable: Experience working with health data and health organisations and an understanding of Information Governance requirements, data curation and data standards for health data. Experience using Confluence, JIRA, Trello and similar Agile project management tools. Experience of Information Governance processe