Lead Architect

Job Description

Join Police Digital Service as Lead ArchitectThis is a key role with responsibility for providing Architecture and Design services in support of internal and hosted technology solutions.About Police Digital ServiceWe exist to harness the power of digital, data and technology to enable UK policing to better protect the communities it serves. Ours is a team of experts in commercial services, technical assurance, data, digital transformation and innovation, with a uniqueexperience in policing and national programme delivery.Key Responsibilities

• Act as a design lead to support the business change decisions ensuring that all architecture activities and deliverables are consistent
• Manage separation of control from security design authority responsibilities and ensure that solutions are technologically sound
• Define, design and interpret technical artefacts from business design specifications and capability models to create solutions
• Provide oversight, guidance and technical assurance when suppliers are engaged in the delivery of technical solution designs and reference architectures
• Ensure appropriate quality of technical architecture artefacts, engagement and managing escalations when they arise
• Support business case development and benefit identification and realisation plans for current portfolio and planned refresh or future investments
• Help to develop appropriate frameworks, standards, libraries and approach to be adopted
• Monitor multiple trends and innovations that could influence strategy and business plans, sharing good practice appropriately
• Understand strategic business requirements, collect data, deliver analysis and recommend technical options
• Work with stakeholder groups to ensure contribution is maximised
• Identify all potential technical risks and mitigation options to ensure the successful delivery of ICT solutions
• Develop and maintain technical, business, and process architectures
• Establish and maintain a documented map of the current hardware, operating systems, licensing models, programming and networking solutions and address where technologies are being duplicated or underutilised
• Mentoring, coaching and development of stakeholders
• Identify, maintain and improve the linkage between business processes and ICT architecture

What you need to succeed in the roleSkills & Knowledge

• Degree in a technology related discipline (Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering) or significant relevant experience
• Industry recognised training/certifications in Cloud technologies (Microsoft, AWS, Google etc)
• Technical knowledge covering some/all of the following: Cloud architectures and solution design, Business process development and architecture, Application development and architecture, Data architecture and management, Technical/Infrastructure developmentand architecture, DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, Scripting and Automation Languages, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Practical knowledge of Service Management preferably certified with a recognised framework e.g. ITIL
• Knowledge and experience in applying architectural tools and methods using industry best practice
• Knowledge of National Policing Digital Strategy and understanding of current technologies relevant to the sector and emerging market trends

Essential Experience

• A minimum of 5 years in a Lead or Solution Architect role with complex service requirements
• Designed and delivered technology solutions in one or more of the following cloud service provider environments: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Built reference architecture for all-in public cloud deployments and hybrid scenarios, including IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. This will include requirements definition, architecture development, security control integration, development of monitoring use casesand playbooks, systems integration and testing
• Worked in an architecture team, including the production of design documentation (HLDs, LLDs, blueprints etc.), supporting cloud architecture, design, security, implementation, operations, and automation in Azure, AWS or GCP
• Managed teams (including external suppliers) delivering architecture services, overseeing the design process and ensuring quality of artefacts and adherence to governance
• Engagement focus and proactive style, that motivates, builds trust and inspires
• Experience working with public sector/police/HMG clients
• Ability to take the lead during meetings, help to drive governance and programme level boards with stakeholder management

Desirable

• Microsoft technical certifications: Azure Solutions Architect, M365 Enterprise Administrator, Power Platform Solution Architect, DevOps Engineer
• AWS technical certifications: Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer
• Security Certifications: CISSP, CCSP, CSSLP
• Experienced in repository-based Enterprise Architecture modelling tools
• Experience of capability-based planning of business and IT transformation, Use Case and Scenario Modelling
• Experience of Strategic & Systems thinking, six sigma or similar improvement techniques

Why Join us

• Balance is important and we want you to take time off to recharge, so we offer 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 30 days after 5 years of service
• We care about your well-being: we have an employee assistance programme that offers not just welfare benefits and counselling at the end of a telephone line but also discounts
• We want to help you plan for the future, so we offer an excellent pension scheme and life assurance cover
• We want you to be able to put your mind at rest regarding your health, offering remote GP, mental health and physiotherapy appointments via video consultation

Working ArrangementsRemote working with some national travel