JOB SUMMARY

The Digital Infrastructure Division focusses on three areas of digital connectivity – residential, business and public sector connectivity. The Public Sector Connectivity Branch oversees an outsourced network services contract that is used by over 120 public sector organisations to access essential network services that underpin day to day operations and digital service delivery across the public sector in Wales. The Branch is led by a Head of Public Sector Connectivity (Grade 6) and comprises 14 roles (including this role) organised into three teams, each led by a Grade 7.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Solution Architect provides technical oversight for all aspects of this work, including the outsourced technical strategy, general technical advice, technical briefings and vendor liaison around technical services and solutions. Reporting to the Lead Network Architect, the post-holder will ensure that the technical/network aspects of both business-as-usual and futures activities are met.
This role maps to the Solution Architect role in the DDaT Profession Capability Framework. Please follow the link to see details of the skills expected of this DDaT role.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Architecture communication - lead the communication of complicated, complex or risky architecture topics with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem definition and shaping - frame a problem characterised by medium complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created

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)
• 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

Deliver an effective intelligent client role that challenges and supports outsourced technical services, including strategy, design and performance.

• Undertake structured analysis of technical issues, translating this analysis into technical scrutiny and feedback to suppliers, vendors and customers.
• Be consulted about design and scrutinise outsourced design patterns
• Identify deeper issues that need fixing
• Look for opportunities to collaborate and reuse components, communicating with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Champion new technologies and solutions
• Follow best practice for solution design
• Collaborate with PSBA supplier’s technical teams to ensure that systems are practically designed.
• Monitor supplier performance against contracted requirements and instigate improvement plans where required.
• Contribute to regular network/technical management meetings with the supplier to review performance and scrutinise technical design proposals.
• Assure that network/technical services consumed by public sector organisations under the outsourced contract match the operational and business expectations of public sector organisations.
• Work in tandem with the Welsh Government’s PSBA team on escalations and contractual issues arising.
• Work on the technical workstream of the post-2028 project, including working with contractors and vendors offering solutions.
• Communicate progress through highlight reporting and project dashboards etc. for all technical meetings for the attention of the Lead Network Architect.
• Contribute to the technical community across the Welsh Public Sector.
• Review and analyse user feedback to inform future development of the services