ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to translate complex business and regulatory requirements into scalable, secure, and sustainable technical architectures that support digital, data and technology objectives
• Strong proficiency in designing and documenting technical solutions, including data models, system architectures, and integration patterns — ideally using Microsoft Azure, Power Platform, and related technologies
• Proven experience leading and mentoring development teams, ensuring alignment with architectural principles and technical best practice
• Skilled in identifying and resolving complex technical challenges, applying modern and emerging technologies to improve service delivery and resilience
• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leaders
• Demonstrable experience influencing strategic technical decisions across programmes or portfolios in a public sector or regulated environment

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience working with government digital and data standards (e.g. GDS Service Standard, Technology Code of Practice)
• Familiarity with security and data protection principles in the context of public sector architecture
• Relevant qualifications (e.g. TOGAF, Azure Solutions Architect, BCS Certified Architect, or equivalent experience)

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Rebecca Norton Price, and will take place on:

• Tuesday 16th September at 13:30

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.
Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation. The invites will be sent the night before the session. The sessions are not recorded.
Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to joseph.alford@dcms.gov.uk.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

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

• Technical design throughout the life cycle

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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and lead the delivery of architectural strategy aligned to organisational and regulatory objectives
• Set and embed architectural principles, standards and patterns to guide solution design across teams
• Provide strategic technical leadership across programmes and portfolios, influencing senior stakeholders
• Design and assure complex, end-to-end solutions that are scalable, secure, and meet user needs
• Lead architectural governance and ensure compliance with digital, data and technology and GDS standards
• Collaborate with policy, product, delivery and data leaders to align technology with business outcomes
• Explore and promote the adoption of emerging technologies to drive innovation and service improvement
• Communicate complex technical ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will be assessed against the experience success profile:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the “Job History” section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates