Lead Technical Architect End User Compute & Collaboration (EUC&C) - HO - G7

The Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) profession enable the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. They do this by designing, building, and running the services that help people apply for visas or passports, support policing and counter-terrorism operations, and protect the UK’s borders.  

Team members have specialised knowledge and a calling to build on it. We want the best people to come to the Home Office and work in the diverse roles and communities they’re passionate about. This is how we produce exceptional outcomes. 

The End User Compute and Collaboration (EUC&C) team is a multifaceted group responsible for various critical functions within the organization. The EUC&C team plays a vital role in enhancing the organization's digital presence and improving collaboration and communication across various departments. Their efforts ensure that end-users have the tools and support they need to work efficiently and effectively.

The Collaboration Engineering team designs, delivers, and supports services built upon the full suite of E5 licensed products under M365, Power Platform and Azure. They offer tailored support, training, and promote the benefits of M365 tools through a Digital Champions community.

Due to business requirements this post is available on a Full Time/Job Share/Flexible Working basis. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Queries can be raised to the address at the bottom of the advert. 

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition.

Job description

As a Lead Technical Architect, you will operate within the Collaboration Engineering team at solution levels to ensure EUC&C designs and systems meet requirements and align with the broader strategic direction for Enterprise Services and DDaT, the Home Office and Government.

You will be responsible for leading the technical design and development of systems and services for Collaboration Engineering, working together with an internal team of Civil Servants and suppliers. Lead Technical Architects share the responsibility for establishing the Home Office approach to Technical Architecture and guide projects in using architectures, principles, standards and tooling to deliver new systems and services for citizens and Home Office users.

You will build effective partnerships with diverse teams across multiple locations and technologies and provide mentoring and leadership to other architects. You will report to the Principal Technical Architect for EUC&C, working together to ensure designs traverse architectural governance smoothly and assist SME’s within your space along the same journey. You will ensure documentation is maintained to a high standard and regularly reviewed and accessible for audit.

Person specification

Your main day to day activities will be: 

• Creating optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning such factors as the user need within the system requirements, security and organisational objectives.
• Leading the design and review processes for new solution and services, evidencing the inclusion of ‘Secure by Design” in the technical designs you produce, oversee and approve.
• Developing and documenting the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession and the business.
• Presenting recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems to support project goals clearly to senior management, based on knowledge of IT and analysis of systems’ needs. 
• Contributing to the development of architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across cyber, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and the user experience of infrastructure.
• Contributing to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department in your area of expertise.

Essential Skills:

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Technical Architecture, with the following skills or strong experience in:

• Evidencing strong technical leadership qualities, with a passion for delivering. 
• Leading edge designs and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solutions.
• Navigating the complex landscapes of technologies, 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams across multiple projects.
• Anticipating and advising on future technology that present opportunities for the product or programme.
• Managing and delivering complex technology solutions within time, cost and quality targets.
• Defining, owning and contributing to the technical roadmap and strategy.
• Demonstrating a detailed knowledge of technical requirements to implement, design and manage associated technologies.

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework- Use the Skill descriptions to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed).

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process. 

SFIA levels of responsibility – Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each Technical Skill listed below. 

Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:

Strategy & Architecture:

• Strategy and Planning
  • Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
  • Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
  • Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
  • Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 5
• Advice & Guidance
  • Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
  • Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4

Technical skills

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

• Innovation (INOV) – Level 3
• Enterprise and Business Architecture (STPL) – Level 3
• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Solution Architecture (ARCH) – Level 5
• Consultancy (CNSL) – Level 4
• Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4