Solutions Architect

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role will be working closely with the Senior Solution Architects and Technical Architect to transform business requirements and challenges into workable technical solutions following the agreed Enterprise Architecture. This post requires a creative and innovative approach to design highly complex technical solutions to support a wide range of business challenges that will align to the Councils Business Plan.

The overall duties and responsibilities are:

To provide expert architectural expertise and direction to council services, programmes/projects, and all levels of management on the councils technical capabilities. This role will be primarily Council services facing.

Lead on architectural decisions for designing the correct technical solutions that meet the business requirements in line with the Enterprise Architecture.

Producing architectural artefacts such as visions, standards, roadmaps, high-level designs, and low-level designs.

Expected to ensure that the solutions and services designed and implemented are compatible with the overall ICT architecture, consideration of future roadmaps and how these will be maintained.

Collaborating with directors, heads of service, product owners, business partners and subject matter experts to create clear and concise documentation detailing complex technical solutions. With the ability to translate these complex technical solutions back into easy to understand language depending on the audience.

To have a good understanding of the business challenges especially those that are common in local government. To be able to address these with technology where appropriate, within the councils technical capabilities.

Working closely with the Enterprise Architect to feed into and influence strategic planning and direction of the technical capabilities at the council using the knowledge of business challenges.

Collaborating closely with Product Owners to ensure the strategic direction of in-house built applications and ensuring capabilities aligns with the planned Enterprise Architecture and Technology Plan.

Understanding and maintaining the architectural visions and working closely with the Senior Solution Architects to help transition from visionary concepts to high-level and low-level designs that will be delivered/developed.

Keeping up to date and understanding of Cyber Security standards and security architecture such as Secure by Design principle, ensure that solutions apply CIA principles (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)

Responsible for maintaining Architectural and technical artefacts on the councils current technical capabilities and roadmaps.

Responsible for maintaining knowledge and skillsets in emerging technologies, trends, and best practices to support the council and aid in decision making. Responsible for sharing knowledge with others in the team and technical engineers.

Build, develop and maintain productive relationships with internal stakeholders, partners, and other external organisations.

Although this post will not be line managing anyone, it will be expected they can lead effectively and bring working groups together which will consist of both technical and non-technical parties.

Person Specification

Experience

• A Degree in a subject relevant to the role or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills, and experience e.g. BSc Computing, BSc Computer Management, etc.
• Relevant training and/or experience in an Enterprise Architecture formal method (such as TOGAF, Zachman or a similar widely accepted method).
• Familiarity with an Architecture Description Language such as UML.
• Sound working knowledge of ICT principles (such as Information and Cyber Security) with the ability to interpret recommendations and information from colleagues and make authoritative decisions.
• Relevant knowledge and experience gained by working in an ITIL, Prince2, MSP and Agile based environment.
• Sound working knowledge of enterprise products (e.g. spatial systems, data networks, telecoms, infrastructure, web, cloud services, O365, SQL and ORACLE, etc.).
• Familiarity with relevant website architecture, including the planning and design of the technical, functional, and visual components, and familiarity with Gov.UK design guidelines as expressed in the GDS Service Manual.
• Demonstrable ability to work with business unit managers within relevant areas to align business requirements with ICT technical capabilities and roadmaps.
• Demonstrable analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to grasp new concepts quickly and able to understand, assimilate and interpret, present, and communicate complex information.

• Relevant professional qualification at a post graduate level i.e. masters degree or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity and relevant experience of developing complex solution designs in an enterprise environment, including associated other documentation such as position or discussion papers, financial analysis documentation.
• Experience of Supplier Relationship Management.
• Demonstrable experience of working across partner organisations.
• Experience of designing and implementing solutions that help to meet climate goals of the organisation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/