Technical Architect

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Bristol

About the job

Job summary

Do you have knowledge of Dynamic 365, Business Central and the Microsoft Power Platform? 

Do you have experience designing and reviewing complex technical delivery projects?

Do you have the ability to cope in a technically complex and transformational environment? 

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of. 

We are looking for a Technical Architect to join our dynamic and innovative workforce at an exciting and challenging time.

As a key member of our Digital Services & Technology Team, you’ll work alongside engineers and product specialists. As a team, you’ll develop innovative products that are part of end-to-end services across the department. 

You’ll provide technical and architecture expertise to support designing solutions our users really need and want. You’ll test the art of the possible by designing proofs of concept to test solutions for future services, working with internal groups, third parties and external suppliers. 

You’ll be leading development of our digital services, with user needs at the heart of everything, helping us transform VCA for the future. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll be helping define how we do what we do and making sure that our systems are built to adapt rapidly.

Your duties will include but are not limited to:

• Accountable, and provide assurance, to the CDIO on the technical and security products and solution designs produced by VCA and 3rd-party suppliers.
• Produce technical and solutions architecture that are complaint with the digital strategy, roadmap, principles, systems and service levels. Consider wider government strategy and principles within the VCA architecture and solutions.
• Define & prioritise non-functional requirements and ensure that solutions are assessed against them.
• Understand business requirements and support business analysts in assessing how different solutions meet or do not meet requirements.
• Provide options analysis and recommendations to support the selection of new technology and solutions.
• Identify technical and security risks and issues and ensure these are formally documented. Identify and implement appropriate mitigations to reduce risk.
• Liaise and communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders to ensure the successful translation of technical designs into business solutions.
• Be responsible for leading the technical design of systems and services, and you will justify and communicate design decisions.
• Provide mentoring and develop the architect profession within the Digital Services team at VCA.
• Develop, document and establish architectural principles, policies, standards and reference architectures.
• Design and maintain the enterprise architecture roadmap.

For more information, please see the role profile attached. 

Person specification

To apply for our Technical Architect position, you will need:

• Knowledge of Dynamics 365, Business Central and the Microsoft Power platform.
• Digitally and technically literate, capable of effectively engaging with technical staff, suppliers and stakeholders to define the best solutions in line with VCA & Government strategy.
• Experience designing and reviewing complex technical delivery projects.
• Experience liaising with external and internal teams to ensure timely provisioning and implementation of quality, scalable and secure technical solutions.
• Experience of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS and on-premise solutions and when and how to implement them.
• Experience working with suppliers to contribute to and assure detailed technical architectures and designs.
• The ability to cope in a technically complex and transformational environment, and to respond calmly and rationally to changing aspirations within constraints.
• To be able to influence stakeholders to adopt solutions that best support the business needs.
• To be able to effectively articulate the trade-offs between different solution options.
• To be familiar with architecture methods tools such as TOGAF, Archimate and UML.

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace or on location testing. 

There will be occasional travel to other VCA sites.

Whilst we accept part time applicants, there would be a minimum of 30 hours a week. 

Government Digital and Data Profession Pay Framework

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £44,198. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £13,202.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.

Licences

Full UK Drivers Licence

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Making architectural decisions (Skill level: working).
• Strategy Design (Skill Level: working).
• Technical design throughout the life cycle (Skill Level: working).

Benefits

Your wellbeing is important to us, which is why we’re pleased to offer a wide range of benefits to all our colleagues, inside and outside of work.

For more information on the ways you can benefit please see the attached candidate pack.Find out more about what it’s like working at the Department for Transport.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Paul Taylor
• Email : paul.taylor@vca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

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