DDaT - Principal Technical Architect

MOD Corsham, SN13 9NR

Job Summary

Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.

We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

Defence Digital forms part of Strategic Command which manages the MOD’s joint capabilities for the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy.

Working at Defence Digital

Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

We're seeking a Principal Technical Architect to lead at the highest level and be responsible for making sure strategy is agreed and followed. If you're passionate about building innovative solutions at scale and influencing technical direction, this is your chance to make a significant impact.

Responsibilities

As Principal Architect for you will

• Lead a team of technical architects to deliver outputs as agreed with Architecture Leadership, and act as architecture subject matter expert and primary point of contact.
• Own the pan-Defence domain level digital technology architecture vision, strategy, taxonomy, standards, patterns, and roadmaps, including ‘as is’, ‘to be’ and transitional states across both logical and physical layers, as well as any other key artefacts at the direction of Architecture Leadership.
• Have responsibility for setting technical direction and making enterprise-level digital technology decisions and product choices that drive integration aligned to architectural vision and requirements.
• Plan, gain agreement for, lead and deliver agreed schedule of prioritised work and ensure that Technical Architecture artefacts are incorporated into relevant architecture repositories.
• Promote pan-Defence reuse, operational sustainability, and scalability, to achieve value for money, drive integration by default, and reduce duplicative technology across the enterprise and delivery portfolio.
• Become a Service Assessor, responsible for assessing both internal and cross-government services to ensure alignment to the Service standard.
  
  

For more information on the Technical Architects profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework;

Principal Technical Architect

We're seeking a Principal Technical Architect to lead at the highest level and be responsible for making sure strategy is agreed and followed. If you're passionate about building innovative solutions at scale and influencing technical direction, this is your chance to make a significant impact.

Responsibilities

As Principal Architect for you will

• Lead a team of technical architects to deliver outputs as agreed with Architecture Leadership, and act as architecture subject matter expert and primary point of contact.
• Own the pan-Defence domain level digital technology architecture vision, strategy, taxonomy, standards, patterns, and roadmaps, including ‘as is’, ‘to be’ and transitional states across both logical and physical layers, as well as any other key artefacts at the direction of Architecture Leadership.
• Have responsibility for setting technical direction and making enterprise-level digital technology decisions and product choices that drive integration aligned to architectural vision and requirements.
• Plan, gain agreement for, lead and deliver agreed schedule of prioritised work and ensure that Technical Architecture artefacts are incorporated into relevant architecture repositories.
• Promote pan-Defence reuse, operational sustainability, and scalability, to achieve value for money, drive integration by default, and reduce duplicative technology across the enterprise and delivery portfolio.
• Become a Service Assessor, responsible for assessing both internal and cross-government services to ensure alignment to the Service standard.
  
  

For more information on the Technical Architects profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework;

Principal Technical Architect

Person specification

Tb be successful in the role of principal technical architect you will bring experience of the following;

• You are a passion for shaping the future through innovative and robust solutions.
• You will have cultivated thriving, collaborative technical teams, as well as having a deep technical understanding of architecture.
• You'll be empowered to leverage cutting-edge architectural tools and methodologies, and your exceptional communication skills will enable you to inspire stakeholders at all levels, forging strong partnerships and driving consensus.
• You enjoy remaining ahead of the technology curve, horizon scanning and understanding how technology landscape is changing and how we should keep up and accelerate our exploitation of new technologies.
  
  

If you're a natural influencer who thrives in dynamic environments and is ready to lead impactful change, we want to hear from you!

Application

When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role.  Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below:  

Essential Criteria

• Proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale end-to-end architectural projects, including the development and implementation of enterprise-wise strategies.
• Experience leading a team of Architects, with an understanding of how to create a collaborative and innovative culture that drives high performance and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in tools, methodologies, and frameworks to support complex architectural design, governance, strategic development and stakeholder communication, for example the use of design patterns, modelling languages and component building blocks.
• A great listener with excellent communication skills (written, verbal and presentational), including the ability to articulate complex architectural concepts clearly to technical and non-technical users, adapting communication style, language, and format to fit the needs of the audience.
• Experience building positive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups; able to understand and manage multiple perspectives, build consensus, and influence stakeholders at all levels, encouraging them to make decisions that align with the strategy, policies, principles and best interests of the enterprise.
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

Technical skills

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

• Architecture Communication
• Community Collaboration
• Making architectural decisions
• Strategy Design
  
  

Alongside your salary of £70,540, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,435 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms
• A highly competitive pension scheme.
• Discover my benefits for more information
  
  

This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £18,000 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy.

Learning & Development

In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD
  
  

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At Sift, You Will Be Assessed On The Following:

Please complete the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard, ensuring your CV highlights your relevance to the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification above.

All applicants will also need to provide a personal statement (max. 1250 words) and it is vital that this includes evidence of the  Essential Criteria. Your CV and personal statement will be scored 1-7 and make up part of your overall score to assess your suitability to be invited to interview.  

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills:

Interview

We’ll assess you against these Behaviours and Technical Skills during the interview process:

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
  
  

Technical Skills

• Architecture Communication
• Community Collaboration
• Making architectural decisions
• Strategy Design
  
  

For more information on the Technical Architects profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework: Principal Technical Architect

If you are selected for an interview, it will be held via Teams.

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

AI Usage in Job Applications

We encourage the use of technology to streamline the job application process. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be helpful in generating ideas, improving writing style, and increasing efficiency. However, it is essential that any content submitted as part of a job application is truthful, accurate, and a genuine reflection of the applicant’s qualifications and experiences. Any use of AI should be supplementary to your own knowledge and abilities. Ultimately, the application should demonstrate your unique skills and suitability for the role.

Professional Framework Statement  

Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.  Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.  

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [email protected] .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 : Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: , Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email:

[email protected].