Technical Architect - VCA - SEO

Job summary

We welcome applications from every part of the community, and we don’t discriminate against any gender identity. We’re especially interested to hear from underrepresented groups in the DfT such as gender diverse, ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled candidates.

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!

This is an exciting time for the VCA, and a great opportunity to be getting involved in. For more about joining our team, here’s a short introduction from our Chief Digital and Information Officer, Paul Taylor - DS&T LinkedIn (youtube.com).

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

How to Apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and a 1000 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

We will assess the following experience indicators from your personal statement so you should tailor it to clearly explain how you meet them:

• Knowledge of Dynamics 365, Business Central and the Microsoft Power platform.
• Experience designing and reviewing complex technical delivery projects.
• Experience of IaaS, PaaS, SaaS and on-premise solutions and when and how to implement them.
• The ability to cope in a technically complex and transformational environment, and to respond calmly and rationally to changing aspirations within constraints.

Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below. 

The sift is due to take place w/c 14th October.

Interviews are likely to be held w/c 24th October.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.  

You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Your Technical Skills will be assessed against the Government Digital and Data Framework which can be found here. 

Our 2-stage selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.  

Stage 1: Initial Experience-Based Sift  

In this stage, we carefully review all applicants CV & personal statement to shortlist candidates who meet the experience indicators and possess the necessary qualifications. 

Stage 2: In-person Interview

The final stage involves an in-person interview, where selected candidates will be invited to visit one of our premises.  

Merit List  

Please note that candidates placed on the merit list will be considered for suitable positions as they arise.  Being on the merit list may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role of Technical Architect.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.   

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.  

Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.  

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

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).