Principal Enterprise Architect - Government Digital Architecture

The Enterprise Architecture function, and the architects that work within it, exist to define how technology will be used to transform the UK public sector: ensuring that common tools, standards and shared services exist to reduce duplication and improve efficient use of technology; providing the guardrails that enable government departments to innovate the future safely; and to provide the roadmaps of core foundational technologies that are common across central and local government, the NHS, Police, as well as 400+ agencies and other bodies. 

Your team is responsible for the Digital Architecture of Government. You will:

• set a 10-year intent and strategy for our future digital architecture, and how departments systems will interact or share from each other
• identify and develop architectural principles, guardrails, and governance, forming and leading a group of technologists from across the UK Public Sector to embed these and help them thrive
• work alongside vendors to create a vibrant market of shared capabilities for UK Public Sector customers, and with Crown Commercial Service in commercial engagements with vendors
• build a network of peers across UK Public Sector to engage with regularly
• promote your work through content written for GOV.UK, speaking engagements, and hosting community events
• help upskill others in CDDO and Cabinet Office in your specialist area

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Unlike many others, our roles have a scale and impact: we are routinely involved in commercial engagements worth £billions, respond to pan-government technology questions from ministers, and provide advice to other international governments.

Please don’t let this sound intimidating; if you could see yourself in this role, we’d like to hear from you.

Person specification

This role requires:

• experience in setting a vision and leading digital and data change
• experience designing and building technology and be able to use this to build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and decide an execution approach
• experience engaging with suppliers/vendors both formally and informally
• being comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, both technical (such as CTOs / CDOs across Government) and non-technical (including ministers and permanent secretaries)
• learning that should be embedded in the way you approach your working week, and you should be keen to share your learning with those around you through coaching and mentoring

Technical skills

You will be assessed against the technical skills from the Principal Enterprise Architect level of the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework, particularly:

• Architecting for the whole context - assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation
• Architecture communication - gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity
• Commercial perspective - identify contractual approaches for buying technology
• Enterprise architecture - working with others beyond the organisation to influence technology, people and processes to achieve objectives
• Making architectural decisions - making architectural decisions characterised by high levels of complexity
• Strategy design - having a technical vision for multiple organisations / wider government
• You will be expected to have a strong understanding of Cloud technologies, ideally holding an architecture qualification from a Cloud provider.

Benefits

The benefits of working at CDDO.

There are many benefits including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days 
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave 
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

CDDO offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to the Central Digital and Data Office 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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at CDDO consists of:

• We have a simple application process, we only require a CV and responses to two application questions about your experience.
• Applicants who successfully clear the initial screening process will need to submit a 90-second video in response to a scenario. Comprehensive details will be shared with the shortlisted candidates.
• a 60-minute video interview

In the event we receive a high number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria which is:

• You must have experience setting a vision and leading digital and data change

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Working Together

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital, Data, and Technology Profession Capability Framework for the Principal Enterprise Architect role: 

Recruitment Timeline:

Role Closes - 4th August 2024

Sift outcomes will be shared on - 9th August 2024

Video recording to be submitted by -  16th August 2024

Interviews: Week commencing - 26th August 2024

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

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