Lead Technical Architect

Corporate Operations Directorate, part of the DG Corporate family, leads efforts to enable Scottish Government to operate more effectively and efficiently, supporting both internal teams and shared service customers. Our critical technologies and services underpin operations across government, with a focus on digital transformation, automation and shared services. We bring structure and governance to the setting of priorities, and are responsible for delivering projects and programmes from a varied portfolio of transformational change.

Within the Directorate, the function of Corporate Architecture was formed to take ownership for a mission to make a material positive impact on the performance of the Scottish Government with a coherent, professional Architecture Operation. We are agents of change who support the organisation in making informed, people‑centred decisions that align with our shared mission: In the Service of Scotland.

Our team brings together expertise in analysis, strategy and storytelling to help shape the future of the organisation. We act as a trusted partner – connecting people, ideas and evidence – to ensure the right voices are heard and the right decisions are made. Our architecture remit is the corporate space. We define that as business processes, applications, data and technology where staff and the business people we work with are affected, and the concern is shared across multiple lines of business.

Main Duties

• Present recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems to support project goals clearly to senior management, based on knowledge of IT and analysis of systems’ needs.
• Evaluate the success of a project, once the solution has been integrated, identifying best practices and lessons learned.
• Provide feedback to leadership and incorporate best practices and lessons learned into future integration plans.
• Act as a key contributor to architecture governance activities ensuring the adoption of good working methods and best practice in the application of technology architecture standards.
• Lead the design and review processes for new solutions and services, evidencing the inclusion of ‘Secure by Design’ in the technical designs you produce, oversee and approve.
• Manage, coach and mentor junior Technical Architects.
• Contribute to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department in your area of expertise.
• Create optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning such factors as the user need within the system requirements, security and organisational objectives.
• Develop and document the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of the Government Data and Digital Profession (GDD) and the business.
• Ensure designs meet security and operational requirements.
• Be seen across the department or division as a Subject Matter expert, contributing to the development of architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across cybersecurity, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and the user experience of infrastructure.

Success Profile

The success profile includes the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

• Demonstrate an understanding of the complex landscapes of technologies and the required collaboration with 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams across multiple projects to deliver successful outcomes in line with business and technical requirements.
• Have managed Human Resource activities, including interviewing, selection and hiring, and conducting performance assessments.
• Have the experience, skills and personal qualities that allow you to be effective whilst working unsupervised in a dynamic environment with fluid priorities and high levels of uncertainty.
• Be able to balance potentially conflicting requirements and interests, negotiate a consensus and justify your architectural design decisions.

Behaviours

• Changing and improving – Level 4
• Delivering at pace – Level 4

Pay Supplement

This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £4,000 annual GDD pay supplement, paid monthly.

Working Pattern

Standard hours are 35 hours per week with a range of flexible working options. Hybrid compatibility requires in‑person work 40% of the time.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), which comprises four pre‑employment checks – identity, right to work, employment history and a criminal record check.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of Scotland.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.