Solution Architect

What will you be doing?

Day to day, your job will look like:  

• YOU are the lovely person engaging with the stakeholders to understand their problems – what’s going on for them, map it, model it and get underneath the skin of the size and scale of the problem.
• You are then providing the technical solution architecture to solve these problems and supporting this solution with the right evidence in model, diagram and documentations.
• Be real in the design of the solution, we like to keep things simple, show how these technical solutions solves our business needs
• Governance is key – get the design right, challenge suppliers, ask your peers to review you work and do the same for them
• Champion the Solutions Architecture practice, be an ambassador for our brand internally
• We want to create standards and process that are repeatable and written down – help create our library of templates and write things down
• Be collegiate, work with the wider Strategy and Architecture team
• Engage in the development of best practice for the Council – supporting the Senior Solutions Architect in their agenda to create a leading architectural practice within DTI.
• Being a proactive thinker, do-er and challenger, so that we can do our best work 

About you

You will need:  

• Natural openness, curiosity and optimism (a bit of bravery probably wouldn’t hurt either)  
• A track record delivering Solutions Architecture services within a complex enterprise environment, coupled with an appropriate qualification
• In depth technical knowledge of several IT functions and areas such as cloud, platforms, infrastructure
• Be a cloud native and strong knowledge of AWS / Azure of similar
• Knowledge of architectural patterns and the ability to identify when they ought to be deployed.
• Show you can relate business strategy and goals to processes and systems
• Data Architecture and modelling knowledge
• Applications and technology architecture knowledge
• A visual mind – model information in a diagram in a clear and logical way
• Great people skills – you will have many stakeholders to manage well
• Communication skills
• Abstract thinking and reasoning

• To demonstrate understanding of equal opportunities and awareness of the behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs of others. 
   

You'll get extra points for:  

• A demonstrable understanding of the public sector digital and technology agenda 
• Read our strategy – it is beautiful and recently published on our website
   

In return, you'll benefit from:  

• A team who will listen to (and appreciate!) your ideas, and help make them happen  
• Flexible working (work how you want/where you want, just be here for important meetings)  
• A generous pension and annual leave allowance  
• The opportunity to make a difference to peoples’ lives in an innovative and ambitious DT&I service  
• Encouragement to be the best “you”, you can be  

Application Process 

Please send your CV and Supporting Statement [maximum 4 pages] to jo.cumper@westnorthants.gov.uk. You can also set up an informal chat with her and learn more about us and the role.  

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days annual leave per year, 28 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Car Lease scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

The council is in the process of implementing a new pay structure and terms and conditions which will be applicable to this role.  The outcome could result in a future variation to the advertised salary, and this will be discussed at interview.

About us

We're a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we're embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is 'to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive'. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

At West Northants Council, it's about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.