Chief Architect

Inspire People; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 69,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a Chief Architect to modernize digital services. The role involves leading architecture, engaging stakeholders, and driving technological innovation. Candidates should possess significant architecture expertise, exceptional leadership abilities, and the capacity to communicate complex strategies. This position offers a competitive salary and flexible working options, including a hybrid model requiring at least 60% presence in Swansea.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Significant architecture expertise with hands-on experience in real-world systems.
• Exceptional leadership and proven ability to lead skilled architecture teams.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical strategies to non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture function ensuring high-quality delivery aligned to tech strategy.
• Inspire teams and provide strategic technical leadership.
• Oversee external suppliers maintaining robust, scalable, and secure reference architecture.

Skills

Technical expertise

Leadership

Influencing skills

Communication

Job description

Are you an Enterprise Architect with the vision and technical leadership to shape the future of DVLA's digital services as Chief Architect? Can you inspire teams and drive architectural strategies that transform how millions interact with DVLA's services? If so, this is your opportunity to be part of one of the most ambitious digital programmes in government! Hybrid working (minimum 60% of time in Swansea) with a basic in the region of £69,501 to £98,061 plus a generous Civil Service Pension of 28.97%.

About You

As Chief Architect within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), you'll be at the heart of modernising services used by millions of people every day. This senior leadership role is pivotal in shaping technical services and selecting platforms and technologies that meet organisational needs and deliver outstanding user experiences. It requires engaging and influencing senior leaders, Executive and Board level stakeholders to secure alignment and buy-in for architectural strategies that drive digital transformation across the organisation.

You will be responsible for leading the architecture function ensuring the high-quality delivery is aligned to our technology strategy.

The role requires an equal balance of technical expertise, the ability to work with stakeholders and lead teams delivering in a rapidly changing and evolving technology landscape. You will play a key part in reducing technical costs, supporting migration from legacy systems and positioning DVLA as a leading digital organisation.

As Chief Architect your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Network and communicate with senior stakeholders across organisations. Overseeing any prospective information gathering and scene setting meetings with other government departments, evaluating technical proposals and acting as arbiter in making recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Proactively seek opportunities for digital transformation, directing the development of Architectures for complex systems and ensuring consistency with specified requirements agreed with internal and external customers.
• Support multiple teams, finding and using best practice and emerging technologies. Overseeing work with external suppliers to ensure that DVLA's reference architecture is robust, scalable, open and secure, with appropriate overall system design and integration points/APIs, to deliver a high-quality user experience.
• Inspire other architects and help them understand how to deliver the goals of the organisation, providing Strategic technical leadership, in the development, operation and ongoing improvement of complex, transformational digital services that serve millions of users.
• Be responsible for Architectural governance, solving complex and high-risk issues or delivering architecture design. Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

Person specification

• We're looking for someone with significant Architecture expertise with hands-on experience in real-world systems. You will have proven experience in shaping technical services and selecting platforms and technologies that meet organisational requirements and user needs.
• You will have exceptional leadership and influencing skills and a proven ability to lead skilled architecture teams in fast‑paced, evolving technology landscape. You will align business strategies with technology direction, setting standards that enable transformation and innovation.
• You will have a proven ability to communicate complex technical strategies and business impacts to non‑technical audiences, including the senior team and Executive level stakeholders, inspiring confidence and commitment.

Joining the DVLA comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. Read more in the Benefits section below! Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Visa Sponsorship

Please take note that DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency requirement - if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.

The interviews will take place from 30th January 2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office (DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL).

Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.