Chief Architect (£69,501 - £98,061)

Government Recruitment Service; Swansea; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Swansea is seeking a Chief Architect to lead the architectural function at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This senior role involves shaping technical services and inspiring teams to deliver on digital transformation strategies that impact millions. The position offers a competitive salary of £69,501 plus up to £28,560 as a Digital and Data allowance. Join a forward-thinking agency focused on modernising services and driving innovation in government.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading architecture functions in a digital context.
• Ability to connect with senior stakeholders to drive architectural strategies.
• Expertise in modernising services and reducing technical costs.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture function ensuring delivery aligned with technology strategy.
• Inspire and guide other architects in achieving organisational goals.
• Oversee development of architectures for complex systems.

Skills

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Digital transformation

Architecture design

Team leadership

Job description

Do you have the vision and technical leadership to shape the future of our digital services?

Can you inspire teams and drive architectural strategies that transform how millions interact with our services?

If so, this is your opportunity to be part of one of the most ambitious digital programmes in government!

Joining our department 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 and 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

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.

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 £69,501. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £28,560.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Responsibilities

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.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.