Solution Architect -IT (Permanent & fixed term contract)

The Law Society; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Solicitors Regulation Authority in Birmingham is recruiting a Solution Architect to design and deliver high-quality Microsoft-centric technology solutions, ranging from targeted local applications to enterprise platforms. You will lead technical design across projects, embed architecture standards, and work with stakeholders at all levels to align solutions with enterprise strategy and business goals.

This hybrid role offers a mix of Birmingham office days and home-working, a competitive

Qualifications

• Proven experience in end-to-end solution architecture across local and enterprise platforms.
• Strong Microsoft-centric background with Dynamics 365, Azure, M365, and SharePoint expertise.
• Ability to translate business challenges into scalable, secure technology designs.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical design for assigned projects and embed architecture standards.
• Ensure designs align with enterprise architecture and business objectives.
• Produce design artefacts and collaborate with other architects to resolve dependencies.
• Support capacity planning and demand for solution architects across services.
• Own end-to-end solution delivery from shaping requirements to live deployment.

Skills

Microsoft-centric architecture

Stakeholder management

Solution design

Enterprise architecture

Tools

Dynamics 365

Azure

Microsoft 365

SharePoint

Job description

Solution Architect -IT (Permanent & fixed term contract)

Contract Type Permanent

Working Pattern Full time

Working Hours 35 hours per week

£62,970.13 per annum

Location Options Birmingham with part of the week working from home

Function Type Corporate Functions (HR, Finance, Project Management, IT, Risk and Audit)

Solution Architect

Are you passionate about designing and delivering high-quality technology solutions—from targeted local applications to enterprise-scale platforms that enable organisational transformation?

Are you an experienced Solution Architect with a strong Microsoft-centric background who can work closely with stakeholders and come up with solutions to business challenges?

If you're ready to help shape and deliver innovative technology solutions, we have opportunities available for Solution Architects on both a permanent basis and a two-year fixed-term contract.

The role

As a Solution Architect under IT Department, you will report to the Lead Solution Architect and provide solution architecture expertise across assigned projects spanning the business, data, application and technology domains. You will produce design documents and related artefacts that ensure alignment with organisational objectives and support the delivery of both localised solutions and enterprise-wide platforms. Working collaboratively with other architects in the team, you will help resolve technical challenges.

You will raise any technical dependencies as they arise during delivery with the Lead Solution Architect and contribute to resolve these dependencies by suggesting solutions.

Operating across a Microsoft-centric landscape, you will shape and deliver solutions ranging from discrete, business-focused applications to integrated enterprise ecosystems, ensuring alignment to business strategy, enterprise architecture, and long-term technology roadmaps.

You will need to:

• Be the Solution Architect for assigned projects, leading technical design and delivery while establishing and embedding architecture standards, governance, processes and best-practice ways of working across local and enterprise solutions
• Ensure that solution design aligns with SRA’s architecture principles, standards, enterprise architecture and business objectives
• Escalate complex solution design challenges to the Lead Solution Architect across both tactical and strategic objectives
• Support the Lead Solution Architect in managing demand for SA’s, and forward capacity planning across solution architecture services
• Produce high-quality solution design artefacts that are peer reviewed across the team before seeking governance approvals
• Help support the Lead Solution Architect with ‘joining the dots’ across projects, programmes
• Support with product roadmaps to identify dependencies, duplication, and reuse opportunities across the enterprise
• As a Solution Architect and take ownership of the end-to-end solution delivery i.e. From shaping requirements through to design and implementation through to assurance and transition into live environments
• Define high and low-level solution designs, translating requirements into cost-effective, scalable and secure solutions at both local and enterprise scale
• Ensure strong integration, interoperability and data flow across systems, platforms and third-party services
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, influencing decision-making at senior levels
• Support supplier engagement, procurement, and assurance of third-party solution delivery

What is in it for you

• Gain the opportunity to influence the direction of the Solution Architecture function across local solutions and enterprise-scale platforms
• Strengthen your professional profile by producing high-quality designs and championing best practices and helping set architecture standards across the organisation
• Grow as a trusted Solution Architect by sharing your expertise and building capabilities and influencing the development of the Solution Architect function aligned with the SRA’s business strategy
• Seek support as desired for technical training including emerging areas such as AI that can help drive meaningful outcomes for both the organisation and its stakeholders
• Shape technology solutions that contribute directly to the SRA's mission of protecting consumers and supporting trust and confidence in legal services
• Drive innovation and transformation initiatives while operating within a complex regulatory environment
• Work with senior leaders and delivery teams to influence technology strategy and ensure solutions deliver measurable business value
• Play as “Technical owner” role in designing secure, scalable, and sustainable solutions that support the organisation's future ambitions

What we are looking for

• Proven experience in solution architecture delivery
  Experience in Solution architecture across complex portfolios, spanning both localised and enterprise-scale solutions.
• Strong people skills and stakeholder influence
  Demonstrated ability to build relationships, develop rapport, and influence teams and senior stakeholders at all levels.
• Expertise in Microsoft-centric architecture solutions
  Hands-on experience designing business solutions using Microsoft centric platforms such as Dynamics 365 (CRM), Azure, Microsoft 365, and SharePoint.
• Broad architectural capability across domains
  Solid experience spanning business, data, application, and technology architecture, with an understanding of governance frameworks and delivery models.
• Strategic alignment and delivery management
  Ability to manage competing priorities, align solutions to enterprise strategy, and deliver scalable, integrated, future-proof outcomes.
• Strong analytical thinking and communication skills
  Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and the ability to clearly translate complex technical designs into business-focused outcomes, with high attention to quality.

Useful and additional information

There is a full role profile attached to the bottom of this advert on our website. If you have any questions that aren’t in this advert or on our website, please contact us via: [e-mail] .

This is a hybrid role based in our Birmingham office one to two days a week and from home the rest of the week.

Interested to know more about our workplace? Visit our video page for more information.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience in solution architecture across complex portfolios, spanning both localised and enterprise-scale solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement solutions end-to-end
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with stakeholders at all levels and influence teams
• Hands-on experience designing business solutions using Microsoft Centric platforms such as Dynamics 365, Azure, Microsoft 365, and SharePoint.
• Solid experience spanning business, data, application, and technology architecture, with an understanding of governance frameworks and delivery models.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, align solutions to enterprise strategy, and deliver scalable, integrated, future-proof outcomes.
• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and the ability to clearly translate complex technical designs into business-focused outcomes, with high attention to quality

The SRA is the independent regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, protecting consumers and supporting the rule of law and the administration of justice. We do this by overseeing all education and training requirements necessary to practise as a solicitor, licensing individuals and firms to practise, setting the standards of the profession and regulating and enforcing compliance against these standards.

We offer an inclusive, supportive and friendly working environment and the chance to develop your career within a professional organisation. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of staff, helping everyone to strike a good balance between personal and professional life.
Additionally, we provide a generous flexible benefits package, an excellent defined contribution pension scheme and an additional 3% of annual basic salary upon successful completion of probation.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Diversity and inclusion is central to everything we do. We are actively committed to promoting and participating in good practice in the way that we attract, recruit and retain staff.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their whole self to work because we appreciate the value that a truly diverse workforce brings to an organisation. We celebrate difference, recognising the benefits this brings to our inclusive culture, including age, disability, gender identity and expression, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation and socio economic background.

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