Solution Architect -IT (Permanent & fixed term contract)

Solicitors Regulation Authority; West Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Solicitors Regulation Authority is seeking an experienced Solution Architect to design and deliver high-quality Microsoft-centric solutions, spanning localised projects to enterprise platforms. You will work with stakeholders to align architecture with business goals and drive governance across the portfolio.

You will shape requirements, produce design artefacts, and collaborate with the team to resolve dependencies while ensuring secure, scalable outcomes across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering solution architecture across complex portfolios, local and enterprise-scale.
• Strong stakeholder influence and communication skills across senior levels.
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft-centric platforms (Dynamics 365, Azure, M365, SharePoint).
• Broad capability across business, data, application and technology architecture domains.
• Ability to align solutions with enterprise strategy and governance frameworks.
• Strong written and visual design artefact creation and review discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical design and delivery for assigned projects while embedding architecture standards.
• Ensure designs align with SRA architecture principles and business objectives.
• Escalate design challenges to Lead Solution Architect and support capacity planning.
• Produce high-quality solution design artefacts and obtain governance approvals.
• Coordinate across projects to identify dependencies and reuse opportunities.
• Define end-to-end solution designs from shaping requirements to live deployment.

Skills

Stakeholder influence

People skills

Analytical thinking

Architectural capability

Delivery management

Communication skills

Tools

Dynamics 365 (CRM)

Azure

Microsoft 365

SharePoint

Job description

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: .

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

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To find out more about the recruitment and selection process and how to make the most of your application, please visit our jobs pages.