Job Description

Security Architect
Fixed Term / Secondment, Full Time
60,049 to 70,645 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: *
This is a 12 month fixed term contract or secondment opportunity.
*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in-person collaboration at our Chelmsford office, typically around 2 to 3 days per month dependent on business need.
Join a Council Shaping the Future of Public Services
Essex County Council (ECC) is on a bold journey to become one of the most effective, forward-thinking, and financially sustainable councils in the UK by 2030. At the heart of this transformation is a bold commitment to digital innovation and world-class customer service.
In this critical role, you'll lead the development of ECC's enterprise Security Architecture, ensuring robust protection of systems, data, and services in an increasingly complex cyber environment. As Security Architect, you'll work closely with the Cyber Security team and senior stakeholders to embed security into every layer of technical design and delivery. Your expertise will help shape ECC's IT strategy, enabling innovation while safeguarding the council's digital assets and citizen data.
Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an enterprise Security Architecture aligned to ECC's strategic goals, reducing the risk of security incidents and ensuring resilience.
• Ensure compliance between business strategies and information security, providing expert guidance and resources to support secure operations across ECC.
• Advise on security strategies to manage risk and ensure adherence to standards, policies, and architectural principles.
• Lead the delivery of security innovation by identifying emerging trends and technologies that enhance ECC's digital services.
• Assess and approve technical designs to ensure conformance with ECC's Security Architecture and effective protection of council data.
• Define and maintain security standards and principles, ensuring consistent application across all technical initiatives.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments, risk analysis, and business impact evaluations to ensure appropriate data protection measures are in place.
• Lead the development of ECC's security capability strategy, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of the organisation.
• Collaborate with internal teams, partners, and suppliers to develop business cases for secure, strategic initiatives aligned with ECC's architecture.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject, with extensive experience in senior security architecture roles.
• Accredited in CISSP or equivalent (e.g. Axelos RESILIA), with working knowledge of frameworks such as TOGAF 9.2, ArchiMate, BPMN, COBIT, and IT4IT.
• Proven track record of delivering successful security solutions in complex environments, enabling standardisation, simplification, and reuse.
• Strong understanding of ICT standards including ITIL V4, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 22301, ISO/IEC 38500, and PRINCE2/MSP.
• Skilled in using enterprise modelling tools such as EA Sparx and Orbus iServer.
• Experience designing systems in line with GDS and Cyber Security Group guidelines.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Committed to continuous professional development and staying current with emerging technologies and delivery practices.

Why Join ECC?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost.
Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working, excellent development opportunities, and the chance to work with a supportive team that's passionate about what they do, Essex is the ideal place for you.
Ready to help shape the future of public services in Essex?
Apply now and become a key player in ECC's digital transformation journey.
What else do you need to know?
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site.
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the , including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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Skills Required