Job Description

Details

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Reference number

426872
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Salary

54,416 - 68,344
Per annum, Pro Rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Grade 7###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Architecture and Data###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf or Colindale), Porton (Core HQs and Scientific Campus')

About the job

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Job summary

The UKHSA Data Design & Architecture (DD&A) team is responsible for supporting data architecture and data solutions across the organisation. We are a small team of solution architects, data architects, and data modellers. We also work closely with other parts of the organisation who also are involved in development and maintenance of infrastructure and software, including Programme Teams, Engineering & Enablement, Surveillance Systems, Data Services & Quality, Genomics, Enterprise Architecture and the Development and Operations team.


The DD&A team supervises and actively develops solutions and data architecture which meet both our own and wider strategies and design principles/blueprints. We also work on solution migration, consolidation, transformation, improvement, stabilisation, and decommissioning. We are seeking solution architects with AWS/Azure experience.


This role will be a senior solution architect with direct accountability for specific solutions.


As a Senior Solution Architect, you will be responsible for designing and leading the delivery of strategic technology solution across our hybrid cloud estate (AWS, Azure, and On-Premises environments). You'll work closely with delivery teams, data engineers, analysts, and other architects to define how systems should be built, integrated, and secured. You'll take end-to-end ownership of solution design for key health data platforms, collaborating with technical teams and senior stakeholders across the organisation.


You'll focus on practical design, supporting delivery across health data platforms - working on things like secure data pipelines, APIs, HL7 feeds, research datasets, or cloud-based services in Azure & AWS. You will help modernise our architecture, strengthen integration, and ensure that everything we build aligns with best practice, government architecture standards, and our evolving data strategy. It's ideal for someone with technical/architectural experience in healthcare, public health, research or University environments who wants to shape how systems work.


We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.


UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

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Job description

As part of our Solution Architect Team, you'll work closely with stakeholders and technology professionals to ensure that DD&A solutions meet the business and technology requirements.


You will develop solution designs across AWS, Azure, and on-premises infrastructure, ensuring the most effective use of components which also meet current and future requirements. You will be responsible for ensuring that solutions are properly elaborated and documented, reporting to the Lead Solution Architect on progress, and leading the delivery of solutions on daily stand-ups. You will also co-present these solutions for review to the appropriate governance bodies for approval.


When required, you will also support implementation of architecture, lending expertise to ensure any implementation challenges are overcome while aligning to the approved architecture

Lead architecture and solution design for critical digital and data platforms across cloud (AWS, Azure) and hybrid environments. Translate complex business needs into practical, secure, and scalable solutions. Help document current systems and propose improvements. Contribute to architectural diagrams, solution options, and technical write-ups. Own and maintain architectural artefacts including solution blueprints, patterns, and decision records using tools like LeanIX and confluence. Present solutions at architecture and governance boards, ensuring alignment to UKHSA principles and the Government Digital service (GDS) standards. Act as a technical design authority during delivery - ensuring implementation align with approved designs and can be iterated on effectively. Lead architectural input for specific strategic domains, such as:
+ Data Lifecycle management
+ Enterprise data catalogues and metadata platforms.
Master and reference data management. Build trusted relationship with enterprise architecture, engineering, DevOps, privacy, and programme teams. Gathering, analysing, and documenting requirements for solutions across cloud and on-premises infrastructure Confluence and LeanIX Creating and managing solution designs for required solutions Creating design patterns and blueprints for solution architecture Aligning to best practice using TOGAF and Government Digital Services frameworks Identifying opportunities for improvement in current solution architecture Meeting tactical requirements where applicable with strategic thinking

Senior Responsibilities

Taking a specific area of accountability on data ecosystem solution architecture, e.g., master data management, reference data management, enterprise data catalogue, metadata Taking a specific area of responsibility in organisation wide data policies, e.g., data privacy, data archival, data lifecycle management, data processing, data analysis Ensuring specific areas of accountability and responsibility are accurately reflected in Enterprise Data tooling, including LeanIX enterprise architecture diagrams, data solution and data platform reference models, architecture principles, blueprints and implementation patterns Building strong relationships with equal grade counterparts, e.g., enterprise architecture, information management and privacy, engineering and enablement, and DevOps ###

Person specification

Essential criteria:

Proven experience designing end-to-end solutions in AWS or Azure (Certifications desirable). Strong understanding of common architectural design patterns (e.g., layered architecture, even-driven architecture, microservices, serverless, data mesh) and the ability to apply them to real-world solutions. Strong understanding of data platform architecture, including pipelines, APIs, and integration patterns. Hand-on experience using enterprise architecture tools (e.g., LeanIX). Experience translating requirements into detailed designs and blueprints. Experience working in complex, matrixed organisations - ideally with public sector, health, or regulated data. Comfortable working with delivery teams and stakeholders to translate requirements into working designs. Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues in simple terms.

Desirable criteria:

Previous experience working with health or research data, Certified Data Management Professional (CDM). Experience with integration tools, data pipelines, or ETL platforms. Exposure to Solutions/ Data architecture methods. Experience working alongside agile delivery teams. Involvement in pre-sales or procurement discussions - such as helping scope requirements, reviewing contracts, or supporting responses.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 54,416, UK Health Security Agency contributes 15,764 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.


The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria

The following will be taken through to the next stage:

Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:

Proven experience designing end-to-end solutions in AWS or Azure (Certifications desirable). Strong understanding of common architectural design patterns (e.g., layered architecture, even-driven architecture, microservices, serverless, data mesh) and the ability to apply them to real-world solutions.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.


If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.


Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.


Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.


Behaviours, technical skills, and experience, will be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing - Lead behaviour Working at Pace Working Together Developing Self and Others

Eligibility Criteria - External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's.


We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale OR Porton).


Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.


The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard OR Counter-terrorist Check if you are based at a scientific site.


For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC). UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


Link below:


Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Gurkamal Bhambra Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk ###

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk