About the job

Job summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Digital, Data and Technology Services (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group.

We have around 1,200 colleagues across DDTS and our ambition is to make it easier and faster than ever for people to interact with Defra. If you are ready to drive innovation and push boundaries, we want to hear from you. Join us and together we will create a great place for living, and a green and healthy future for all.

Find out more about DDTS:

Defra digital, data and techology blog

LinkedIn 

Defra Jobs 

Job description

Do you want to drive architecting innovative solutions and shaping the future of technology which delivers transformative change to citizens in key areas such as Sustainability, Farming and Key Environmental protection areas?

The Defra Cloud Centre of Excellence (CCoE) within Group Infrastructure and Operations (GIO) are looking for a dynamic and skilled M365 Architect to join an exciting opportunity to shape DEFRAs future collaboration applications and services.

The CCoE architecture team provide design, technical leadership, governance, and drive transformation to help to match business needs with high-quality cloud solutions.

In Defra you will work with projects and programmes of all scales to deliver end-to-end infrastructure solution architectures and implement designs based on requirements, strategic drivers, best practice, and guidance. This will take the form of a mixture of business as usual and project work focussed on the Microsoft 365 platform.

In this role you will be involved in managing Defra’s M365 roadmap on a day-to-day basis, overseeing the monitoring, planning, and implementation of updates, features, and enhancements within the M365 suite. As well as working on meaningful projects, you can expect some great benefits such as a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% and flexible working options such as condensed hours, part-time and flexi time.

Join our team of cloud architects as we embark on a transformative journey to trial and rollout innovative solutions like Copilot and M365 Groups to align with our evolving needs and current business requirements.

Please note this post requires Security Check (SC) clearance. To gain (SC) clearance all applicants are required to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 5 years. If this requirement is not met, the individual will not be able to progress their application further.

 

Person specification

Responsibilities

• Managing Defra’s M365 roadmap. Overseeing the monitoring, planning, and implementation of updates, features, and enhancements within the M365 suite. 
• Collaborate with a team of cloud architects to design and implement cutting-edge solutions for collaboration applications and services within DEFRA.
• Lead the development and delivery of strategic roadmaps for M365, ensuring alignment with business goals and requirements.
• Play a pivotal role in the deployment of new technologies, with a focus on Microsoft M365, to enhance efficiency.
• Cover the end-to-end solution across a range of technical domains but may only be responsible for one part of that solution.

Skills and experience

• Experience of designing and building Microsoft 365 architectures in support of IT programmes and projects.
• A practical understanding of architectural models of application and solution delivery.
• Hands-on experience and knowledge of the Microsoft 365 platform.
• An understanding of the technical implications of delivering across infrastructure and cloud (or hybrid) environments.
• Some project planning experience.

Selection process

The Civil Service marks each element of the selection process on a merit basis. You can visit the gov.uk website for further information on the Civil Service rating scale.

Ensure you have tailored your CV and Personal Statement to the 'skills and experience' section of the job advert by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role using the STAR method. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet these requirements, as the information you provide will form a key part when the panel is scoring your application.

For further information on STAR, you can check out our Hints and Tips document.

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your Experience and will be asked to complete:

• A CV
• A 500-word statement of suitability, demonstrating how you meet the following Technical Skill through the use of relevant examples:

1. You can translate technical concepts relating to software engineering, delivery management and service management so they are understood by all. You can mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels (Communicating between the technical and non-technical [technical architect] – Practitioner).

Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your statement of suitability, how you meet these requirements, as, the information you provide will form a key part when the panel is scoring your application.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form

Sift

Sift will begin shortly after the advert closes.

Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment or interview.

Interview

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Technical Skills listed below.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. The technical skills are aligned with the DDaT framework for the Senior Technical Architect profession. To find out more about them, please visit the website.

Interviews dates are to be confirmed. Please note that these may be subject to change.

Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.

For further information on Success Profiles, you visit the links below and watch our videos on DefraJobs.

Behaviours

Experience

Technical

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

For further information on the selection process for this role, please refer to the person specification section of the job advert.

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) supplement

This post offers successful candidates the opportunity to be considered for an additional Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Skills Supplement. The level of the awarded supplement is determined following a separate skills assessment process, the outcome of which has no impact on the decision to make a job offer. This digital capability supplement ranges from £0 to £13,000 and you may be awarded a pay supplement within this range based on results of your additional skills assessment.

Location

Defra operate a blended working policy subject to business need. Individuals are expected to work from any Defra office to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split working week, spending minimum 60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.

Our main Defra DDTS hubs are in York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol.

Please also be aware that space within the London office is restricted and it may not be possible to be based in this location.

Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace or office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

London location

To work from 2 Marsham Street, London, you will require the higher level of counter-terrorist check (CTC) clearance. Therefore, confirmation of appointment to the advertised post will be dependent upon successful CTC clearance being confirmed as part of pre-employment checks.  

Visa sponsorship statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence and are unable to sponsor any individuals for skilled worker sponsorship.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service (GRS) via DefraRecruitment.GRS@CabinetOffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a language service professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another government department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal fraud database check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the internal fraud database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility on the Childcare Choices website.

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 security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.