About the job

Job summary

The Government People Group exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service.

We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

Within GPG, the Platforms, Data and Interoperability (PD&I) directorate provides first-class platforms and services for over 400,000 civil servants, including recruitment, data analysis, skills and learning solutions.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Architect or an architect looking to take the next step in their career, to join our Architecture Services Team and play a critical role in governing and assuring technological solutions for the GPG enterprise that use the power of advanced technologies. As we expand our digital transformation initiatives, we are seeking a skilled individual with expertise in AWS and other key systems to join our dynamic team

Job description

Reporting to the Head of Architecture Services, the role of Technical Architect will have an expanded set of responsibilities, including:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop and define technical architecture and infrastructure strategies and designs.
• Design, converge, govern, and assure scalable and secure AWS solutions, considering best practices and compliance requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Perform detailed analysis of business requirements and recommend appropriate technology solutions.
• Assure technical and integration designs, ensuring seamless data exchange between systems such as ServiceNow, Salesforce, learning platforms, and other key applications.
• Conduct system performance evaluations and recommend improvements to optimise the efficiency and scalability of our live digital services.
• Lead the design, change and assurance process for AWS solutions, ensuring alignment with business objectives and best practices.
• Act as a subject matter expert in AWS, providing guidance and technical support to development teams and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

Stay updated on emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to continually enhance technical expertise

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you should possess the following skills and qualities:

Essential Criteria:

• Extensive experience in designing and implementing AWS solutions, including architecture, deployment, and management.
• Strong understanding of key AWS services, such as EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, and VPC, along with hands-on experience in utilising these services effectively.
• Proven experience in integrating AWS with other systems, such as ServiceNow, Salesforce, integrations hubs, learning experience platforms, etc.
• Proficiency in crafting architectural designs, utilising AWS Well-Architected Framework principles and architectural patterns.
• Strong knowledge of DevOps practices and tools, including CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code (IaC), and automation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to analyse complex technical issues and provide innovative solutions.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and coordinate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria:

• AWS certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional.
• Experience in AWS infrastructure cost optimisation and resource management.
• Familiarity with additional cloud platforms like Azure or Google Cloud Platform.
• Exposure to other key systems such as learning experience platforms, ERP systems, or CRM systems.
• Knowledge of identity and access management, security best practices, and data privacy regulations

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500 word personal statement as well as three technical questions at interview. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Your CV and Personal Statement are your opportunities to show us how your experience means that you meet the criteria for this role.

Your CV should cover your skills, qualifications, job history, and achievements to date and your Personal Statement is the chance to further expand on this and give specific examples of where you have demonstrated the desired skills. Giving examples rather than just saying you're experienced with a certain requirement will strengthen your statement and enable the sift panel to understand more about your suitability for the role. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and three technical questions relevant to the role. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – [TBC]

Expected interview date/s – [TBC]

Interview location - Virtual

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances 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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

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 via cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

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

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.