Head of Technical Architecture

Head of Technical Architecture
Salary: £57,515 + digital and data allowance of up to £22,885
Multiple locations - Newcastle, Leeds, Oldham, Bristol, Swansea, Nottingham, Birmingham or Yeading - Candidates based in Yeading will receive the London Weighting allowance of £4,000
Full time, 37 hours per week
Hybrid working
Permanent

Overview

Sellick Partnership is delighted to be partnered with the Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA) to recruit a Head of Technical Architecture. The ideal candidate will work within a team of Lead Enterprise Architects and Lead Solution Architects; you will report directly into the Chief Architect and play a vital role within the Architecture Management Office.

Key responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Lead a team who architect cloud based digital services and who are responsible for the creation and maintenance of solution architectures that are coherent, solve complex and high-risk challenges
• Responsible for the team that creates and maintains as-is, transition and to-be Solutions Architectures which meet the needs of DVSA, whilst delivering value for money for their designated business capabilities
• Be responsible for the solution architect team that lead technical designs of systems and services, and who articulate key design decisions effectively
• Provide mentoring within teams and provide leadership to architects within DVSA architecture community

 Required experience/qualifications

Essential qualifications:

• Qualified to a degree level in a Digital Development and Technology discipline (further information can be provided)
• A formal architectural qualification in either BCS, The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), Zachman, or demonstrate experience at an equivalent level
• A a formal cloud architecture qualification either Microsoft Azure Solution Architect Expert and/or AWS Solution Architect Associate or demonstrate experience at an equivalent level
• A formal architecture modelling qualification in either Archimate, UML (Unified Modelling Language) or BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) or demonstrate experience at an equivalent level

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Leading a team of solution architects with strong collaboration skills and understanding of complex technological landscapes
• Liaising with stakeholders and translating business requirements into relevant solution design artefacts that align with an organisations Enterprise Architecture
• Extensive track record in strategizing and executing transformation initiatives, with hands-on involvement in business change efforts leveraging AWS and/or Microsoft Azure cloud ecosystems
• Practical exposure to implementing Solution Architecture frameworks in the context of real-world business transformation scenarios
• You possess the ability to forge connections with stakeholders both within the organization and externally, including suppliers, partners, and customers. Additionally, you excel at facilitating discussions on challenging and intricate subjects, even when faced with tight deadlines, all while effectively managing stakeholder expectations
• Proven expertise in guiding discussions around complex and high-stakes subjects. Capable of manoeuvring within tight time constraints, all while ensuring alignment with project objectives
• Possess robust analytical abilities, encompassing the capacity to gather, analyse, and interpret data to inform evidence-driven decision-making

Benefits of the Head of Technical Architecture role will include

• Pension contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (max 30 days), plus bank holidays
• Access to the staff discount portal
• Career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications
• Range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance

Assessment criteria

• A CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1250 word count) submission
• Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement
• Stage 2: Interview & Assessment/Presentation

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage. Full details on this process is available via the Civil Service Jobs website here.

Complaints Procedure

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 Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 here.

How to apply for the Head of Technical Architecture role

If you have the required experience for this role, please apply within. Alternatively, you can contact Adam Burgess in the Sellick Partnership office for more information on the role or organisation.

Closing date: Sunday 16 November 2025, 23:59pm

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.