Vacancy -- Solutions Architect

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

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

Vacancy Details

Permanent Secretary's Group
ICT
SEO - £41,700 - £49,370
£39,310
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales, Other location
Whilst this is a Pan Wales posts, some presence will be required at the WG Cardiff office to participate in technical reviews and briefings with third parties. The frequency of the on-site attendance will be agreed prior to the commencement of the post, in line with the latest Covid-19 guidance.
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government has made significant improvements to its ICT technology over the last few years and is considered to be one of the leading UK public sector organisations in terms of Digital and ICT capability.  WG has recently completed a number of ICT projects such as the move to Exchange 365, the transition away from GSI email, the rollout of new laptops to all WG staff (enabling flexible working) and the completion of a major application migration to Microsoft Azure.  This has been captured in a GDS case study on best practice examples of Cloud migration (see https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/how-the-welsh-government-migrated-their-technology-to-the-cloud)

The Solutions Architect role is part of the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession in Welsh Government (WG). The Solutions Architect will execute complex projects by studying and understanding clients’ requirements, identifying gaps (if any) between clients’ requirements and system functionalities, and defining solutions to bridge the gap.

Key tasks:

  • Liaise with clients and business representatives to understand the needs of business.
  • Liaise with other professionals to design solution architecture for businesses and clients.
  • Ensure compliance to solution architectural design in the implementation of projects.
  • Provide architectural guidance to the project team.
  • Render consulting and technical support services on project implementation to the project team.
  • Explain technical issues and IT solution strategies to stakeholders and other IT professionals.
  • Keep accurate record of materials used, expected deliverables, and milestones achieved.
  • Ensure that solution milestones are accomplished at the right time.
  • Guide the activities of the solution architecture unit to ensure timely completion of projects.
  • Ensure that solution architecture (software and programs) designed are in sync with business needs and hardware.
  • Review the proposal of vendors and suppliers to ensure that quality inputs are delivered at the least possible cost.
  • Monitor the activities of external programmers or developers on IT solution projects.
  • Identify and mitigate existing business risk or risks associated with solution architecture.

Development opportunities:

You can expect to be supported to establish yourself in the grade, and be the best that you can be.  You will be encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for continuous development, and to offer the opportunity for others to learn from you as you progress.

Closing Date:

14/08/2020, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Keeping in mind the Key Tasks above, you should present your Personal Statement in context of the following 5 Behaviours:

Turning Business Problems into Technical Design – You can design systems characterised by medium levels of risk, impact and business or technical complexity.

Making and Guiding Decisions – You can recommend decisions as risk and complexity increase.

Leadership – You consider the impacts of own and team’s activities on stakeholders and end users.

Managing a Quality Service – You successfully deliver high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money.

Changing and Improving – You clearly explain the reasons for change to colleagues and how to implement them, supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to change.

Assessment Process

Throughout the entire assessment process, candidates will be assessed against Behaviours from the Civil Service Success Profile and the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) framework.

Leadership, Managing a Quality Service, Changing & Improving, Communicating & Influencing, Developing Self and Others, Turning Business Problems into Technical Design and Making and Guiding Decisions.

 

Sift Stage

You should use the template provided to submit your Personal Statement and CV

Your Personal Statement will be assessed in two stages:

Stage 1

An initial sift will be carried out against the two DDaT Behaviours included in the ‘Competency / Job Specific Criteria' section. These are:

  • Turning Business Problems into Technical Design
  • Making and Guiding Decisions

Stage 2

The Personal Statement of candidates who have passed the first stage of the sift will then be further assessed against the three Success Profile Behaviours included in the ‘Competency / Job Specific Criteria’ section. These are:

  • Leadership
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Changing & Improving

Your Personal Statement should not exceed 1500 words - any content that exceeds the 1500 word limit will be discounted.

Your CV will be used to help inform the panel of your career history, however it will not contribute to your overall sift score. CV's should be no longer than 2 sides of A4

If you are successful at sift, you will not be able to request your sift scores until the full assessment process has completed as some of your sift scores will contribute to your overall assessment mark.

 

Assessment Stage

All candidates that are successful at sift, will be invited to participate in an assessment event. This will consist of three parts:

  • Part 1 – Technical Exercise Preparation (remote video session using Microsoft Teams, no panel)
  • Part 2 – Technical Exercise Feedback and Presentation (remote video session using Microsoft Teams with Technical Panel)
  • Part 3 – Interview (remote video session using Microsoft Teams with Interview Panel)

Further details of the assessment stage will be shared with successful candidates following the sift.

Final Outcome

Following the assessment events, outcomes will be issued as soon as possible.

Reserve List

Unsuccessful candidates who have achieved the minimum score across all required behaviours will have the opportunity to be held on a WG ‘reserve’ list for 12 months from the date of the outcomes being issued. If additional roles become available or existing roles become vacant during this time, WG may offer the role to the highest scoring candidate on the reserve list. If they decline, WG may offer the role to the next highest scoring candidate and so on.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

Benefits

  • Starting salary of £39,310
  • 31 days holiday (plus 10 public and privilege holidays)
  • Permanent position
  • Personal development budget
  • Home working
  • The latest ICT kit
  • Death in service cover
  • Flexible working hours
  • Cycle to Work Scheme - a brand new bike up to £1000, saving at least 32%
  • Childcare Vouchers Scheme, saving up to £933/year
  • Contributory pension scheme

Meleri.Jones@gov.wales

How to apply

Please upload your evidence in the 'Attach Competency/Job Specific Criteria Evidence' section of the online application form. Please use the template provided

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Behaviours Framework as well as the Digital Data and Technology Framework.

**Please note:  If you already have an Appoint account and would like to update your username and e-mail address to the new @gov.wales address, simply log in using your old details, click on your name in the menu bar, and select ‘Edit Personal Details’ in the dropdown list.  You can update any of your registered personal details on this page.**

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.