Vacancy -- Chief Architect

'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.

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 Chief Architect role is part of the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession in Welsh Government (WG). The Chief Architect is responsible for delivering governance, advice and support to clients across all WG departments and ensuring that the ICT Strategy is agreed and followed.

• Define the standards and policies for the overall structure of IT programs or systems across Welsh Government.
• Network and communicate with senior stakeholders across organisations and proactively seek out opportunities for ICT/Digital transformation.
• Support multiple teams, finding and using best practice and emerging technologies.
• Lead and inspire other architects and help them understand how to deliver the goals of the organisation.
• Promote and support diversity within the team and create an inclusive working environment where everyone feels able to participate and achieve their potential.
• Be responsible for governance, solving complex and high risk issues or delivering architecture design.
• Research and recommend emerging technologies, toolsets, applications, and systems, considering factors such as cost savings, user adoption, standardization/simplification, flexibility and reuse.
• Ensure that new systems and application development conforms to the current ICT Security and Cyber standards.
• Act as the ICT subject matter expert to support the business, architects and the wider ICT function as required, attending to complex inquiries and problems; respond to escalated issues and negotiate solutions based on customer needs and organisational policies.
• Review application/product changes and provide feedback to improve the overall product development.
• Conduct cost-benefit analysis to determine the viability of IT project taking into account business need, timescales and availability of resources.
• Recommend solutions and vendors to utilize in executing a project to ensure strategic fit and value for money.
• Identify technical issues and effect changes to avert future problems and security implications to ensure system availability and cyber assurance.

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.

14/08/2020, 16:00

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:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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.**

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.