Senior Cloud Architect

Imagine playing a vital role in delivering public services for all!

Are you a Senior Cloud Architect with extensive experience, knowledge, and expertise in building solutions in AWS or Azure? Do you want to transform the way cloud technologies are used across Government and the wider Public Sector in Scotland?

As part of the wider Digital Strategy of the Scottish Government to build a suite of common platforms that help public services to be delivered in a more secure and efficient way, the Scottish Government Digital Directorate successfully launched a shared government cloud platform in 2023. The platform accelerates customer cloud adoption by simplifying access, reducing operational overheads, and supporting higher standards in security, availability, and cost awareness out-of-the-box through the provision of enterprise landing zones and common services on AWS and Azure.

This is an exciting opportunity to enable and advocate for best practice use of leading public cloud service providers across the public sector in Scotland, with excellent opportunities for career development as part of a rapidly growing team.

Our Approach 

Our success is based on trusting and empowering our teams - encouraging flexibility and freedom that you may find surprising in a public sector setting.

Architects are encouraged to continuously assess the technology landscape, run proof-of-concept exercises, and recommend new services and capabilities for the benefit of the platform and our customers. We follow a well-defined, structured, and collaborative approach to validating new services across AWS, Azure, and the wider landscape, working with the engineering and security teams to ensure they meet our key quality criteria. Once accepted, our architects collaborate closely with engineering and security teams to oversee the change throughout the implementation lifecycle.

We adopt an Agile, User First approach continually improving through iteration. We are innovative - committing to changes in established practice which can improve outcomes. And we’re highly collaborative - working in multi-disciplinary teams, learning from, and supporting each other; debating constructively and committing to solutions. Your perspective and work will be valued; you’ll be supported and support others learning from the diverse range of perspectives we bring to our work and colleagues who we work with. 

What do colleagues enjoy about working here?

** Cloud Architect ** 

“Working with new technologies to deliver benefits to people in Scotland". 

"The opportunities to work with a wide range of people with different skills"

"Learning and development is a core value of Scottish Government and there are opportunities to develop.” 

** Cloud Engineer ** 

“Working knowing you are helping a non-profit, public serving organisation can be more satisfying than working for profit driven companies"  

“Work/life balance. Predictable working hours and the availability of flexitime and working from home...”  

“Job security. Not affected by the profits or workflow of private companies - a stable workflow”   

“it's a large organisation and the potential for moving departments/jobs is good. You are not "pigeon- holed"   

“Benefits - Decent amount of annual leave and pension benefits.” 

Hear from colleagues discussing Digital Careers at Scottish Government.

HOW WILL I SPEND MY TIME?

The Senior Cloud Architect role is an integral part of a growing architecture team that is responsible for designing and developing the platform service running on AWS and Azure.

Working with customers to realise the benefits of the platform and public cloud to meet their business requirements. The team provides technical leadership and assurance to colleagues and customers to help ensure all work is aligned with relevant government strategies, policies, and standards.

You may work across multiple domains including application, infrastructure, integration, information systems, and solutions, and may be a specialist in one or more of those areas. You will also collaborate closely with specialist architecture domains including business, cyber security, and data architecture.

You will also help the Lead Cloud Architect to mentor, support and provide assurance to the other architects in the team, helping them to develop their skills and experience in an open and constructive atmosphere.

Your main responsibilities will include:

Designing

• Owning the technical roadmap for services across a defined domain you will be responsible for agreed digital component(s) ensuring the design and solution fit with the wider design, governance, and quality requirements
• Developing and documenting proposed designs for their integration and implementation ensuring they meet security and operational requirements

Collaborating

• Working with and across other areas of DDaT and the business and acting as a subject matter expert you will understand the bigger picture, including wider departmental, organisational, or cross government strategies to ensure your recommendations and designs are aligned.
• Providing proactive guidance to customers, identifying the deeper issues that need resolution and looking for opportunities for collaboration with the ability to identify cases for the reuse of common patterns, components, platforms, or solutions.
• You will communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders and will be expected to build effective partnerships with diverse teams across multiple suppliers, technologies, and locations.

Technical Strategy

• Recommending technologies and improvements to support project goals, based on the analysis of systems’ needs and requirements of the business.
• Contributing to the overall technical strategy and road map for the service in your area of expertise.
• Act as a key contributor to architecture governance activities ensuring the adoption of good working methods and best practice in the application of technology architecture standards.

Continual Improvement

• Evaluating the success of a project, once the solution has been integrated, identifying best practices and lessons learned.

WHAT IMPACT WILL I HAVE?

Over a successful year you will take pride in the continuing success of the Cloud Platform Service and our customers. You will play a critical leadership and assurance role in the wider adoption of cloud services within the public sector.

You will identify, validate, design and document new capabilities and services based leading edge technologies to facilitate the transformation of digital public services for the benefit of the people of Scotland.

Alongside other Senior Cloud Architects you will influence the development of colleagues in the Cloud Architecture team, strengthening our architecture practice and allowing us to better serve our customers. 

GROWTH & OPPORTUNITIES 

As the team are on the forefront of enabling digital change there is opportunity to develop existing skills and knowledge, as well as gain new ones, and as such we provide the opportunity to build skills and knowledge through direct experience with real world deployments. You will also be supported through training and mentoring. 

COMPETENCIES

• Communications and Engagement 
• Improving Performance 
• Analysis and Use of Evidence 
• Leading Others 

If invited to any interview or assessment the panel will be looking for evidence of how you meet the above competencies. More details on these are available in the Person_Specification_Band_C Updated Aug23 (V2)

No formal qualifications are required for this role. We would love you to apply if you meet the following essential criteria. If you would like to chat first, please get in touch

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Evidencing technical leadership qualities, with a passion for delivering leading edge designs, and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solutions.
2. Providing technical leadership and expertise on large projects or critical workstreams in larger programmes.
3. Anticipating and advising on future technology that present opportunities for the product or programme.
4. Designing complex technology solutions recognising time, cost and quality targets and constraints.
5. Defining, owning, and contributing to the technical roadmap and strategy.
6. Demonstrating a detailed knowledge of technical requirements to implement, design and manage associated technologies.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

A meaningful and rewarding career, a collaborative culture and support for your career goals, while promoting a healthy work-life balance. We offer a valuable range of benefits to attract, develop and retain the best talent. These include:

• Salary between £57,141 to £71,243
• £5000 Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement after a 3-month qualifying period ***
• Generous Pension Scheme with employer contribution of 28.9%
• Flexible working arrangements including compressed hours and flexi time, with potential to accrue up to 4 days off a month.
• 36.5 Days Annual Leave - including public and privilege holidays. This increases to 41.5 days after 4-years' service.

*** Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement:

This post attracts a £5000 DDaT pay supplement after a 3 month DDaT competency qualifying period. Pay supplements are temporary payments and are subject to regular review.

To learn more about our full range of benefits, please visit our career's page

REMOTE WORKING

We operate a flexible location policy, with a contractual named base in Scotland of either Atlantic Quay (Glasgow) or Saughton House (Edinburgh).

The team currently works on a hybrid basis and are fully flexible. We meet in person once a week and when it is useful to do so, such as workshops or divisional away day. If you wish, you can work throughout the week at the base office (or another Scottish Government office subject to availability).

Commuting costs to the named base office are not reimbursed and we are unable to provide financial support towards relocation.

While staff are assigned to the base office, there may be a need for travel to other Scottish Government offices/other locations depending on assigned work.

HOW TO APPLY

The Closing Date for applications is 26 May 2024 (11:55pm)

To apply please submit the following using our online application process: -

• A CV (no longer than two A4 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements, with particular reference to the essential criteria
• A Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words) explaining why you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience suitable for this role, with particular reference to the essential criteria.

When reviewing your application, we will be assessing your career history and achievements against the essential criteria for the role. We are looking for examples of things you have previously achieved or your knowledge in a particular field which are relevant to the role. Please review and download links below for further guidance and support with your application.

USEFUL LINKS

How to Apply - Digital Jobs

DDaT_Recruitment_-_Further_Information

Any questions or issues during the process please email digitalcareers@gov.scot    

We are unable to progress applications which fail to provide clear evidence of meeting the essential criteria in their CV and Personal Statement.

Diversity and Inclusion

Delivering a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives, and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, and work to ensure a positive recruitment experience where everyone is treated fairly, and with respect regardless of the outcome.

It’s not essential to be in a similar role right now. You may be working in another field or returning from a career break - the experiences you have gained through this can bring fresh perspectives to our teams and work.

What happens if I am unsuccessful?

We value the time and effort taken in applying to Scottish Government. If following interview and completing our full assessment process, you are not successful we may be able to offer alternative positions.

Firstly, candidates meeting all criteria but scoring lower than appointed candidate(s) are placed on a reserve list for 12 months. If a matching role is identified, we are able to offer this position without the need for further assessment.

Secondly, on occasion a lower grade post may be offered to suitable candidates. Any offers are made in merit order and in line with Civil Service Commission principles on the basis of fair and open competition.

The Scottish Government is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know via  ScottishGovernmentrecruitment@gov.scot

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.

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)
• 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

Sponsorship Information

Changes to legislation concerning Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship were implemented on 04/04/2024. If you think you may require Visa Sponsorship it is important that prior to applying, you read the official Home Office guidance to confirm eligibility.

Any applicants that are not eligible for sponsorship will be withdrawn at either application stage or the point of offer, with any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Currently we do not provide financial support towards relocation

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