Lead Technical Architect - MHPRA - G6

Location

Leeds

About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Lead Technical Architect to join our Strategy & Architecture team within the Digital & Technology group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP.  Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. We are open to requests for flexible working. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

This role may be eligible for a Market Pay Supplement (MPS) up to £15,000, subject to approval.

Who are we? 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.  

What’s the role?

As the Lead Technical Architect, you will play a crucial role in shaping and delivering our Agency’s technology vision, focusing on the strategic transition from on-premise to cloud services while ensuring business continuity.

You will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust Technical Architectures that support business needs. This senior position will be responsible for designing and overseeing complex technical solutions that align with public sector requirements, security standards, and modernisation initiatives.

This role requires a strategic thinker with deep technical knowledge, an understanding of emerging threats, and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to embed security principles throughout the IT landscape.

Job description

Key responsibilities: 

Technical Architecture Design
Develop and maintain a comprehensive Technical Architecture Reference Model that aligns with the IT strategy, government policies, and best practices.

Lead the development and maintenance of the technical architecture roadmap, with particular emphasis on cloud migration strategies and hybrid infrastructure to support wider Agency objectives.
Provide technical governance and oversight across IT projects, ensuring solutions meet security, scalability, and compliance requirements specific to UK public sector standards (including GDS standards and Technology Code of Practice).
Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies, cloud services, and architectural patterns that could benefit the Agency, maintaining awareness of technology trends and best practices.
Mentor and guide development teams, project managers, and other technical staff, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence while ensuring knowledge transfer across the Agency.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration

Act as the Lead Technical Architect for project teams, providing expert guidance on requirements, design considerations, and risk management.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure technical architecture is integrated into all aspects of the Agency’s digital transformation initiatives.
Influence and educate technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques?.
Mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Proactively identify opportunities to improve the technical architecture and reduce risk through innovation, new technologies, and process improvements.
Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in Technical Architecture, bringing forward recommendations for improvement.

Person specification

Our successful candidate will have:

Significant IT experience in architectural roles
Extensive experience with both on-premise and cloud technologies
Experience in leading cloud migration initiatives and managing hybrid environments
Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies
Track record of delivering complex technical solutions, within a public sector environment is desirable but not essential
Proven experience designing and implementing secure cloud architectures and understanding of cloud security principles across major cloud platforms
Advanced knowledge of cloud platforms, with specific expertise in Microsoft Azure
Strong technical skills across multiple domains, including infrastructure design, application architecture, data architectures, and cybersecurity principles

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please click here for further details.