Senior Technical Architect - MHPRA - G7

Location

Leeds

About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking for two Senior Technical Architects 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.  

A Digital Allowance of up to £15,000 per annum may be available for exceptional candidates based on our assessment of your skills and experience. This allowance is non-pensionable and may change on an annual basis. 

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.   

 

The Digital and Technology Group (D&T) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for delivering an optimised IT infrastructure and maximising the secure use of data to enable our scientists, inspectors, and the rest of the organisation to deliver world class services which can improve outcomes for patients and the general public. The Group was essential in the race to approve COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems following our exit from the EU. The work we do matters! 

Job description

What’s the role? 

 

The Technical Architect 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. 

 

This senior position will be responsible for designing and overseeing complex technical solutions that align with public sector requirements, security standards, and modernisation initiatives. 

You will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robust Technical Architectures that protect the Agency’s systems from threats and vulnerabilities. 

 

Your primary goal is to ensure that all IT services and solutions are secure by design and compliant with government security policies and standards. 

 

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. 

 

You will maintain relationships with relevant suppliers, making sure services and products are delivered and aligned to industry best practice and regulatory and contractual requirements. 

 

Key responsibilities:  

 

Technical Architecture Design 

Support the development and maintenance of the technical architecture roadmap, with particular emphasis on cloud migration strategies and hybrid infrastructure to support wider Agency objectives 

Support the development and maintenance of the Technical Architecture Reference Model to ensure it aligns with the IT strategy, government policies, and best practices 

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 

 

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration 

Act as the Senior 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:  

Good IT experience in architectural roles 

Familiarity with UK public sector regulations, standards, and frameworks, such as the Government Digital Service (GDS) and the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) 

Experience with both on-premise and cloud technologies 

Experience in leading cloud migration initiatives and managing hybrid environments 

Strong stakeholder management and communication skills 

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. 

Experience of Healthcare/Medicines/Devices industries, Regulatory bodies desirable but not essential 

 

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