We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.
Solutions
Architect
Salary: £54,143 – £59,748 per
annum, with an additional £10,000 Market Forces Supplement (MFS).
Directorate: Resources
Reports to: Head of Digital & Data
Location: Chesterfield
Politically Restricted: No
Shape the
technology architecture of a new organisation.
The East
Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is building an organisation with an
ambitious vision for the region — making the East Midlands more prosperous,
sustainable and fairer, while creating opportunities for people and businesses.
Technology will
be fundamental to achieving that ambition.
We are looking
for an experienced and forward-thinking Solutions Architect to provide
strategic and technical leadership across EMCCA's digital and technology
landscape.
This is an
exciting opportunity to help shape the architecture of a new organisation from
the ground up, designing secure, scalable, integrated and future-ready
technology solutions that support public service transformation and EMCCA's
wider regional ambitions.
The role
As Solutions
Architect, you will operate at both a strategic and delivery level, translating
organisational priorities into robust technical solutions.
You will define
and maintain architecture standards, frameworks and governance, while providing
expert assurance across programmes, projects, procurements and technology
investments.
Working closely
with senior leaders, internal teams, local authority partners, government
bodies and technology suppliers, you will ensure that technology decisions are
aligned to business needs, statutory requirements, security standards and
long-term value.
You'll have the
opportunity to influence everything from enterprise architecture and cloud
strategy through to data, integration, cybersecurity, infrastructure and
business applications.
This is a role
for someone who can see the bigger picture while also getting into the detail
when required.
What you'll
be doing
Your
responsibilities will include:
- Defining and maintaining EMCCA's
enterprise architecture framework, standards and governance processes.
- Developing technology roadmaps
aligned to organisational priorities, transformation plans and available
budgets.
- Providing architectural leadership
across major digital transformation programmes.
- Designing high-level and detailed
solution architectures, including logical, physical, data and integration
models.
- Designing secure, scalable and
resilient solutions across cloud, applications, data and infrastructure.
- Championing cloud-first approaches
across IaaS, PaaS and SaaS environments.
- Developing integration strategies
using APIs, middleware, microservices, event-driven architecture and data
exchange standards.
- Embedding secure-by-design
principles, including identity and access management, encryption and
appropriate security controls.
- Ensuring architecture aligns with
relevant cybersecurity frameworks and guidance, including NCSC principles
and the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
- Supporting EMCCA's data strategy,
including data governance, master data management, interoperability and
data architecture.
- Providing architectural assurance
across programmes and projects, reviewing technical designs, procurement
specifications and supplier proposals.
- Identifying and managing technical
risks, ensuring compliance with cybersecurity, data protection and
regulatory requirements.
- Producing high-quality architecture
artefacts, including solution blueprints, standards, reference models,
roadmaps and solution designs.
- Supporting procurement activity
through technical requirements definition, supplier evaluation and
assessment of proposed solutions.
- Building effective relationships
with internal stakeholders, local authorities, government organisations
and technology partners.
- Providing expert advice across
areas including enterprise architecture, cloud, data, integration, CRM,
case management, infrastructure and networking.
- Promoting reuse, interoperability,
accessibility and inclusive design across EMCCA's technology landscape.
- Contributing to corporate strategy,
digital transformation and organisational design discussions.
About you
You'll be an
experienced Solutions Architect or Enterprise Architect who is comfortable
working in complex environments and navigating competing priorities,
challenging requirements and diverse stakeholder needs.
You'll have a
proven track record of designing and assuring technology architectures at
scale, ideally within complex or highly regulated organisations.
We're looking
for someone with strong experience in:
- Enterprise or solutions
architecture within complex organisations.
- Cloud architecture, particularly
Microsoft Azure and/or AWS, including legacy system migration.
- Secure architecture and
cybersecurity best practice, including Zero Trust principles and ISO
27001-aligned approaches.
- Large-scale digital transformation
programmes.
- Integration architecture, including
APIs, microservices and enterprise service bus technologies.
- Data architecture, analytics
platforms, data governance and modelling.
- Infrastructure, networking,
hosting, resilience and disaster recovery.
- Identity and Access Management
(IAM).
- CRM, ERP, case management or other
line-of-business systems.
- Producing professional-quality
HLDs, LLDs, roadmaps, standards and solution designs.
- Technical procurement, supplier
evaluation and contract management.
- Presenting complex technical and
sensitive information clearly to senior leaders, elected members and
external partners.
Experience of
working in a public sector or politically sensitive environment would be
valuable, as would knowledge of Government Digital Service (GDS) standards,
ITIL, Microsoft Power Platform and GIS platforms.
You'll also
hold an architecture qualification such as TOGAF, alongside evidence of
continued professional development in digital architecture. A relevant
degree-level qualification is required.
Cloud or
cybersecurity certifications, such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS
Solutions Architect Professional, CISSP or CISM, would be an advantage.
You'll be
joining at an exciting stage in our development, giving you the opportunity to
help establish architecture principles, standards and technology foundations
that will shape the organisation for years to come.
Our values
Our values
underpin how we work and the culture we are building at EMCCA.
Lifting our
region
We put wider
outcomes ahead of personal or organisational gain and act as passionate
advocates for our region, policies and programmes.
Working
together
We build
relationships across organisational boundaries, welcome different perspectives
and bring partners together to solve complex challenges.
Making an
impact
We turn
strategic thinking into practical action, clearly articulate the value of our
proposals and focus on delivering meaningful improvements.
Being human
We value
diverse perspectives, connect with people at a human level and bring
authenticity to our relationships with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
Join us
If you're an
experienced architect who wants to do more than design individual solutions, someone
who wants to shape the technology foundations of a new organisation and help
transform public services across the East Midlands.
You'll have the
autonomy, influence and technical challenge to make a genuine difference,
working alongside senior leaders and partners to create an architecture that
supports EMCCA's long-term ambitions.
Closing
Date: 19/10/2026
Proposed Interview Date: w/c 02/11/2026