Lead Cloud Architect

Overview

Do you want to transform the way cloud technologies are used across Government and the wider Public Sector in Scotland? Do you want to enable the delivery of better technology to serve the people of 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 Cloud Platform Service aims to enable an improved and accelerated adoption of cloud services and encourage digital innovation within the Scottish public sector. 

Responsibilities

Technical Direction 

• Lead the team responsible for defining and communicating a scalable cloud platform architecture for government based on customer requirements, relevant strategies, policies, roadmaps, and operating practices. 
• Be seen across the department or division as a Subject Matter expert, contributing to the development of architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across cybersecurity, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and the user experience of infrastructure. 
• Contributing to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department 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. 

Design 

• Leading the design and review processes for new solution and services, evidencing the inclusion of ‘Secure by Design” in the technical designs you produce, oversee, and approve. 
• Creating optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning such factors as the user need within the system requirements, security, and organisational objectives. 
• Developing and documenting the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of DDaT and the business, 
• Ensure designs meet security and operational requirement. 
• Presenting recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems to support project goals clearly to senior management, based on knowledge of IT and analysis of systems’ needs. 

Continual Improvement 

• Evaluating the success of a project, once the solution has been integrated, identifying best practices and lessons learned. 
• Providing feedback to leadership and incorporating best practices and lessons learned into future integration plans. 

Developing Capability 

• Managing, coaching, and mentoring more junior Technical Architects. 
• Provide direction and assurance to the platform team and customers by defining principles, beneficial practices to guide the development of the service and customer workloads. 

Essential Criteria & Qualifications

No specific qualifications are required for this post.    

How To Apply 

 To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process. 

Panels sift applications purely based on evidence provided against the essential criteria. We recommend considering how your skills, qualities and experience relate to these and tailoring your both your CV and Personal statement to provide this evidence.  

• A CV (no longer than two A4 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 
• Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words).   

Essential Criteria 

The closing date for applications is Sunday 2nd June at 23:55

 Interview/Assessment Information  

If you are invited to attend an interview this will include a DDaT Technical Skill Assessment and the following competencies:- 

• Leading Others 
• People Management 
• Analysis & Use of Evidence 
• Financial Management 

More detail on these competencies can be found in the Person Specification – Band C  We recommend reviewing the following links: - 

How to apply for Digital roles with Scottish Government   

Additional Information for applicants 

If you have any additional questions, please email digitalcareers@gov.scot    

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU  

As a Scottish Government employee, you can start work every day knowing you are helping make a real difference contributing to vital public services in Scotland. 

To attract, develop and retain the best talent we offer an extensive range of benefits, are committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and supporting professional development.  

This role offers a Salary Range of £73,757 - £85,130 and benefits including: - 

• £5000 Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement after a 3-month qualifying period ***  
• Generous Pension Scheme with employer contribution of 28.97%.  

• Flexible working arrangements with potential of 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.  

• Learning and development opportunities to support your personal and professional growth including access to the Scottish Digital Academy – a centre of excellence for digital capability.  

• Health and wellbeing support including 24-hour access to our Employee Assistance Programme, plus counselling support available for all. 
• A ‘Right to Disconnect Policy’ to enable staff to disengage from work outside normal working hours 
• Discounts on gym memberships and retail outlets. 

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

Digital (DDaT) Pay Supplement 

This post attracts a £5,000 DDaT (Digital, Data & Technology) pay supplement after a 3 months DDaT competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are temporary payments and are subject to regular review.  

Hybrid Working 

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

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.  

Reserve List 

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

Reserve list offers are made in merit order in line with Civil Service Commission principles. 

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.  

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   

Nationality Requirements 

This job is broadly open to the following groups. Please note we are unable to provide financial support towards relocation.  

• 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    

Personal Data 

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.  

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