Director of Architecture United Kingdom
Job description
Director of Architecture Full time / Part time Salary: £79,804 - £102,949 pa Location: Flexible ed to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need. Digital, Data and Technology The ICO's Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) team provides the devices, software, networks and infrastructure that our people use every day. We operate the ICO.org.uk website that attracts over half a million visits every month. We run the data platform and services that provide insight and will support increasing automation. We manage critical enterprise applications such as our case management, finance and HR systems that run our business. And we make sure the ICO is defended from cyber attacks to keep our data, people and customers safe. Most excitingly, we're in the middle of a transformation that will modernise our technological capabilities. This doesn't just mean that we're investing in innovative tech, though. We're also evolving the way we work, bringing practices such as human-centred design and agile into the way we work. We're shifting our focus to have maximum impact on our internal and external customers. And we're looking to build a really diverse and inclusive culture, where everyone can do their very best work, have a voice and be themselves. Why work for the ICO? Pay progression scheme. Hybrid and flexible working options. 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays. Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year). Pension (employer contribution around 26.6%). Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more. Health Cash Plan. Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress. About us The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data. As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful. About the role Reporting to the Executive Director Digital, Data and Technology, you will support successful strategy delivery through establishing an Enterprise Architecture vision and plan that's aligned with our goals. In this newly created role, you will translate business strategy into business change and technology strategy, identifying priorities for change and leading and influencing the delivery of cross-cutting technological capabilities that enable this change. Passionate about sustainability and scalability to achieve value for money and reduce risk, you will collaborate and consult with stakeholders to ensure business, technology and data decisions are aligned with enterprise architecture strategy. As Director of Architecture, you will carry out horizon scanning across the industry and wider technological landscape, identifying emerging trends and their potential impact and opportunity for the ICO, and incorporating these into plans. Develop and deliver the ICO's Enterprise Architecture vision, strategy and roadmaps from a business, technology and data perspective, including as is, to be and transitional states. Develop appropriate graphical and documented representations of Enterprise Architecture suitable for communication with different audiences and for different purposes. Establish architectural principles, policies, guardrails and standards, and oversee the implementation and assurance of these. Develop architecture as a community of practice and expertise across the ICO. Build, line manage and nurture an architecture team. Function as a member of the senior leadership team for DDaT and the ICO as a whole. Engage and network with people across the ICO up to Executive team level to understand their needs and ensure they are aligned with the Enterprise Architecture vision. About you Substantial experience relevant to the role requirements, accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience. Preference for an appropriate Enterprise Architecture qualification from an organisation such as Certified Enterprise Architect Professional (CEAP), The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF ), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), International Board of IT Governance Qualifications (BITGQ), the British Computer Society (BCS), Zachman Framework or Gartner. Experience of developing and executing Enterprise Architecture strategy for a large or medium-sized (1,000+ people) organisation. Experience of establishing architectural principles, policies, guardrails and standards, and overseeing the implementation and assurance of these. Experience of understanding business strategy and translating that into capability and technology strategy at the enterprise level. Experience of networking and communicating with stakeholders at very senior levels. Experience of people management, recruitment, team building and performance optimisation. Ability to scrutinise the domains of the enterprise's structure to improve operations and align the business and technology. Ability to analyse data and information to identify insights and apply them to strategy development or execution. Skills in developing standards and policies that guide the use of IT assets. Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity, creative problem solving and developing innovative solutions. Understanding of wider DDaT profession and practices and their impact on architecture approach, including IT delivery methodologies such as Agile. Ability to develop an Enterprise Architecture team to high standards. Knowledge of the public sector and regulatory environment, or clear appreciation of specifics and complexities and how they would influence the role. Commercial acumen, able to develop compelling and realistic business cases for DDaT investments. Knowledge of the data protection and privacy landscape, regulations and obligations for data practitioners. Excellent communication skills for educating employees on best practices for applying the company's IT products, resources and solutions. Able to communicate complex insights simply and with impact, particularly across technical and non-technical audiences. Able to negotiate and persuade where necessary, whilst applying a highly ethical approach. Equality, diversity, and inclusion The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website. If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email us and we can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method. Closing Date Please submit your CV by 23:59, Sunday 30 July 2023 We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered. ICO
