The Technical Architect, reporting to the Principal Infrastructure Architect is responsible for the infrastructure elements and components of solution design. They will build scalable and robust solutions to solve business problems, ensuring that associated documentation is updated and enabling the organisation to achieve its target technology architecture state.
About the role
West Midlands Police is undertaking a period of unparalleled change and innovation; Technology is pivotal to both maintaining operational capabilities and building future success. The Architecture Management function within the IT & Digital department is responsible for all solution design on the technology estate. This team contains architects that shape the technical way forward for our organisation, ensuring that all solutions adhere to our principles, standards and future blueprints.
The role will define and govern how technical infrastructure is designed, configured and put to use within West Midlands Police. Taking responsibility for ensuring core infrastructure is scalable, resilient, cost effective and fit for purpose. This is a role where you can really make a difference to the officers and staff of West Midlands Police through the use of technology as an enabling platform.
Key responsibilities
- Demonstrable technical expertise and depth of knowledge within IT infrastructure components (Server/Storage/Network) and associated technologies.
- The ability to tackle complex technical problems and provide innovative solutions.
- Comprehensive experience in designing solution architecture with an emphasis on infrastructure components.
- The ability to articulate their views/design/solution clearly and confidently within a technical environment.
- Industry qualification or associated experience for working within a Architecture Framework environment (e.g. TOGAF Certification).
- Propose, define and articulate the impact of new Force initiatives, including changes to existing architecture.
- Responsible for the infrastructure design aspects of customer solutions delivered by West Midlands Police IT & Digital.
- Participate in the Impact Assessment (IA) process to provide SME input on proposed initiatives.
- Define and maintain documentation that articulates the current state technical architecture of the Force.
- Define, manage and govern infrastructure standards and capabilities for the deployment of business, data, and application services.
- Provide quality assurance on the usage of infrastructure in third party solutions.
- Support the Quality Assurance (QA) of tender responses from suppliers.
- Engage with customers to define and promote IT & Digital solutions.
- Actively participate in the IT & Digital Technical Design Authority (TDA); provide pure consultancy engagements and report writing.
- Maintain an awareness of appropriate commercial and technical developments to allow advice to be given on providing future IT & Digital solutions.
- Liaise with user departments and other sections of IT & Digital in the implementation of new systems, software and hardware.
- Maintain and evaluate existing operational systems and to ensure that changes to the system, environment or the introduction of new systems, have no detrimental impact.
Experience
- The post holder will have a minimum of 5 years technical experience, preferably in the designing and architecting of technical solutions.
- Directly communicate with senior managers from a customer service perspective using written and oral methods.
- Quality assure solution designs.
- Translate user requirements into suitable solution designs.
- Develop and maintain technical documentation to the highest standards.
- Participate in, and chair, meetings.
- Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices.
- Maintain standards for security of information.
Knowledge and skills
- The post holder will have knowledge of technical architecture methods, tools techniques and frameworks.
- Extensive understanding of infrastructure technologies (network, servers, storage etc.) and future trends.
- Extensive knowledge of risk management.
- Extensive knowledge of security legislation.
- Understanding of the ITIL framework.
- Understanding of project management methodologies (e.g. PRINCE2).
- An understanding of architectural frameworks (e.g. TOGAF).
- Strong problem solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently interact and empathise with all levels of staff.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Flexibility to use a variety of supporting technologies and to be innovative.
- The ability to work under pressure and be capable of balancing competing demands and priorities.
- Proven track record in understanding the need of customers/users.
- Good communication skills in order to work effectively throughout the organisation and with external contractors and suppliers.
- An understanding of the ITIL processes as they apply to the team and to the department as a whole.
- Ability to produce management reports, policy documents and comprehensive working papers including recommendations and implementation of documents.
- Ability to negotiate and influence at a senior level within the organization.
- High level project management skills and an understanding of professional techniques.
- Ability to chair or take a lead role on local, regional and national conferences.
- Excellent technical design skills.
- Ability to gather and assimilate information.
Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.
Hours - Full time.
For further information regarding this role, please contact:
For further information regarding this application process, please contact:
West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
“Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities.”
Benefit Statement
By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:
- Fair remuneration with progression opportunities, and access to a very competitive pension scheme.
- Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements.
- Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities.
- A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs.
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