Chief Architect (£69,501 - £98,061)

Job summary

Do you have the vision and technical leadership to shape the future of our digital services?

Can you inspire teams and drive architectural strategies that transform how millions interact with our services?

If so, this is your opportunity to be part of one of the most ambitious digital programmes in government!

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

As Chief Architect within the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), you’ll be at the heart of modernising services used by millions of people every day. This senior leadership role is pivotal in shaping technical services and selecting platforms and technologies that meet organisational needs and deliver outstanding user experiences. It requires engaging and influencing senior leaders, Executive and Board level stakeholders to secure alignment and buy-in for architectural strategies that drive digital transformation across the organisation.

You will be responsible for leading the architecture function ensuring the high-quality delivery is aligned to our technology strategy.

The role requires an equal balance of technical expertise, the ability to work with stakeholders and lead teams delivering in a rapidly changing and evolving technology landscape. You will play a key part in reducing technical costs, supporting migration from legacy systems and positioning DVLA as a leading digital organisation.

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £69,501. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £28,560.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Network and communicate with senior stakeholders across organisations. Overseeing any prospective information gathering and scene setting meetings with other government departments, evaluating technical proposals and acting as arbiter in making recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Proactively seek opportunities for digital transformation, directing the development of Architectures for complex systems and ensuring consistency with specified requirements agreed with internal and external customers.
• Support multiple teams, finding and using best practice and emerging technologies. Overseeing work with external suppliers to ensure that DVLA’s reference architecture is robust, scalable, open and secure, with appropriate overall system design and integration points/APIs, to deliver a high-quality user experience.
• Inspire other architects and help them understand how to deliver the goals of the organisation, providing Strategic technical leadership, in the development, operation and ongoing improvement of complex, transformational digital services that serve millions of users.
• Be responsible for Architectural governance, solving complex and high-risk issues or delivering architecture design.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone with significant Architecture expertise with hands-on experience in real-world systems. You will have proven experience in shaping technical services and selecting platforms and technologies that meet organisational requirements and user needs.

You will have exceptional leadership and influencing skills and a proven ability to lead skilled architecture teams in fast-paced, evolving technology landscape. You will align business strategies with technology direction, setting standards that enable transformation and innovation.

You will have a proven ability to communicate complex technical strategies and business impacts to non-technical audiences, including the senior team and Executive level stakeholders, inspiring confidence and commitment.

Additional Information

Working for the DVLA Digital Team

At DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project we deliver has a ripple effect that affects millions of customers across the nation. Here, the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 53 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise a nation of individuals and businesses every single day.

To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

This role is full time only. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (the location cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role.To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’.

Visa Sponsorship

Please take note that DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, candidates will be required to have at least 5 years continuous residency in the UK. All applicants for this role must ensure that they meet this minimum residency requirement - if you do not, your application will be withdrawn.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical Design throughout the life cycle – Expert
• Making Architectural Decisions – Expert
• Strategy Design – Expert

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,501, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency contributes £20,134 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Passionate, reliable and always willing to push yourself and those around you, you’ll continue to seek improvement in your own role and challenge us too. Because we pride ourselves on how we approach your development. From training courses to specialist skills workshops and opportunities to grow your expertise, we thrive when you thrive. You can find out more about all of the above here alongside a full list of our benefits:

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• Digital communities with clear career frameworks
• On-site gym plus personal training available (membership applies)
• On-site nursery, restaurant and coffee bar
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Free parking

There are many more opportunities and great benefits of working at DVLA, visit our Careers website for further information.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift of CV

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV to Inspire People (our Recruitment Partners) which outlines your experience and suitability for the role (based on the experience points outlined in the essential criteria on this advert).

On receipt of your CV, DVLA Hiring Managers will complete a sift. Please note; the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live and so there is potential for feedback to be shared with you (on your application) before the advert closes.

To apply please click 'Apply at advertiser's site' at the bottom of the page.

Within your CV, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria:

• Leading the design, delivery and continuous improvement of complex digital services that enable organisational transformation.
• Developing and directing organisation-wide architectural strategies and frameworks that align technology capabilities with long-term business growth and outcomes.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with business leaders, external partners, and vendors to influence and ensure architectural decisions deliver business value.

The sift will take place on 21st January 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done. The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

BehavioursSuccess Profiles

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self & Others

Technical

• Technical Design throughout the life cycle – Expert Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework
• Making Architectural Decisions – Expert Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework
• Strategy Design – Expert Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

The interviews will take place from 30th January 2026.

This interview will be conducted in person at our Swansea office (DVLA, Swansea, SA6 7JL). Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Andrew Medhurst
• Email : amedhurst@inspirepeople.net

Recruitment team

• Email : itsrecruitment@dvla.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact amedhurst@inspirepeople.net If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission

Attachments

Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 197kB)DVLA Digital Job Brochure - V1 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 2080kB)