Senior Technical Architect (Azure)

Job summary

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives.

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time.

You will work within the Technology Design team as a Senior Technical Architect for Azure, you will lead the architecture, design, governance and assurance of Azure services across MHCLG, providing technical direction across critical services and transformation programmes. Working alongside other Senior Technical Architects, you will help shape cloud strategy, turn organisational goals into practical technical solutions, promote good practice and improve the Azure estate. MHCLG are committed to supporting professional development, learning and certification. We welcome applications from people with different backgrounds and experiences. If your experience does not match every requirement exactly, but you believe you have the skills to succeed in the role, we encourage you to apply.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

You will lead for Azure platform technical architecture, standards, reference patterns, roadmaps and assurance. You will set standards, patterns and roadmaps for secure, consistent and cost-effective cloud delivery, and provide direction, assurance and governance throughout the service lifecycle. You will work with stakeholders to balance business, technical, security and operational needs, and support architects and engineers to develop their skills. The role works closely with Enterprise Architecture but does not sit within the Enterprise Architecture team.

As a Senior Technical Architect, you'll:

• Own Azure architecture principles, standards and reference patterns.

• Set technical direction for secure, scalable and resilient Azure solutions.

• Develop target architectures, roadmaps and technology strategies.

• Provide architecture assurance and governance throughout the service lifecycle.

• Lead architecture for cloud migration, modernisation and transformation.

• Make and communicate architectural decisions, balancing business, technical, security and operational considerations.

• Identify and manage architectural, operational and security risks.

• Govern Azure platform patterns, landing zones and operating models.

• Maintain architecture artefacts, decision records, roadmaps and technical standards.

• Guide engineering teams in implementing approved architectural designs.

• Provide technical architecture support for procurement and suppliers.

• Improve Azure services, platforms and operating practices.

• Mentor technical professionals and promote knowledge sharing.

Person specification

As a Senior Technical Architect, you'll have:

• Knowledge of Azure networking, identity, security, governance and platforms.

• Experience designing, supporting or governing Azure solutions at scale.

• Experience supporting cloud transformation, migration or modernisation programmes.

• Ability to develop target architectures, roadmaps and technology strategies.

• Experience implementing secure-by-design, cloud-native architectures.

• Strong understanding of architecture governance, assurance and risk management.

• Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Experience producing architecture documents, decision records and technical standards.

• Ability to balance business, operational, security and technical needs in architectural decisions.

• Experience working across teams and coordinating multiple workstreams.

Desirable Skills:

These criteria are helpful but not essential. We welcome applications from people with transferable skills gained in other sectors or through different career paths. You do not need experience of every technology listed, and equivalent practical experience is valued alongside formal certification.

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification.

• Experience in government, regulated or large enterprise environments.

• Knowledge of Azure Landing Zones, Cloud Adoption Framework and Well-Architected Framework.

• Experience with Bicep, Terraform or ARM Templates.

• Knowledge of DevSecOps, CI/CD and cloud automation.

• Familiarity with Azure DevOps, APIM, Entra, Databricks, Fabric or GitHub.

• Understanding of NCSC principles and government digital standards.

• Experience building architecture communities and mentoring technical professionals.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,811, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £18,775 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

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

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 3 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (CV)

Experience: The sift panel will use the information in your CV to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the job description and person specification so please submit your CV demonstrating alignment to that criteria.

Stage 2: Technical Ability Test

You will be invited to a technical test lasting 30-40 minutes. The test will be scored and candidates who score above benchmark will be invited to interview.

Stage 3: Interview

• Behaviours: "Communicating and Influencing", "Delivering at Pace", "Making Effective Decisions"
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Candidates will be asked to complete a technical test during the interview, with further details to be provided upon invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place from 9th November 2026.

Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Grade 7 Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £70,677 (London), £64,811(National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.

• A digital allowance of up to £12,894 (National) or £12,736 (London) may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.

• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: +SC

London Office: +SC

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

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 : Digital Data Jobs
• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
•a procedural irregularity
•an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
•exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk