Senior Technical Architect (Azure)

Job summary

Across government, cloud technology underpins the delivery of secure, scalable and modern digital services. As organisations continue to accelerate cloud adoption, strong technical architecture is essential to ensure platforms are resilient, compliant and capable of supporting long-term transformation. At Ofgem, architecture plays a vital role in enabling the digital services, data capabilities and operational systems that support our mission to protect energy consumers and drive the transition to Net Zero.

Ofgem is on an ambitious transformation journey. Within the Digital, Data and Security Services (DDSS) directorate, we are modernising our technology estate and expanding our use of Microsoft Azure as a strategic platform. This includes delivering secure, scalable and cost-effective cloud solutions that support digital services, data platforms and organisational change across the business.

As a Senior Technical Architect (Azure), you will lead the design and assurance of Azure-based solutions across a diverse portfolio of programmes and services. You will provide architectural direction, shape technical strategies and ensure Azure environments are secure, scalable, resilient and aligned with enterprise architecture principles.

Working closely with architects, engineers, delivery teams and senior stakeholders, you will help drive consistency, governance and best practice across Ofgem's cloud landscape, while supporting the successful delivery of critical digital transformation initiatives.

This is a highly influential role requiring deep Azure expertise, strong architectural capability and the ability to balance technical excellence with organisational objectives.

Job description

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the design of secure, scalable and cost-effective solutions on Microsoft Azure
• Providing technical assurance and architectural oversight across Azure projects and programmes
• Defining and promoting architecture standards, patterns and best practices
• Supporting Azure governance, compliance and cloud adoption frameworks
• Working with delivery teams to integrate Azure services across enterprise and hybrid environments
• Applying enterprise architecture frameworks to support consistent design and governance
• Identifying technical risks and ensuring appropriate mitigations are implemented
• Creating reusable architecture patterns, standards and documentation
• Influencing architectural decision-making and contributing to governance forums
• Mentoring technical architects and engineers, helping build Azure capability across DDSS

We are looking for:

A highly experienced technical architect with a strong track record of designing and delivering Azure solutions within large or complex environments. You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and technical levels, providing leadership, challenge and guidance to stakeholders across the organisation.

You will demonstrate:

• Strong experience designing and delivering solutions on Microsoft Azure
• Knowledge of Azure security frameworks, compliance standards and identity management
• Experience defining and applying governance models for cloud adoption and optimisation
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles and frameworks such as TOGAF
• Experience using architectural modelling tools and techniques, including ArchiMate, UML or equivalent
• The ability to provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills
• A proactive approach to identifying risks, opportunities and continuous improvement

Relevant certifications are expected (or achievable within six months), including:

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• BCS Enterprise Architecture Certification or equivalent architectural qualification

Experience with Infrastructure as Code, DevOps practices, government standards or regulated environments would be beneficial.

This is an opportunity

to play a key role in shaping Ofgem's Azure architecture capability and cloud strategy. You will help ensure critical platforms and services are secure, scalable and fit for the future, supporting digital transformation initiatives that make a real difference to consumers and the UK's evolving energy system.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong background in design and delivery of solutions on Microsoft Azure (Lead Criteria)
• Familiarity with Azure security frameworks, compliance standards, and identity management practices. (Lead Criteria)
• Experience in definition and application of governance models for Azure cloud adoption and optimisation.
• Ability to provide technical direction, collaboration, and support for multi-disciplinary IT teams and architects.
• Proficiency in architectural modelling tools such as Archi and frameworks, such as ArchiMate, UML, or equivalent, with the ability to create and maintain architectural artefacts.

Holds or can obtain the following certifications or equivalent within 6 months:

• Formal Architectural Qualification such as BCS EA Certification or equivalent.
• Cloud Architecture Certification: Microsoft Azure Solution Architect (Expert).

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with Infrastructure as Code and DevOps practices.
• Awareness of government digital standards and assurance processes.

#LI-DNI

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• You will also be asked to prepare a presentation. Full details of the presentation will be included in the invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,452, OFGEM contributes £14,326 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).Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

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.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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

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 : Amber Shankland
• Email : amber.shankland@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

DDSS Role Profile Senior Technical Architect (Azure) (2b) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 133kB)DDSS Candidate Pack, Senior Technical Architect (Azure) Opens in new window (pdf, 3359kB)Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)