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Home  >  Current vacancies  > Lead Solution Architect

Lead Solution Architect

£71,835 - £81,090

Location

Leeds


We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly. Remote working is potentially available for some specific roles. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.

Hours

37 hours per week (excluding lunch break)

Reports to

Deputy Director - Strategy and Architecture

If you have had a COVID-19 vaccine or have ever taken a medicine, or used a medical device, then you have already come into contact with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

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Our vision, One Agency - Delivering for Patients, underpins all that we do as we set out on an ambitious roadmap for change to become a truly world-leading, enabling regulator that protects public health through excellence in regulation and science.

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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

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About the Group and Function

The Digital and Technology Group (DTG) lies at the heart of the Agency and is responsible for delivering an optimised IT infrastructure and maximising the secure use of data to enable our scientists, inspectors, and the rest of the organisation to deliver world class services which can improve outcomes for patients and the general public. The Group was essential in the race to approve COVID-19 vaccines in 2020 and in supporting the UK to set up its own medicines and devices approvals systems following our exit from the EU. The work we do matters!

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Its centre of excellence is also responsible for delivering a broad portfolio of change initiatives, both to transform the Agency’s legacy technologies and to deliver innovative new solutions, designed around our customers’ needs. DTG works in a holistic way to combine digital and technology change, data and information management, project delivery, business process, product management and cultural change to maximise out impact and ensure sustainability.   

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We plan to be at the heart of one of the most digitally advanced medical regulators in the world and we need people who can help us deliver that ambition. DTG is a great place to build your career, and we are committed to enabling our people to do the best work of their lives.

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The Strategy & Architecture team is responsible for ensuring that DTG service provision supports the delivery of the Agency's strategy and Corporate Delivery Plan including meeting MHRA’s financial and performance targets and delivery objectives. The team is responsible for providing digital, data and technology design and assurance to ensure proposed solutions are compliant with legislation, standards and Government policy.

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Role Purpose

As a Lead Solution Architect you will lead and champion Solution Architecture within our Strategy & Architecture team and will work with multiple projects and teams on problems that require broad architectural thinking and alignment to deliver desirable, feasible and sustainable digital, data and technology solutions.

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You will play a key role in ensuring that we develop and maintain a strong Architecture capability through coaching, mentoring, and training, and ensuring that the architects in agency have stretching and rewarding workloads to support their personal development.

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You will be a key member of the Technical Design Authority, and a wider community of practice of Architects that embraces fast-cycle Agile, service design principles, whilst driving coherence across common foundation services, minimising technical debt and legacy technology risk. This is a critical role for an experienced lead Architect who can work with delivery and operational teams, to support the design, development and sustainability of MHRA products and services.

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Key responsibilites

  • Solution Architecture Delivery

    • Provide hands‑on architectural leadership to programmes and projects, working with multidisciplinary teams to shape solutions that promote enterprise coherence, reuse and reduced duplication.

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  • Cross‑Government Alignment and Collaboration

    • Engage with digital, technology and architecture teams across government to influence early‑stage thinking, represent MHRA interests, and promote alignment, reuse and collaboration across organisations.

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  • Technology Strategy and Innovation

    • Monitor emerging technology trends and architectural best practice to identify and evaluate opportunities that deliver value to MHRA while balancing innovation with security, resilience and value for money.

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  • Architecture Governance and Assurance

    • Provide expert architectural assurance to the Technical Design Authority, ensuring solutions comply with MHRA and GDS standards.

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  • Legacy Modernisation and Transformation

    • Work with other MHRA Architects to define and deliver a pragmatic, user‑centred approach to transitioning from legacy systems to modern digital services while managing technical debt and long‑term sustainability.

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  • Standards, Patterns and Roadmaps

    • Establish and maintain architectural principles, standards, patterns, blueprints and roadmaps that are practical for delivery teams and aligned with wider government technology strategies.

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  • People Leadership and Capability Building

    • Lead, mentor and inspire architects across MHRA by setting clear direction, fostering a strong community of practice, and role‑modelling inclusive and collaborative leadership.

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  • Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

    • Build strong relationships with senior business, technical, supplier and external stakeholders, communicating complex architectural concepts clearly and influencing senior decision‑making.

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Results Areas / Outcomes

  • Strategic Alignment

    • MHRA technology solutions and architectural decisions consistently align with organisational strategy, cross‑government standards and long‑term outcomes.

  • Improved Coherence and Reuse

    • System fragmentation is reduced through increased reuse of shared platforms and capabilities, supported by clear and well‑understood architectural roadmaps.

  • High‑Quality, Assured Solutions

    • Solutions meet agreed security, resilience, performance and accessibility requirements, with architectural risks identified early and effectively managed.

  • Effective Legacy Transition

    • Legacy systems are transitioned through a clear, achievable and actively used modernisation approach, with technical debt prioritised based on business and patient impact.

  • Value for Money

    • Technology decisions deliver sustainable, scalable and cost‑effective solutions while actively reducing duplication and unnecessary complexity.

  • Stronger Cross‑Government Collaboration

    • MHRA is recognised as a credible and effective partner within cross‑government digital and architecture communities, enabling shared solutions and alignment.

  • Capability and Leadership

    • A confident, skilled and motivated architecture community operates across MHRA with clear expectations, standards and alignment to organisational goals.

  • Engaged and Purpose‑Driven Teams

    • Colleagues are engaged and motivated, with a clear understanding of how their work contributes to protecting and improving public health.

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The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that responsibilities and outcomes may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the postholder.

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This job description is based on roles in the Digital, Data and Technology Profession Capability Framework.

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Person Specification

Important Candidate information:

 

The Civil Service use a recruitment framework called Success Profiles. Success Profiles are made up of 5 elements: Ability, Behaviours, Experience, Technical, Strengths but it is unlikely that you will be assessed against all 5.

 

Behaviours, Experience and Technical elements will be assessed through your application form, in the first instance.​​​​​​​

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Method of assessment key: (A) - Application, (T) - Test, (I) - Interview, (P) - Presentation ​

Experience (A,I)

  • Extensive experience working as a Solution Architecture combined with areas of deeper knowledge of technologies and practices, and a good understanding of architecture domains

  • Significant experience of leading the design of systems and characterised by high levels of risk, impact and business or technical complexity, and justifying and communicating design decisions to others

  • Extensive experience working with technology teams, multi-disciplinary stakeholders, and user research insights to define solutions that meet business and user needs​

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Technical (A,P)

  • Strong understanding of a broad range of technologies and paradigms ranging from custom built through to SaaS/COTS products, event driven architecture, APIs, microservices, and loose-coupling

  • Strong experience developing complex and large-scale architecture solutions aligned to GDS standards, Technology Code of Practice and Secure by Design

  • Ability to define target state architectures, transitional states and roadmaps

  • Excellent knowledge of architecture methodologies, frameworks and tools and practical experience of their application

  • Good understanding of Cloud technologies particularly MS Azure

  • Excellent knowledge of modern technical architectures and paradigms

  • Degree level or a minimum of 3 years of professional experience

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Behaviours (I,P)

  • Leadership – Show pride and passion for public service. Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all

  • Making effective decisions – Use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions

  • Working Together– Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support

  • Communicating and influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others

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Strengths (I)

  • Motivator – You are highly driven and inspire others to move things along and make things happen

  • Problem Solver – You take a positive approach to tackling problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions

  • Challenger – You can bring a fresh perspective whatever the situation or context. You see other people’s views and can appreciate there are many different angles to consider

  • Influencer – You influence others, you articulate the rationale to gain their agreement

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The Civil Service Code

These core values support good government and ensure the achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil Service does. You can find out more about our values, standards of behaviour and rights and responsibilities in The Civil Service Code.

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Civil Service Values

Integrity

  • Putting the obligations of public service above your own personal interests

Honesty

  • Being truthful and open

Objectivity

  • Basing your advice and decisions on rigorous analysis of the evidence

Impartiality

  • Acting solely according to the merits of the case and serving equally well governments of different political persuasions

Agency Values

The code is reflected in the Agency's values, which state that:

  • We focus on patients and public health

  • We work together with respect

  • We take responsibility and are accountable

  • We create an environment where learning and innovation thrive

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