Job summary

Here at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), 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 a 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.  
   
We have circa 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK. As a senior technical architect for DLUHC you’ll sit within the heart of the technology team in our digital directorate.  

Our technology team is responsible for delivering various modern technology services to a user base. We work flexibly to deliver excellent user centred services within AWS. We’re now looking to build internal capability and skills so that we can take forward cloud-based services for the department. 

Cloud hosting and services is an enabler for continued transformation, and we want to be able to build and maintain infrastructure and services that will support DLUHC as it introduces new digital services. 

We’re looking for a technical architect to join our team, both with experience in designing and iterating Cloud services in an enterprise environment. This post will be to support our AWS Infrastructure, which us used by our application teams to host services for both internal and external users.  

Job description

as a technical architect, you’ll: 

• create the required artefacts (solution designs, diagrams, HLD, LLD, etc) for use with our cloud infrastructure and applications , working with other applications teams as needed to help them make best use of AWS.

• develop/Improve infrastructure and solutions in AWS that supports solutions for multiple projects, working with the project teams to deliver these 

• evaluate the impact of change and the proposed solutions on our current technical cloud estate and core IT services.

• contribute to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department in your area of expertise

• ensure alignment of solutions to our target architecture and broader technical strategy 

• educate, mentor and coach teams in applying architectural techniques and improving capabilities or skills to meet changing needs

• articulate key technologies’ impact on cost, capacity, transformation, risk, business enablement and transformation objectives 

• develop, maintain, and automate cloud infrastructure provisioning, monitoring, auditing, and de-provisioning using Infrastructure-as-Code methods and supporting tooling

• ensure our environment is secure and compliant, working with cyber-security and other areas to design well, remediate issues and ensure that solution designs achieve sign off at relevant checkpoints.

• triage new requirements, translating business requirements and non-functional requirements into solution designs   

Person specification

as a technical architect, you’ll have: 

• good knowledge in Cloud based services and architecture

• prior experience as an AWS architect in an enterprise setting, with hands-on experience architecting and implementing secure, reliable & resilient cloud environments and/or applications 

• experience of being able to work with business and technology stakeholders to articulate and translate business problems into technical designs for systems characterised by levels of risk, impact and business or technical complexity

• familiarity with DevOps processes and agile ways of working 

• developed and owned enterprise architecture strategies and roadmaps from a business and technology perspective, including ‘as-is’, ‘to-be’ and transitional states

• experience in developing Architecture Standards and Artefacts

• experience working under broad direction in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment, influencing strategic decision making and understanding strategic consequences of IT decisions

• a breadth of understanding of UK based Cloud infrastructure technologies, with specific specialism in AWS infrastructure including Cloud Based security controls, preferably in a zero-trust network

• prior use of Infrastructure as Code for deployment and maintenance of cloud infrastructure and resources 

• experience in modern authentication, authorisation, and Identity Management system 

In addition, whilst not essential it would be nice if you have:

• AWS Solutions Architect Associate and Professional Certifications 

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• At sift, through your CV we will be assessing Experience and Technical Ability. At interview, Technical and Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,280, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £13,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role

• An environment with flexible working options

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 

Any move to DLUHC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. 

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

We are for everyone 

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. 

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role. 

We are for everyone 

CV Declaration 

We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment. 

Please remove references to your: 

• name/title

• educational institutions

• age

• gender

• email address

• postal address

• phone number

• nationality/immigration status

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors. 

At sift, through your CV we will be assessing: 

Experience

Technical

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements: 

Behaviour 

Experience

Technical 

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

Experience

Technical

Behaviours

Technical and Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign 

Group 1 DDaT roles

DLUHC has implemented the DDaT capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful at the sift stage will be required to complete a capability assessment at interview.

DLUHC will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing Civil Servants. 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.

Salary is determined by performance at interview, within the range advertised. 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 opportunities at least once a year to re assess your capability and progress through the pay scale within your grade. An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current salary where the principle for implementation is there is no detriment where existing pay exceeds the indicative level. Where individuals are at a lower salary than their assessed level, they will receive an upward adjustment.

G7 Group 1 DDaT salary

• The salary for this role will between £54,280 - £58,862 (National) £59,305 - £63,977(London). depending on the proficiency level assessment.

• An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on the level of assessed capability up to £9,000

• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually and aim to match the digital allowance implemented with no detriment.

  For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable.

  Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated.

BENEFITS:

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:Any move to DLUHC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

• London

• Wolverhampton

• Darlington*

• Birkenhead

• Birmingham

• Bristol

• Cambridge

• Exeter

• Hastings

• Leeds

• Manchester

• Newcastle Upton Tyne

• Nottingham

• Plymouth

• Truro

• Warrington

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

*Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service. This role is based at DLUHC and we will be joined on the campus by:

HM Treasury

Department for International Trade

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Office for National Statistics

Department for Education

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.

Sift and Interview dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 04/09/2023 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

Reserve List 

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

SC (Security Check) 

Important note

Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the Security Check – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Security Check (SC).

Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

Candidate Pack Information 

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

Internal Fraud Database 

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register 

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.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 :Denise Gartenfeld

• Email :ddatrecruitment@levellingup.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email :ddatrecruitment@levellingup.gov.uk