Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Senior Technical Architect – National: £57,028-£64,672; London: £60,778-£68,422 p.a. + benefits
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Leeds
Job Summary
We are currently looking for a Senior Technical Architect to join our Strategy & Architecture Function within the Digital & Technology group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in 7/8 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
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. Please discuss this with the recruiting manager before accepting an appointment.
In recognition of the need to attract and retain employees with specialist skills this role attracts a Market Pay Supplement of up to £21,948 per annum. This non-contractual supplement is reviewed at the end of the probation period and thereafter annually and is non-pensionable.
Job Description
Who are we?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 assurance to ensure proposed solutions are compliant with legislation, standards and Government policy, and for ensuring the effective running of the Division, including budget and performance management.
Key Responsibilities:
- Support the development of a comprehensive Technical Architecture Reference Model that aligns with the IT strategy, government policies, and best practices.
- Support the development and maintenance of the technical architecture roadmap, with particular emphasis on cloud migration strategies and hybrid infrastructure to support wider Agency objectives.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure technical architecture is integrated into all aspects of the Agency’s digital transformation initiatives.
- Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in Technical Architecture, bringing forward recommendations for improvement.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Who are we looking for?
Our Successful Candidate Will Have:
- Proven Technical Architect experience with a track record of collaborating to deliver digital change that adds value to customers.
- Proven ability to anticipate the full impact of implementing technology change into a complex estate.
- Ability to work with discretion and capability in own area. Works effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, working across boundaries and delegating where appropriate, adding value through strategic thinking.
- Ability to make decisions confidently and demonstrate understanding of the complexity of a legacy heavy IT estate and how to transition to a modern architecture.
- Experience of working successfully with a wide network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives.
Person specification
Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation
Behaviour Criteria:
- Leadership (A, I)
- Working Together (A, I)
- Communicating and Influencing (A, I)
Experience Criteria:
- Good IT experience in architectural roles (A, I, P)
- Familiarity with UK public sector regulations, standards, and frameworks, such as the Government Digital Service (GDS) and the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP) (A, I, P)
- Experience with both on-premise and cloud technologies (A, I, P)
- Experience in leading cloud migration initiatives and managing hybrid environments (A, I, P)
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills (A, I, P)
- Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks and methodologies (A, I, P)
- Track record of delivering complex technical solutions, within a public sector environment is desirable but not essential (A, I, P)
- Proven experience designing and implementing secure cloud architectures and understanding of cloud security principles across major cloud platforms (A, I, P)
- Experience of Healthcare/Medicines/Devices industries, Regulatory bodies desirable but not essential (A, I, P)
Technical Criteria:
- Knowledge of cloud platforms, with specific expertise in Microsoft Azure (A, I)
- Understanding of hybrid cloud architectures, including integration strategies, security models, and performance optimisation techniques (A, I)
- Good technical skills across multiple domains, including infrastructure design, application architecture, software engineering and development practices, data architectures, and cybersecurity principles (A, I)
- Understanding of emerging technologies such as containerisation, serverless computing, microservices architectures, and advanced integration patterns (A, I)
- MS Azure Solution Architect desirable (A, I)
If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Alongside your salary of £57,028, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £16,521 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).
- Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
- Privilege Leave: 1 day
- Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
- Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
- Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
- Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP's Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
- Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
- Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
- Eligibility to join Motoring, Boundless by CSMA
- Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
- On-going learning and development
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
We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
- Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.
- Presentation, to be prepared as part of your interview, with further information being supplied when you reach this stage.
- Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.
In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of Good IT experience in architectural roles.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the competency-based answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.
If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible.
- Closing date: 6th September 2
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location