Chief Architect

Become part of a mission-driven digital team helping to build secure, resilient services used by millions across the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is working with Inspire People to recruit a Chief Architect with strong enterprise architecture leadership, target architecture design, governance and large-scale digital transformation expertise. Hybrid working with minimum 60% office-based in your designated office in either Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Oldham, Newcastle, Swansea or Yeading. Salary up to £98,061 (base pay of £69,501
plus an additional Digital and Data Profession allowance up to £28,560) plus plus £20,134 employer pension contribution per annum plus excellent Civil Service benefits.

Shape the Future of Digital Services at DVSA:

As a Chief Architect you will:

• Provide technical leadership in the development, operation and continuous improvement of complex, transformational digital services serving millions of users
• Direct the development of long-term enterprise-wide business design, information architecture and processes
• Own and promote enterprise architecture strategy, governance, principles, standards and tools
• Lead target architecture design aligned to organisational strategy
• Chair and support enterprise architecture governance ensuring compliance and quality
• Oversee architectural design across complex systems, ensuring documentation is timely and accurate
• Provide specialist architectural advice influencing senior stakeholders across the organisation
• Evaluate supplier proposals and make recommendations to senior leadership
• Oversee budgets and delivery from external partners ensuring scalable, secure and reusable solutions
• Lead the evolution of enterprise architecture across the organisation and wider government landscape
• Build capability, develop teams and promote best practice across the architecture community
• Drive continuous improvement across systems, technology and service delivery

Essential skills for the Chief Architect include:

• Strong track record of hands-on enterprise architecture leadership in complex, multi-service environments
• Significant experience defining and delivering strategic target architecture and business design
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills at senior level
• Experience working in matrix organisations aligning technology with business strategy
• Proven experience delivering large-scale technology transformation
• Deep knowledge of modern architectures including cloud, infrastructure, data and software delivery lifecycle
• Experience establishing and governing architecture frameworks, standards and controls
• Strong understanding of commercial, procurement and supplier delivery environments
• Experience developing high-performing technical teams and capability
• Awareness of ITIL, ISO9001 and ISO27001 frameworks

Desirable skills for the Chief Architect include:

• Degree in a Digital, Technology or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• TOGAF, Zachman or equivalent enterprise architecture certification
• Azure or AWS cloud architecture certification
• Architecture modelling experience (Archimate, UML, BPMN)

In return, you can expect a flexible working culture, including:

• Salary up to £98,061 (base pay of £69,501
• plus an additional Digital and Data Profession allowance up to £28,560)
• £20,134 employer pension contribution per annum
• Excellent Civil Service benefits
• Hybrid working with flexible arrangements
• Access to learning, development and career progression opportunities
• The opportunity to shape national digital services at scale

Why Join DVSA?

This is a critical leadership role where you will shape enterprise-wide architecture, guide strategic technology decisions and reduce technical debt across services used by millions, while influencing senior stakeholders and driving digital transformation across the organisation.

Apply now through Inspire People to lead enterprise architecture at DVSA and play a defining role in its digital future.