Lead Architect - Bank of England (Leeds)

The Bank of England and Inspire People are partnering together to attract a high-calibre Lead Solution Architect with a solid track record of creating and managing high-level design, on complex large-scale projects within Financial Markets and Banking systems (SWIFT standards, trading systems, front to back-office function, payments etc) with direct line management. This a hybrid role 50/50 role managing 4 /5 Architects and translating business strategic goals and objectives into supporting enterprise-wide technology strategies. Hybrid working opportunities are available with 2 days a week working from the Bank's Leeds or London sites. Circa £70,510 to £81,360 for Leeds site plus excellent benefits including a 8% cash benefits allowance and 10%-25% bonus.

The Bank takes pride in its people, with backgrounds and experiences as diverse as the solutions they provide. You'll enjoy flexible working opportunities, a strong sense of community and well-being, and a collective mission to promote the good of the people of the UK. All of which add up to make the Bank a hugely rewarding place to work.

The Technology architecture team is responsible for developing and maintaining an enterprise architecture practice that supports the Technology directorate and the wider Bank in achieving its strategic objectives.

As a Lead Architect, this is achieved through the following:

Line Management of Architects

• Responsibility for the line management of a team of Architects
• Leading team members through personal development and training

Strategies and Roadmaps

• Taking a lead role in the development of Technology strategies and roadmaps driving a forward looking perspective in conjunction with your domains' partners and the architecture leadership
• Responsible for domains within the Enterprise Architecture and owning the development of the supporting strategies and treatment plans in conjunction with the architects and other colleagues working in those domains

Shaping the architecture

• Responsible for ensuring that your domain's architecture (Blueprints, Technical Options) is developed and delivered in alignment with Technology Strategy, contributing to strategy implementation through portfolio initiatives
• Leading and influencing the development of architectural artefacts, including baseline and target architectures, architecture building blocks, technical reference model and design patterns

Stakeholder Management

• Responsible for designing and maintaining a stakeholder map that covers the domains for which you are responsible, ensuring engagement and understanding for all architectural outputs. Additionally, considering the wider team stakeholder landscape and helping extend engagement further into business areas where required

Technology Leadership

• Responsible for being a technology ambassador, representing architecture and Technology at governance forums, and being an advocate for the solutions, strategies and roadmaps produced by the team

Essential Skills and Experience as a Solutions Architect:

• Experience as an architect on large scale, complex technology projects, designing platforms, products, systems and components.
• Experience in architecture planning for large initiatives/programmes, developing architecture blueprint, high level design and implementation of the following aspects of solution architecture: Services, Applications, Integration, Technology, Security and Data
• Experience of working with and across multiple methodologies and technologies to ensure delivery of critical projects and programmes.

Essential Skills:

• Experience in IT architecture, including application of architecture principles to IT solution design
• Experience in IT leadership and management, development of highly skilled and engaged teams
• Markets and Banking systems (SWIFT standards, trading systems, front to back-office function, payments)
• Critical thinking with the ability to develop long term strategies and advocate those strategies with stakeholders as well as conduct research providing summarised results and recommendation.

In addition, you can expect a planned, transparent progression with learning and development tailored to your role, and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity, plus the following benefits:

• A non-contributory, career average pension giving you a guaranteed retirement benefit of 1/95th of your annual salary for every year worked. There is the option to increase your pension (to 1/50th) or decrease (to 1/120th) in exchange for salary through our flexible benefits programme each year.
• A discretionary performance award based on a current award pool.
• A 8% benefits allowance with the option to take as salary or purchase a wide range of flexible benefits.
• 25 days annual leave with option to buy up to 13 additional days through flexible benefits.
• Private medical insurance and income protection.

For more information, please contact Charys Colchester or Andrew Medhurst at Inspire People, who are engaged on an exclusive basis by the Bank of England, or apply now.