Lead Network Architect - Welsh Government - G7

Location

Wales

About the job

Job summary

The Digital Infrastructure Division focusses on three areas of digital connectivity – residential, business and public sector connectivity. The Public Sector Connectivity Branch oversees an outsourced network services contract that is used by over 120 public sector organisations to access essential network services that underpin day to day operations and digital service delivery across the public sector in Wales. The Branch is led by a Head of Public Sector Connectivity (Grade 6) and comprises 14 roles (including this role) organised into three teams, each led by a Grade 7 (this role being one).

Job description

The Lead Network Architect provides network/technical oversight for all aspects of this work, including the outsourced network/technical strategy, general technical advice, technical briefings and vendor liaison around network services and solutions. To be accountable overseeing the technical workstream for the futures project that will identify arrangements post-2028 and for ensuring that the technical/network aspects of both business-as-usual and futures activities are met.

This role maps to the Lead Network Architect role in the DDaT Profession Capability Framework. Please follow the link to see details of the skills expected of this DDaT role.

The role has line management responsibility for one Solution Architect role (SEO).

Person specification

• Deliver an effective intelligent client role that challenges and supports the outsourced network services, including strategy, design and performance.
• Have an understanding of all network technology, particularly WAN (wide area network), but also including LAN (local area network), wifi, data centre LAN, SD (software-defined) networks, telephony, mobile solutions infrastructure, unified comms, network management solutions, and network specific security and remote access technologies and approaches.
• Be a point of escalation for network/technical issues arising.
• Be a strategic thinker who can communicate network/technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Actively input into governance forums that determine network/technical strategy.
• Cascade messages, standards and best practice from other supplier architecture teams and design authorities to the network/technical architecture team.
• Act as a subject matter expert for network architecture
• Champion new technologies and solutions
• Coach and mentor Solution Architect line report and associate network/technical teams across wider public sector as appropriate
• Lead a small expert network architect team to provide an intelligent function role on behalf of the Welsh Government and over 100 public sector organisations.
• Challenge and influence the approach to network management, reporting to the Head of Public Sector Connectivity.
• Lead the Welsh Government’s engagement with the supplier’s network, technical and engineering teams.
• Monitor supplier performance against contracted requirements.
• Conduct regular network management meetings with the supplier to review performance.
• Instigate improvement plans where required.
• Assure that network services consumed by public sector organisations under the outsourced network services contract match the operational and business expectations of those organisations.
• Lead responsibility for the technical workstream of the post-2028 project.
• Responsibility for communicating progress through highlight reporting and project dashboards etc. for all technical meetings.
• Review and analyse user feedback to inform future evolution of the services.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Technical understanding - anticipate and advise on future technology changes that present opportunities for the programme
• IT Infrastructure - lead teams and departments in the design, implementation, administration and support of infrastructure solutions and services.