Lead Technical Architect - Met Office - G7
Government Digital & Data -
Location
Exeter, South West England, EX1 3PB
About the job
Job summary
We’re looking for an exceptional Lead Technical Architect to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Lead Technical Architect, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.
Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 33 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.
From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.
- We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
- We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
- We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
- We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
- We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers
Job description
We are seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Lead Technical Architect with expertise in Microsoft architecture to join the Met Office’s technology team. In this pivotal role, you will shape the strategic direction of our technical architecture, with a particular emphasis on leveraging Microsoft platforms and solutions to ensure our digital infrastructure fully supports the evolving needs of the business.
You will be responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of robust, scalable, and secure technical solutions, utilising Microsoft technologies such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and related cloud services. These solutions will enable our organisation to deliver world-class meteorological services. You will provide architectural leadership across a diverse range of projects, championing best practices within Microsoft’s architectural frameworks, while identifying opportunities for innovation and efficiency through the adoption of Microsoft’s capabilities.
As a senior member of the team, you will mentor and guide technical staff, set and uphold architectural standards aligned with Microsoft’s ecosystem, and play a key part in complex problem-solving and strategic decision-making. Your expertise in Microsoft architecture will help ensure our systems and services remain resilient, responsive, and at the forefront of technological advancement, safeguarding the Met Office’s reputation for excellence.
Your key duties:
The role requires a strong background in IT Architecture, with particular expertise in Microsoft architecture. You will be responsible for maintaining and upholding Enterprise Architecture standards across the Digital Workplace team environment, ensuring that Microsoft architectural frameworks, principles, and best practices are consistently applied throughout the organisation. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving architectural governance, leveraging deep knowledge of Microsoft platforms and solutions to support the evolution of robust, scalable solutions that meet the needs of diverse stakeholders.
- Design and oversee the implementation of robust, scalable, and secure technical solutions.
- Provide architectural leadership across a diverse portfolio of projects, ensuring best practices are championed.
- Identify and drive opportunities for technological innovation and efficiency improvements.
- Mentor and guide technical staff, fostering growth and sharing expertise within the team.
- Set and uphold architectural standards to maintain high-quality solutions.
- Engage in complex problem-solving and contribute to high-level strategic decision-making.
- Ensure systems and services are resilient, responsive, and technologically advanced.
- Safeguard the organisation’s reputation for excellence in meteorological services.
- Collaborate effectively with stakeholders, clearly communicating technical concepts to varied audiences.
We operate an on-call roster in Technology to provide 24/7/365 support to respond to operational service requirements. This post may be part of an on-call roster and the postholder would be required to participate in an on-call roster where in operation.
Person specification
- Keep Evolving - Demonstrated ability to lead the technical design of systems and services, providing clear justification and communication for design decisions.
- Live and Breathe It - Proven experience in assuring service and system quality across multiple projects, ensuring alignment with broader organisational or governmental strategies.
- Better Together - Strong collaborative skills with the ability to proactively address team dynamics, provide effective feedback, and build networks, while also communicating complex architectural concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders including mediation and coaching in challenging discussions.
- Track record of contributing to the development and governance of architectural standards, patterns, and principles across diverse teams.
- Capability to define, direct, and implement strategies or visions that align with organisational goals, including the creation and management of roadmaps and plans.
- Keep Evolving - Demonstrated proficiency in mentoring and providing leadership to architects and technical teams, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
- Experience in identifying and managing architectural risks, including the use of governance and assurance mechanisms to guide design decisions throughout the project life cycle.
