Senior Enterprise Architect - Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - G7

Location

Leeds

About the job

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Senior Enterprise Architect to join our Strategy and Architecture Function within the Digital and 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. 

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 MHRA Digital and Technology Group (DTG) exists to help protect and improve public health by enabling the Agency to become a modern, intelligence-led regulator.

We bring together digital, data, technology, cyber security and artificial intelligence expertise to deliver services, platforms and insights that support the regulation of medicines, medical devices and healthcare technologies across the UK.

Our work goes beyond traditional IT. We design and deliver user-centred services, harness trusted data, apply advanced analytics and responsible AI, and build secure, resilient digital foundations that help the MHRA make better decisions, work more effectively and respond to a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

By joining DTG, you'll help shape the future of regulation while delivering technology that makes a real difference to public health.

Job description

Role Purpose 

The Senior Enterprise Architect operates at a strategic and tactical level to support the development and delivery of enterprise architecture across the organisation. 

Working closely with business and digital stakeholders, the role focuses on the translation of business strategy into architectural designs, supporting the evolution from current to future states. The post holder will contribute to shaping technology and business change, ensuring solutions are aligned to organisational priorities, standards and government policies. 

The role acts as a trusted advisor within programmes and portfolios, applying practices from all enterprise architecture domains to inform decision-making, improve service design, and maximise value from technology investments. 

The role requires a strategic thinker with technical knowledge, an understanding of emerging threats, and the ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities and Results Areas 

Enterprise Architecture and Design 

• Support the development and implementation of enterprise architecture strategies, roadmaps and transition states (as-is, interim, to-be). 
• Define organisational capabilities within the Business Reference Model and apply business architecture techniques to assess gaps and recommend improvements. 
• Contribute to shaping investment decisions by identifying opportunities, dependencies, risks and impacts. 

Design and Assurance 

• Provide architectural input and assurance across programmes and projects to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and strategy. 
• Support governance by reviewing designs to ensure compliance with organisational policies and reference architecture. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration 

• Build effective relationships across business and technology functions. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams – including Solution, Information, Security and Technical Architect colleagues – to ensure architecture is integrated into all aspects of the Agency’s digital initiatives and designs are coherent. 
• Use architecture communication approaches to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders. 
• Mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions, improving decision-making by the provision of clear, evidence-based architectural advice.  

Innovation and Continuous Improvement 

• Contribute to the development and adoption of architectural standards, patterns, and guardrails. 
• Maintain awareness of trends and best practices relating to technology and the business, assessing their potential impact on the organisation. 
• Support the growth of the architecture practice and community via process improvements, enhancing documentation and regular knowledge sharing. 

Person specification

• Good technical skills across multiple architecture domains, including infrastructure design, application architecture, data architectures, and cybersecurity principles  
• Familiarity with UK public sector regulations, standards and frameworks, such as the Government Digital Service (GDS) and the Technology Code of Practice (TCoP). 
• Good knowledge of architecture methodologies and frameworks, such as TOGAF. 
• Knowledge of operational and management tools used across IT and architecture teams (such as Jira, Confluence, OrbusInfinity, Lean IX or ServiceNow) is essential. 
• Broad experience across technology architectural roles, conducting architectural assessments, creating roadmaps and defining target states. 
• Developing business architecture within organisations and using it to facilitate improved business outcomes. 
• Engaging stakeholders at all levels and playing a key role in setting organisational objectives and leading business change. Strong communication skills are essential. 
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries with changing and challenging priorities.