Lead Technical Architect (Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme)

The Home Office is here to make our country safer. The role of the public safety group (PSG) is to protect the most vulnerable, reduce crime and enforce the law with trusted police, fire and rescue services that are effective and efficient as they can be when delivering front line public services. Innovation of public policy in this country and our work is some of the most challenging and exciting in government. We make the most of innovation, data, and partnerships. We work with our partners in law enforcement, establishing governance arrangements at a national, regional, and local level.
The emergency services mobile communications programme (ESMCP) is a cross departmental, multi-agency programme. It’s one of the UK government’s largest programmes and attracts significant attention both within the UK and from other countries. Its central purpose is to deliver the emergency services network (ESN), which will provide critical mobile broadband voice and data communications services to the police, fire, and ambulance services (and other public safety bodies) across England, Scotland, and Wales.
With our suppliers we are building a virtual mobile network operator (VMNO) crafted to meet the challenging requirements of the UK’s emergency services. It represents a progressive shift from previous critical communications systems, by sharing most of the radio network with consumer traffic, with appropriate technical and operational measures to protect the priority, availability, and confidentiality of critical services. The ESN is now live across the UK for early pilot users.
This role can be based in any of the advertised locations/regions, with occasional travel required. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.
We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented at this grade level.
Appointments will be made on merit based on fair and open competition., The lead technical architect roles sit within the technical architecture and strategy team, which has responsibility for setting the overall technical approach for the programme, defining programme’s architecture and external engagement on technical standards, international standards, and other issues.
These positions offer opportunities to:
+ Be a part of defining the future strategy for one of the largest Government programmes.
+ Be a leading part in crafting ESMCP’s enterprise architecture and relevant governance.
+ Work with telecoms industry leaders.
+ Play a key role in the delivery of a sophisticated, world-leading system based on a novel technological approach.
+ Work with emergency services users to deliver technology that supports and enhances their work in keeping the public safe.
+ Work with colleagues from across the government on critical communications and future communications technologies.
+ Develop new technical skills and learn from industry experts.
What you will do
+ Perform architecture compliance reviews.
+ Write new architecture documents as required, improving processes and existing architecture documentation.
+ Communicate ESN designs to the wider programme team, users, and external audiences.
+ Contribute to the architectural and strategy discussions and workshops.
+ Ensure compliance with external and internal standards and principles.
+ Provide support to other work of the technology strategy team and wider programme, as required.
+ Engage internationally with programmes like ESMCP to promote the best practise and improve ESN’s designs.
+ Contribute to creation of future roadmaps., You will be asked to present your answer to an exercise scenario sent to you before the interview., Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please note your CV and personal statement should include all relevant experience that relates to our essential skills criteria listed in the advert and role description. The Statement of Suitability must be aligned to demonstrate how you meet the Essential Criteria as detailed in the job description.
The sift will be held on your experience using the statement of suitability and the CV which will both be scored separately. Please use STAR format in your examples – use this link The STAR method , National Careers Service.
Please remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age, or place of education) so that you will be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race, or gender. Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected.
Sift stage
The sift will be held on the CV and personal statement. Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
Interview stage
Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend a final interview. The interview will assess the behaviours and technical skills (SFIA skills) outlined above. You will also be asked to present your answer to an exercise scenario sent to you before the interview.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism, copying, and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial intelligence. If detected, the application may be withdrawn from the process.
Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all civil servants.
Sift and Interview dates
The sift is expected to take place from week commencing 3rd June 2024.
Interviews will take place from week commencing 24th June 2024 (subject to panels operational requirements/priorities).
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
Interviews will take place remotely via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
+ A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
+ Good internet connection
+ Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.
Further information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Job offers to this post are made based on merit order. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.
Reserve list
A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
UK residency and security requirements
You need to have lived in the UK for the past 5 years. This is because this post requires the successful candidate to have security check (SC) clearance and individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. These checks will only take place after the job offer has been accepted.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years for SC clearance. A lack of UK residency is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the vacancy holder/recruiting manager listed in the advert for further advice.
Visa sponsorship
We are unable to sponsor any individuals via skilled worker sponsorship / tier 2 (general) work visas as we do not hold a UK visa & immigration (UKVI) skilled worker license.
Working at the Home Office
Hybrid Working
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can discuss any specific questions with the Vacancy Holder.
Successful candidates will be able to obtain further information from their line manager.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
+ Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
+ Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

We’re looking for an experienced architect with good exposure to enterprise architecture, who has excellent interpersonal skills and constantly broadens their technical knowledge. You will require the experience of creating architectures that integrate distinct technologies in a multi-supplier environment., + Either the knowledge of mobile communication networks or the knowledge of public safety technologies
+ Creating technical architecture models and architecture representations.
+ Experience of working with and defining architecture principles, policies and standards and the relevant governance.
+ Experience in delivering end to end architecture and solutions.
+ Experience of writing technical documents.
+ Ability to create and maintain relationships with a variety of technical and business stakeholders.
SFIA capability framework
Skills for the information age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all engineering levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework: All skills A–Z — English (sfia-online.org). We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process., + Changing and Improving
+ Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Strategic Planning (ITSP) Level 3
+ Innovation (INOV) Level 3
+ Enterprise and business architecture (STPL) Level 3
+ Solution Architecture (ARCH) Level 5
+ Specialist Advise (TECH) Level 4

+ A highly competitive pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
+ 25 days annual leave on appointment rising 1 day per year up to 30 days, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King’s birthday.
+ Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that is right for you including:
o Full time, part-time, flexitime, compressed hours and job sharing.
o A hybrid working model 60% of your hours in the office and 40% from home.
+ Training and development opportunities tailored to your role, including access to technical and professional accreditations.
+ A recruitment retention allowance reviewed annually.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
+ Enhanced parental leave schemes.
+ Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
Please find more information here - Benefits - Home Office Careers.