Technical Architect

We are responsible for:

• Facilitating and delivering the Cross-Government AI adoption at scale
• Defining the Principles and sharing Best Practice, baseline standards for responsible AI enablement at Scale
• Research and publish technical, deeper dives on AI enablement technologies and practices, such as AI Insights
• Operating models for AI deployment, assurance and Governance at scale
• Ensure widespread access to foundational AI tools
• Publish Digital, Data and Technology Strategy and Standards, like the Technology Code of Practice, the Service Standard and Open Standards
• Cross-government GDaD performance and assurance, including Spend Controls and AI Assurance Advisory
• GDaD Capability Development, including the GDaD pay framework

The roles we are recruiting sit at the heart of this mission, focused on strengthening the UK public sector’s ability to enable and scale our AI Adoption. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need, The Technical Architects in the Public Sector AI Adoption unit in GDS exist to make building and buying AI technology easier in the UK Public Sector. In this role, you will work to set strategies, principles, and standards, and identify best practices, as well as supporting the adoption and embedding of these into the public sector, helping digital and data colleagues in these organisations deliver transformational change.

You will be aligned to a Grade 6 Principal Technologist who will mentor and support you, as well as set you challenging tasks to further your team’s objectives.

As a Technical Architect, you will be supporting the AI Technology Enablement team to:

• undertake research, input into and shape a 10-year intent and strategy for the AI enablement, and support colleagues in gaining cross-government endorsement for this
• work with stakeholders to shape a government digital strategy geared towards harnessing AI for the public good, translating complex technical concepts into straightforward language to influence strategic decision-makers. This includes drafting strategy papers and best-practice guidance, and delivering presentations to senior stakeholders and ministers
• identify and or develop existing principles, standards and best practices and promote them, or form and lead a group of technologists from across the UK Public Sector to create these
• work with vendors to maximise their offer to the UK Public Sector, and with the Crown Commercial Service in commercial engagements with vendors
• build a network of peers across the UK Public Sector to regularly engage with
• promote your work through content written for the Knowledge hub, GOV.UK, speaking engagements and hosting community events
• help upskill others in GDS and DSIT in your specialist area

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post., * a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and for you to answer 2 application questions.

• a video assessment - Candidates brought through from the application stage will be asked to submit a short video response to a question. This will be shared with the selected applicants
• a 60 minute video interview. As part of the interview process there will be a presentation exercise. Details around the presentation exercise will be shared for candidates invited for an interview.

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is:

• Describe a time when you used your technical background to roll out an AI enabled solution aligned to strategic priorities.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• seeing the Big Picture
• communicating and influencing
• working Together
• making Effective Decisions

We’ll also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Digital and Data Capability Framework for the Technical Architect role:

• architect for the whole context
• making architectural decisions
• strategy design
• architecture communication, A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will 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. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.

Sponsorship

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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)
• 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

• you should be excited about thinking long-term and helping deliver technology-related change, particularly within AI enablement and scaling AI
• you must have a technical background and be able to use this experience to make and guide architectural design decisions, build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and decide execution approaches characterised by risk and complexity
• you have strong written and verbal communication skills, and are able to translate complex concepts into straightforward language with ease to support wider organisational objectives
• you should have some experience working with technology suppliers
• you should be comfortable presenting to senior stakeholders, both technical (e.g. Principal GDaD professionals) and non-technical (including SCS and ministers)
• learning should be embedded in the way you approach your working week, and you should be keen to share your learning with those around you
• you should be at the top skill levels in your Digital & Data specialism, most likely from the Architecture, Data, or Software Development groups.
• you should hold, or be working towards, relevant industry certifications in AI as your technical specialism.

Childcare, Annual leave, Employee discount, Company pension, Paid volunteer time, Cycle to work scheme, £58,063 - £89,880, There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for the King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

Any move to Government Digital Service 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

Office attendance The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period. DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government. Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by: * joining up public sector services * harnessing the power of AI for the public good * strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure * elevating leadership and investing in talent * funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation * committing to transparency and driving accountability We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government. We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol. The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale. Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need