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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Solution Architect - ServiceNow - **Company:** Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - **Location:** Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £56,375.0 - £69,105.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** HTML, JavaScript (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Software as a Service, System Configuration, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Lightweight Directory Access Protocols (LDAP), Machine Learning, Search Technologies, Systems Integration, Web Services, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Transport Layer Security, Enterprise Software Applications, ServiceNow IT Service Management, Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, AI Platforms, Servicenow - **Published:** October 1, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=7895224c74e85188 ## About the Role * Proven experience as a key technical resource leading the development of platforms specifically around areas such Customer service management (CSM), IT service management (ITSM), IT Operations management (ITOM), IT asset management (ITAM), Integrations workplace service delivery (WSD) HR Service delivery (HRSD) etc. * Excellent Knowledge of integrating with internal and external applications and systems * Ability to influence and consult at all levels around key technical decisions aligned to ServiceNow best practices * Excellent technical knowledge of components such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Virtual private network (VPN), Secure sockets layer (SSL), Extensible Markup Language (XML), Hyper text markup language (HTML), JavaScript, Web Services, etc and of working in a SaaS environment * Strong analytical skills, communication, and presentation skills * Deep understanding of ITIL processes and best practice approaches * Certified or willing to work towards becoming a ServiceNow System Administrator AI Skills at Practitioner level * Experience with ServiceNow AI solutions, including Now Assist, Generative AI Controller, and AI-powered workflows and MCP * Understanding of AI/ML concepts and their application within ServiceNow platforms * Experience configuring and implementing AI Search, Virtual Agent, and conversational AI capabilities * Ability to identify and deliver AI-driven automation opportunities to improve service efficiency and user experience * Knowledge of prompt engineering and best practices for generative AI solutions * Experience integrating ServiceNow with AI services through APIs and connectors, * Seeing the Big Picture * Communicating and Influencing * Making Effective Decisions Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: * Strategy Design (working level) * Community Collaboration (practitioner level) * Making Architecture Decisions (practitioner level) * Problem Definition and Shaping (practitioner level) * Architecture Communication (practitioner level), This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills., These skills are aligned to the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework skills within Senior Solution Architect. Ensure you demonstrate how you meet these requirements when writing your statements and where you have demonstrated those skills., Technical Skills The technical skills are aligned with the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework for the Senior Solution Architect profession. Each skill has one of four levels of expertise associated with it, Awareness, Working, Practitioner or Expert. To find out more about them, please visit the website - Skill levels for digital and technology roles, As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)., Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check . ## Description Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink., The Group Infrastructure Operations (GIO) function within Digital, Data, Technology and Security (DDTS) is recruiting a Solution Architect with a focus on ServiceNow® to join their team on a permanent basis. Your main responsibility will be to provide governance and technical guidance for Defra’s instances of the ServiceNow® enterprise service management platform. Your focus, in-depth knowledge of the ServiceNow Platform and the ServiceNow product pipeline helps future-proof business and technical decisions. Defra’s ServiceNow® Platform provides a strategic service supporting the operation of Defra’s business. There is a high dependence on the availability of this service and a need to respond to the needs of many differing business demands and priorities which is a feature of its position with Defra as a strategic platform. We are seeking a candidate to support the Senior Service Tool Manager and the Platform Owner to maintain the integrity of Defra’s investment in ServiceNow® by making sure the platform is governed to best practice standards. You will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and users as part of the projects you work on. Please note this post requires Security Check (SC) clearance. To gain (SC) clearance all applicants are required to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 5 years. If this requirement is not met, the individual will not be able to progress their application further., * Ensuring alignment of ServiceNow platform capabilities to Defra’s strategic objectives and ServiceNow roadmap * Guide the Platform Support Team in implementation of technical good practices, policies and procedures * Provide architectural controls and analysis of impacts for new requirements, including overseeing the service now technical governance board * Design MID server architecture and configure to support applications such as Discovery, Service Mapping, Event Management and Cloud Management * Evaluate emerging ServiceNow technologies and the evolution of current functionality to define roadmaps to meet business needs * Engage with the Defra's wider Architect community to position ServiceNow as the strategic enterprise tooling platform * Managing the ServiceNow solution design for complex projects, ensuring best practice, quality and fit for purpose outcome, Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee. Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Reserve list A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Childcare Vouchers Any move to DEFRA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website. Near miss Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match., * 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 ## Related Videos - [This App Reached 10,000 Users in One Week. 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