Senior/Principal Service Architect

Your Role in Our Ambition

Many organisations today have invested heavily in large, monolithic, long-term ICT services contracts that have often locked them into proprietary, inflexible delivery models and commercial arrangements. One consequence of this has been that over recent years these organisations have become less able to respond to the disruption of the digital era and the increasing pace, volatility, variety and scale of change that is now an everyday way of life in today’s business environment. 

In response, organisations are now turning away from these legacy ways of working and are bringing key functions like technology strategy, architecture and design closer to their in-house teams and core operations.  This allows them to regain control of their technology roadmaps, increase agility and responsiveness, delivering technology faster, better and cheaper.  As such, there is now a very high level of demand for architecture consultancy in our markets and Atkins are responding to this exciting opportunity

On the back of significant new business recently won in these areas, we are substantially growing our architecture consulting capability and skills portfolio, and , we  are looking to significantly expand the scope and scale of our capability in Solutions Architecture.  In addition to delivering outstanding client work, the successful candidate will take a key role in supporting the growth and development our Solutions Architecture capability in this time of exceptional opportunity

The Candidate

This role involves a blend of client-facing consulting, architectural design and technical assurance services, proposition development, thought leadership and business / sales development activities.  As such, we are looking for technical influencers, who are comfortable operating in fluid and uncertain environments.  This requires the successful candidate to be an experienced professional, with a proven track record of high-quality delivery within a customer focused, demanding and complex consulting environment.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate deep understanding of IT centric Service Architecture, Service Design and Service Integration methods, tools and frameworks.  With emphasis upon the effective & efficient development, delivery & operation of business services. And, how Service Architecture supports Business & Enterprise Architecture and contemporary Cloud, Digital technologies within complex multi-vendor ecosystems. In return, Atkins offers the successful candidate significant development opportunities arising through working in an expanding team, delivering services within some of the most complex and rewarding environments

Skills Required

The new Digital-age operating model is technically and commercially complex and clients need our help to move into the future whilst keeping business as usual and wider change programmes running efficiently.  To succeed, our customers require expert advisors who listen actively and advise clearly, exercising deep experience and mature methods. In this role, “soft skills” strong stakeholder communication & influencing ability is as equally important as technical knowledge and architecture skills.

Prospective candidates should be able to demonstrate core consulting competencies & specialist discipline experience.  The key qualities we are looking for are:

General Skills

• An Information & Technology background with relevant experience in a technical and/or consulting environment.

• An understanding of System Lifecycle Management including Concept through to Sourcing, Design, Build, Test, Deployment and Disposal Management. 

• Demonstrable experience in Requirements Definition and Management, calling out options, considerations & priorities which require a business decision.

• A strong interest and appreciation of technology trends and government IT strategy, such as, Cloud, Internet of Things, Cyber Security, Big Data and/or Digital Services Experience of information systems service design and delivery, applying Systems

• Experience of working with and collaborating across Technical and Project work streams to drive results.

• Experience of transitioning knowledge and deliverables to up-skill internal teams.

• Good general consulting skills (structured thinking, effective report writing and presentations, and strong stakeholder engagement). 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to influence effectively across multiple mediums.

• A good first degree in a science, computing or engineering subject.

• A high-level of self-initiation, organisation and enthusiasm.

• Personable team player, able to work under guidance and own initiative, adding expertise and value to project deliverables.

• Excellent stakeholder management experience with focus on nurturing & developing strong relationships.

Architecture Methods & Tools

• Experience of information systems design and delivery, applying Engineering and/or Service Architecture development methods and tools appropriately.

• An understanding of a range of architecture approaches, the factors involved in choosing the right approach and when and how they might be tailored.

• Experience in the design of high-level structures to enable and guide the design and development of integrated services that meet current and future business needs.

• The knowledge required to ensure the development of and modifications to service components are appropriately considered. (e.g. relevant architectures, strategies, policies, standards and practices (including security), ensuring that existing and planned service components remain compatible.).

• Experience of Continual Service Improvement strategies

• A solid understanding of how Service Architecture activities relate to programme/project management and Business Change.

• Articulates necessary changes to service components, processes, organisational structures, and operating models.

• Architectural modelling skills using UML, BPMN, ArchiMate 3.0 & Enterprise Architecture tooling such as Aris, Archi, BizzDesign, Sparx Enterprise Architect & MooD.

• Understanding of and experience with the use of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman and the ITIL & IT4IT service architecture frameworks.

• Knowledge of EASE and MODAF & NAF frameworks.

• Knowledge and experience of business analysis techniques and approaches.

Delivery Methods & Industry Experience

• Appreciation of Agile development methodologies including DSDM & SCRUM, DevOps & continuous methods.

• Experience of working within traditional & Agile delivery, such as using sprints, scrums, retrospectives, and backlogs.

• Experience working with Central Government, particularly in the Defence or Security and Intelligence sectors and experience across Base/Fixed systems, working to Defence ICT policies, including JSP 604 is highly desirable.

• Experience working in other business sectors such as Local Government; Regulated Industry (Utilities & Transportation) and/or private sector. 

Service Architecture Skills

• Experience translating business visions, goals, objectives and high-level requirements into Service Architectures 

• Experience developing service strategy, within the context of dynamic, agile, rapidly evolving environments

• Developing service models for large and complex programmes, managing performance and coherent service integration across multi-vendor ecosystems.

• Leading reviews of the as-is service architectures or in-flight projects, and communicating the findings of the review back to senior stakeholders

• Experience ensuring achievement of formal confirmation that service acceptance criteria have been met, and that the service provider is ready to operate the new service when it has been deployed.

• Experience with capture of full life costs across the solution’s service landscape

• Demonstrable experience of working within a SIAM environment with multiple support towers & service vendors

• ITIL Expert (ideally) with understanding of Service Strategy, Service Design, Services Operations

• Deep low-level understanding of ITIL processes with the ability to clearly mentor crown servants in the development of service operations management processes

Security

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary it will be discussed with you at interview. 

If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

Training

 

Atkins develops individuals through a portfolio of training and development activities designed to help you make the best of your abilities and talents. These are reviewed with individuals through an annual appraisal process. We actively support staff in achieving corporate membership of relevant institutions.

 

Rewards and Benefits

Please refer to our website for details of our full benefits package