Lead Solution Architect

Closing Date2025-02-28Job Title: Lead Solution Architect Location: Durrington, Worthing Contract Type: Permanent Hours: 37 hours/ week There has never been a better time to join our organisation as we build towards a greener future, tackling climate change, minimising our environmental impact and reducing our carbon footprint!Due to internal promotion, we now have a fantastic opportunity to join us as a Lead Solution Architect.Job OverviewAs a Lead Solution Architect, you'll play an important role in shaping and design our digital solutions at Southern Water across all aspects of our business.Reporting to the Head of IT Strategy & Architecture, you'll be responsible for helping enable robust, scalable, and innovative solutions which mean the needs of our overall digital transformation aligned to our wider company objectives.Your expertise will be critical to ensuring the success of our projects, platforms and digital products which make a difference to people's lives.You'll be working as part of a wider IT & Data directorate; which provides a range of IT and business services to our wider organisation, along with improving the efficiency and security of our enabling technologies running within the directorate.You'll be leading the Solution Architecture capability alongside managing a range of resources who will collectively work together under your direction across a range of transformation activities; ensuring that key design and architecture decisions are made in a pragmatic, balanced way.This will include running Design Authority sessions, playing an active role in the Architecture Review Board and Technical Design Authority, and contributing to a range of digital strategy and roadmap outputs.Responsibilities will include:Leading the Solution Architecture team within Southern Water.Providing oversight and support for the solution architecture across active projects and programmes.Ensuring solutions are compliant to key functional and non-functional requirements.Applying a component and build-block based architecture approach, utilising a range of existing applications, technology platforms and helping select appropriate solutions where there are gaps in capability.Although there's no current direct reports, you will be managing and directing resources within the Solution Architecture team, including permanent staff, contractor resources and implementation partners.Working with partners on developing solutions that fully utilise the capabilities available, including showcasing industry leading capability where available.Ensuring documentation such as Solution Options, High Level Design documents and Key Design Decisions are produced to the right quality in a timely manner, contributing and leading where needed.Working with the wider IT Strategy & Architecture team to ensure solutions are compliant to standards and patterns introduced, bringing in their expertise into the overall solution.Providing technology leadership where needed for critical issues or areas of significant concern.Coaching and mentoring more junior members of the IT & Data directorate if requested as part of their career development.Attending, contributing and where appropriate leading within technical governance meetingsINTERFACESWorking effectively within the IT Strategy & Architecture team.Collaborating with Business Partner Managers and Business Analysts on the solution needs.Presenting to a range of audiences across our business.Interacting with our Chief Digital & Transformation officer to communicate solution design where needed.AUTONOMY/FREEDOM TO ACTAble to operate as the Lead Solution Architect with minimal input.Maintaining security and confidentially of our information and data.Managing and prioritising resources effectively.Keeping information related to our applications and technology up to date.Escalating and dealing with escalation where appropriate.About YouEssential knowledge and experienceSignificant, in-depth, and relevant experience as a Solution Architect.Experience in leading and managing technical teams as a Solution Architect, including operating as a Lead Solution Architect.Strong communication skills, being a self-service and able to work independently but operating well within a team.Able to work independently, taking full ownership of problems through to solutions .Strong problem solving and technical aptitude.Able to build relationships and work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders.Experience with business process analysis.Experience with TOGAF or relevant architecture frameworks.Able to undertake product evaluation and fit/gap analysis work.Understanding of how to adopt agile architecture principles and practices.Experience working in the utilities sector or other highly regulated industryPackageThis role will be full time Monday to Friday 37 hours a week.
Southern Water operate a hybrid approach to working between either our Durrington or Falmer office and home.Salary is dependent on skills and experience plus other benefits including:• Company and performance-related bonus• Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution• Life assurance payment equal to four times your annual salary• Health benefits through a Cash Plan• Two paid community volunteering days a year• 25 days annual holiday• Occupational health service• Perkbox benefits offering discounts and savings on several products and experiences• Study support may be available for job-related qualifications• We offer competitive maternity leave and flexible return to work optionsJoin our Architecture team and see how far your career could progress with a company committed to career progression, training and development opportunities, our customers and the environment.Does this opportunity excite you but you're not 100% sure if you meet all the requirements for the role?
Or are you concerned that 'normal' office hours aren't possible given your personal circumstances?
Whilst we can't accommodate every flexible working request, we'll try to find a practical solution.
So why not engage with us and find out more about this role?Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, because delivering water for life is our core purpose.
To achieve this, we need 24/7 support in place to resolve incidents quickly and efficiently.
All our employees understand the importance of out-of-hours incident support – because when problems appear, fixing them is our top priority.
That's why our people join together and support when and however needed to make sure our customers get the service they deserve.
Joining the Southern Water family means you'll become part of our incident support team.
During your interview, your manager will speak to you about any incident support rotas that apply to your position.Privacy Statement:Please note: If you are an existing Southern Water employee, you will need to confirm within your application that your Manager is aware of your application.All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK.
You will need to provide evidence of eligibility (e.g.
a passport or long birth certificate and proof of NI) and current proof of address (dated within the last 3 months), will be required as part of the recruitment process.
If you do not meet these criteria, your application will not be considered.#LI-Hybrid