Belfast; Birmingham; Bristol; Calder (Normanton); Leicester; London*; Warrington
* For roles based in London, your contractual place of work will be Stratford. While the Stratford site is expected to become operational from November 2025 – March 2026, you will be required to carry out your contractual duties from Vauxhall or another reasonable location on a temporary basis during the interim period. Please note that, as Stratford will be your contractual place of work, any subsequent move from a temporary location will not entitle you to payments for travel time or costs under the Relocation and Excess Travel Policy.
Job Summary
Our Lead Business Architects play a leading role in the oversight, coordination, design and development of the NCA's key capabilities and business architecture. They use their expert knowledge and experience to direct the work addressing high level and complex business scenarios. As a Lead Business Architect, you will be working with internal and external senior stakeholders, business leads and colleagues in Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) and other enabling functions to deliver our mission and strategy. You will lead and direct the application of architectural principles, methods and tools to business scenarios. You will use architectural methods to form a view of the whole enterprise in a way that is easily understood by stakeholders, and will provide overall direction, guidance and definition of business architecture to support strategy.
This role aligns to Lead Business Architect within the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.
If you would like to find out more about this role and the application process we will be holding a virtual opening evening via MS Teams on Wednesday 17th September 2025 at 6.00pm.
This event is by invitation only.
To register, please click on the following link DDaT VIRTUAL EVENT.
You will be asked for your name and email address. Please ensure that you spell your email address correctly.
Registration will close on Tuesday 16th September at 12:00pm. You will not be able to register after this date and time.
Please see our Privacy Policy for details on how your data is handled.
Job Description
The Enterprise Design Authority for Business (EDA-B) provides strategic, architectural and design expertise and direction for the National Crime Agency. EDA-B works with all areas of the NCA to make sure initiatives are aligned to strategies, mission priorities and relevant Operating Models as appropriate.
This role sits within the EDA-B team, which works across the Agency to develop and establish mechanisms for aligning the enterprise, technological solutions and technology architectures to the NCA's strategic direction. The role will work closely with Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) through the Architecture Community of Practice that aligns all architecture domains across the Agency. DDaT are at the heart of everything we do within the NCA, enabling the Agency to lead the UK s fight against serious and organised crime (SOC). The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.
We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success. We work closely with our operational teams to help them do their job in the most effective and efficient way, understanding their challenges and combining this with emerging technologies/techniques to obtain and exploit data in innovative ways to ensure we stay ahead of the criminals who are committing some of most serious crimes and inflicting harm to our society.
Are you ready to join the team?
*Duties And Responsibilities*
* Support the Head of EDA-B to lead the Business Architecture and Design activities that support NCA strategy and delivery of the Transformation Programme and related projects.
* Provide specialist business architecture expertise to the Chief Architect, other members of the architecture team, and the wider NCA, leading on working with business directorates across the Agency.
* Support the development and maintenance of, and adherence to, the NCA's Business and Enterprise Architecture to facilitate delivery strategies, operating models and programmes.
* Build the enterprise business capabilities model, working with the team to help define and maintain enterprise wide business standards, practices and design patterns, ensuring these align with the enterprise architectural plan, HMG strategies, policies, standards and industry good practice.
* Create and maintain a roadmap for business strategy for operational needs and ensure these align with strategic direction.
* Build artefacts such as business capability maps and value streams to help bridge the gap between strategy and execution.
* Establish and embed standards for business quality and its measurement. Act as a key stakeholder in the NCA's approach to the assurance of programme and project design and delivery.
* Collaborate with the EDA team on design assurance, standards, practices and making recommendations to design authorities as needed.
* Lead workshops and similar consultations with users and others to identify business needs.
* Support the delivery of the NCA's portfolio through business-led design. Provide business architecture and design leadership, architectural and design assurance and delivery advice.
* Look across the Agency and externally to identify and learn from business information architecture developments and trends.
The Enterprise Design Authority for Business (EDA-B) provides strategic, architectural and design expertise and direction for the National Crime Agency. EDA-B works with all areas of the NCA to make sure initiatives are aligned to strategies, mission priorities and relevant Operating Models as appropriate.
This role sits within the EDA-B team, which works across the Agency to develop and establish mechanisms for aligning the enterprise, technological solutions and technology architectures to the NCA's strategic direction. The role will work closely with Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) through the Architecture Community of Practice that aligns all architecture domains across the Agency. DDaT are at the heart of everything we do within the NCA, enabling the Agency to lead the UK s fight against serious and organised crime (SOC). The pace of change within the digital and tech world means we need to be agile and innovative in how we respond to threats while exploiting the opportunities this presents.
We are responsible for defining and delivering our data and technology strategy, policy and architecture, building and sustaining resilient services which are critical to our mission success. We work closely with our operational teams to help them do their job in the most effective and efficient way, understanding their challenges and combining this with emerging technologies/techniques to obtain and exploit data in innovative ways to ensure we stay ahead of the criminals who are committing some of most serious crimes and inflicting harm to our society.
Are you ready to join the team?
*Duties And Responsibilities*
* Support the Head of EDA-B to lead the Business Architecture and Design activities that support NCA strategy and delivery of the Transformation Programme and related projects.
* Provide specialist business architecture expertise to the Chief Architect, other members of the architecture team, and the wider NCA, leading on working with business directorates across the Agency.
* Support the development and maintenance of, and adherence to, the NCA's Business and Enterprise Architecture to facilitate delivery strategies, operating models and programmes.
* Build the enterprise business capabilities model, working with the team to help define and maintain enterprise wide business standards, practices and design patterns, ensuring these align with the enterprise architectural plan, HMG strategies, policies, standards and industry good practice.
* Create and maintain a roadmap for business strategy for operational needs and ensure these align with strategic direction.
* Build artefacts such as business capability maps and value streams to help bridge the gap between strategy and execution.
* Establish and embed standards for business quality and its measurement. Act as a key stakeholder in the NCA's approach to the assurance of programme and project design and delivery.
* Collaborate with the EDA team on design assurance, standards, practices and making recommendations to design authorities as needed.
* Lead workshops and similar consultations with users and others to identify business needs.
* Support the delivery of the NCA's portfolio through business-led design. Provide business architecture and design leadership, architectural and design assurance and delivery advice.
* Look across the Agency and externally to identify and learn from business information architecture developments and trends.
Person specification
* Demonstrable experience leading business architecture in large-scale transformation programmes, including development of target operating models, business capability frameworks and business design standards.
* Proven ability to drive alignment between business strategy, service design, and technology delivery across diverse stakeholders and functions.
* Extensive experience in business process modelling, capability mapping, and value stream definition using recognised frameworks and tools.
* Strong track record of embedding business architecture into governance, programme delivery and investment planning, including working with design authorities and assurance forums.
* Ability to translate complex organisational structures and operating models into clear, actionable designs that support prioritisation, planning and decision-making.
* Experience in shaping business architecture methods and developing reusable artefacts, standards and best practice guidance.
* Knowledge of enterprise and business architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF) and practical experience applying structured design approaches.
* Familiarity with public sector standards, government digital and data strategies, and experience aligning business design with strategic policy outcomes.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Knowledge of enterprise and business architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF) and practical experience applying structured design approaches.
* Demonstrable experience leading business architecture in large-scale transformation programmes, including development of target operating models, business capability frameworks, and business design standards.
Alongside your salary of £67,609, National Crime Agency contributes £19,586 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
New entrants to the NCA receive 26 days annual leave, rising to 31 on completion of 5 years continuous service, plus 8 bank holidays.
If qualifying criteria is met new joiners from UK Police Forces or the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC) will have service with those employers taken into account for continuous service purposes for annual leave entitlement only, this will be up to a maximum of 31 days leave (including 1 privilege day).
Other Benefits Include:
* Flexible working, including flexi-time, compressed hours and job sharing (in line with business requirements).
* Family friendly policies, notably above the statutory minimum.
* Learning and Development opportunities.
* Interest free loans and advances, including season tickets, childcare and rental deposits.
* Housing schemes - Key Worker status.
* Discounts and Savings with a wide variety of services including Cycle to Work, Smart Tech schemes, dental insurance, gym discounts and savings on everyday spending, available through the Reward Gateway, Edenred and Blue Light Card schemes.
* Staff support groups/networks.
* Sports and social activities, including membership to the Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC).
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
*How We Will Assess You*
Your application will be assessed against the following:
Experience
- This Will Be Assessed By The Following:
CV
Please include your full career history, training, qualifications, key responsibilities, and achievements. Explain any employment gaps in the last two years. Ensure all accreditation dates are accurate.
Details of what is expected within you CV are as follows: Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills including any key achievements in each role. It will be used to provide further context on your personal statement and scored against the skills and experience set out in the person specification, detailed in the job description.
Statement of Suitability
Please provide a 1,250 word personal statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria below.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the person specification, detailed in the job description.
A panel will assess how well your application demonstrates the requirements outlined above.
You will receive an acknowledgement once your application is submitted.
We aim to have sift completed and scores released within 10 working days of the closing date of the advert. For high volume campaigns this timeframe may be extended.
Scores will be provided but further feedback will not be available at this stage.
For guidance on the application process, visit: NCA Applying and Onboarding
Assessment 1
The format of this assessment will be Interview which will be tested on the criteria listed in the
Success Profiles at Assessment
section.
Success Profiles at Assessment
Behaviours
* Leadership
* Seeing the Big Picture
Technical
* Knowledge of enterprise and business architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF) and practical experience applying structured design approaches.
* Demonstrable experience leading business architecture in large-scale transformation programmes, including development of target operating models, business capability frameworks, and business design standards.
*Experience*
* Architectural thinking, relevant experience and how you approach complex delivery within the given domain, aligned to the person specification, detailed in the job description.
Presentation
Applicants that are invited to interview will be asked to deliver a presentation based on the below criteria:
You will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation at interview. This will be on the Experience criteria listed within the advert. The presentation scenario will be provided ahead of the interview.
Assessment Outcome
Outcomes will be communicated via the NCA recruitment portal.
If successful but no role is immediately available, you may be placed on a reserve list for 12 months.
In The Event Of a Tie At The Assessment Stage, Available Roles Will Be Offered In Merit Order Using The Following Order:
* Lead criteria (behaviours/technical/experience)
* If still tied, desirable criteria will be assessed (if advertised)
* If still tied, application sift scores will be used
Feedback is provided only to those who attend an assessment.
You will be subject to vetting and pre-employment checks before appointment.
Once the vacancy closes, the advert will no longer be accessible. Please save a copy for your records.
We encourage all candidates to visit the NCA Careers Page for more information.
Full advert details for this vacancy can found on the advert on the NCA Recruitment Portal. Please follow the link to apply at advertisers' site.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name :
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
If you believe your application has not been treated fairly, email: (quoting the vacancy reference). If unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the Civil Service Commission.