Solutions Architect
Permanent, Full Time
£49,819 to £58,610 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: *
Interviews will be held W/C 20th October 2025.
*Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in-person collaboration at our Chelmsford office, typically around 2 to 3 days per month dependent on business need.
Join a Council Shaping the Future of Public Services
Essex County Council (ECC) is on a bold journey to become one of the most effective, forward-thinking, and financially sustainable councils in the UK by 2030. At the heart of this transformation is a bold commitment to digital innovation and world-class customer service.
In this strategic and technically focused role, you’ll lead the design of enterprise-wide solutions that translate business needs into scalable, secure, and efficient technology platforms. As Solutions Architect, you’ll ensure ECC’s digital services are aligned with architectural principles and technical standards, supporting simplification, reuse, and innovation. You’ll work across teams and suppliers to shape solutions that deliver real value for residents, staff, and partners.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Design technical, data, security, and business solutions that translate user and service requirements into operationally viable technology.
2. Ensure solutions align with ECC’s architectural principles and technical reference architecture to support standardisation and reuse.
3. Apply policies, standards, and best practices to ensure compliance between business and technology plans.
4. Provide expert input into technical initiatives, ensuring consistent design and implementation across ECC’s digital estate.
5. Contribute to innovation by identifying market trends and alternative approaches that deliver business benefits and align with enterprise architecture.
6. Advise the Commercial Team on supplier and product selection, ensuring alignment with ECC’s architecture and operational principles.
7. Collaborate with business relationship managers, architects, designers, and suppliers to shape and present business cases for strategic initiatives.
8. Assess technology options and present strengths, weaknesses, and costs to stakeholders through clear, evidence-based recommendations.
The Experience You Will Bring:
9. Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.
10. Strong experience in solutions architecture, ideally within a large local authority or public sector service provider.
11. Proven track record of designing business and technical solutions that meet complex requirements and support simplification and reuse.
12. Accredited in TOGAF 9.2, with working knowledge of frameworks such as ArchiMate, BPMN, COBIT, and IT4IT.
13. Clear understanding of ICT standards and experience applying them in enterprise environments.
14. Skilled in using enterprise modelling tools such as EA Sparx and Orbus iServer.
15. Experience developing systems in line with GDS and Cyber Security Group guidelines.
16. Excellent communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
17. Committed to continuous professional development and staying current with emerging technologies and delivery practices.
Why Join ECC?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost.
Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in. With flexible working, excellent development opportunities, and the chance to work with a supportive team that’s passionate about what they do, Essex is the ideal place for you.
What else do you need to know?
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about
, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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