Job Summary
Previous applicants who have not successfully applied for this role in the last six months are not eligible to apply on this occasion. Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. West Midlands Police have completed a large-scale digital transformation programme, and technologies such as Cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Mobility are now part of everyday policing. This role will help focus and shape our path in the Synergy strategy, driving real‑world impact on policing technology and enabling us to excel at our vision: to prevent crime, protect the public and help those in need.
Role Overview
As the Principal Infrastructure Architect, you sit within the Architecture Management function of the IT & Digital department. You will lead the design and modelling of strategic and tactical architectures for delivery, development and support of projects, working closely with the User Experience team to identify opportunities for improving user experiences across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the design and modelling of strategic and tactical architectures for delivery, development, and support of projects.
* Build the long‑term strategic roadmap for infrastructure architecture, prioritising removal of technical debt.
* Lead a team to develop end‑to‑end solution designs that meet business objectives and deliver excellent customer outcomes, ensuring they adhere to architectural, security and quality standards.
* Work alongside the User Experience team to identify ways to improve existing solutions, systems and processes.
* Engage with business stakeholders to shape ideas into deliverable outcomes.
* Develop and maintain policies, standards and guidelines, ensuring a consistent framework across the organisation.
* Lead architecture for infrastructure and security, capturing the existing state and defining the future state transition.
* Be accountable for design deliverables, ensuring they are fit for purpose in governance meetings and align to end‑state blueprints.
* Manage the Architecture Repository, creating, maintaining and reporting roadmaps for the as‑is and to‑be states.
* Track design deliverables throughout the lifecycle of the department.
* Collaborate with the User Experience team within IT&D to prioritise Synergy opportunities for implementation.
* Ensure Architecture Governance is followed as designs progress through the Design > Build > Run operating model.
* Mentor a team of infrastructure architects, managing workload, demand and performance.
* Manage the Infrastructure Portfolio and its continuous evolution.
* Lead the creation and review cycle of standards, blueprints and architecture templates.
* Oversee the “Front Door” for new technology requests and associated staff within the Business Link function.
* Promote the Force’s diversity agenda and provide an escalation route for issues.
* Negotiate with partner agencies, suppliers and contractors to achieve desirable outcomes.
* Plan and organise individual or team activities, supporting longer‑term goals.
* Provide specialist advice to assist senior colleagues in making significant business decisions.
* Assist the Head of Architecture in formulating strategic direction for the team and unit.
* Produce reports and working papers with recommendations for improvements or amendments to architecture and designs.
* Support the promotion of the department through engagement with operational staff.
* Deputise for the Head of Architecture as required to promote national architecture and design standards.
Essential Skills
* Valid infrastructure technology certification (AWS or Azure).
* Experience building infrastructure architecture roadmaps.
* Ability to establish, implement and enforce IT standards to meet business needs.
* Comprehensive knowledge of hardware, software, application and systems engineering for cloud and on‑premises infrastructure.
* Experience designing, integrating and managing complex solutions.
* Strategic thinking that challenges conventional technology refresh and hype.
* Strong leadership, negotiation and consensus building skills.
* Direct line‑management experience across multiple disciplines.
* Experienced in reviewing and challenging technical designs and architectures.
* High‑level technical expertise in infrastructure architecture.
* Excellent written and verbal communication with senior managers.
* Meeting presentation and organisational skills, capable of working under pressure.
* Experience of coaching and mentoring technical colleagues.
* End‑to‑end project experience with consulting skills.
* Quick adaptation to new technologies.
* Ability to shape business requirements into design solutions.
* First‑class design skills producing detailed specifications for development teams.
* Negotiation and influencing skills with suppliers.
Desirable Skills
* Architecture certification such as TOGAF.
* Experience in formal board participation and governance.
* ITIL Foundation certificate or demonstrable understanding of ITIL processes.
* Flexibility to use a variety of supporting technologies and to innovate.
Benefits
* Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a competitive pension scheme.
* Enhanced annual leave beyond public holiday entitlements.
* Discounts on travel, parking, daily living costs and leisure activities.
* Comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs.
Vetting
Successful applicants will be required to pass Management Vetting and Security Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, including a full background and financial disclosure.
Medical
Appointment to this role may depend upon successfully completing medical checks, which may include a drug test and, if required, a fitness test.
Interview
To be confirmed.
Contact
Email: careers@westmidlands.police.uk
Disability Confident
West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader. All candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview.
Diversity and Inclusion Vision
Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities.
About Us
West Midlands Police is the second‑largest police force in the country, serving Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull and Dudley. We handle more than 2,000 emergency calls every day and patrol the streets around the clock.
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