Enterprise Architect

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives.

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time.

We are looking for an experienced Enterprise Architect to drive the strategic technology direction of our organisation and support internal teams and suppliers to design and build excellent services. This role is pivotal in establishing a robust enterprise architecture approach, ensuring alignment across our Azure cloud services, platforms, digital products and our growing use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The successful candidate will play a key role in governing technical decisions that apply across the organisation, setting technology roadmaps, leading on strategy and guiding teams in designing and delivering cloud-native and AI-enabled solutions within our Microsoft Azure environment. You will work with multiple projects and architects to deliver secure digital services both small and large.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

As an Enterprise Architect, you'll:

• Work in a small team of enterprise architects to develop and implement an enterprise architecture framework that enables seamless alignment between business objectives and technical capabilities
• Provide expert input into and at points lead the Technical Design Board, ensuring informed and strategic decision-making
• Define and oversee technology governance and be a leader within the Community of Practice, encouraging innovation, ensuring compliance with relevant frameworks, security policies, and regulatory requirements that is endorsed and influenced by peers across the organisation
• Lead the creation and maintenance of an organisation-wide technology strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and digital strategies, and drive the "build once, reuse many" approach across the Azure estate
• Shape the organisation's EA approach to AI, defining reference architectures, patterns and guardrails for the safe, ethical and effective adoption of AI and generative AI services on Azure, in line with the AI Playbook for the UK Government
• Act as a technical advisor, guiding product teams, architects, engineers, and developers in designing and building resilient, secure, and scalable Azure-hosted services, including AI-enabled products
• Establish and drive adoption of modern digital ways of working and innovative technologies, cloud-native architecture, DevSecOps, and automation
• Ensure that platform teams and application teams collaborate effectively, creating a cohesive technology ecosystem
• Identify and develop necessary documentation and guidance to support a mature, enterprise-level digital organisation, advocating for best practices in Azure cloud governance, security, compliance and responsible AI
• Engage with senior stakeholders and third parties to ensure technology and AI decisions align with broader strategic outcomes and organisational priorities

Provide line management, coaching and mentoring, helping teams develop architecture capability and decision-making skills

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)

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 3 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (CV)

Experience & Technical: We will assess your CV on experience and technical according to the essential criteria in the job description.

Stage 2: Technical Assessment

Technical: Candidates who pass the sifting stage will be invited to complete a technical assessment. Those who are successful in the technical assessment will be invited to interview.

Stage 3: Interview

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 9th November 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place shortly after and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Grade 6 Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £84,032 (London), £76,840(National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance of up to £15,919 (National) or £15,765 (London) may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS + SC

London Office: BPSS + SC

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.