Senior Technical Architect - M365

The Chief Data Officer (CDO) Directorate provides business-critical systems and services to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) business users at all locations at which UKHSA staff work. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has primary responsibility for technical infrastructure and the corporate services running upon it. ICT has staff at a number of locations throughout UKHSA.

We’re recruiting for a Senior Systems Architect to be part of our Workplace Platforms team to help shape and secure our collaboration applications for end user services.

In this role, you will collaborate on projects and programmes of all scales to deliver end-to-end Microsoft 365 (M365) solutions and implement designs based on business requirements, strategic drivers, best practices, and Microsoft guidance. This will involve a mix of business-as-usual and project work focused on optimising and enhancing the Microsoft 365 platform, including services like Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and Teams to drive productivity, collaboration, and security.

Join our Workplace Platforms team as we embark on a transformative journey to trial and rollout innovative solutions like Purview and Co-pilot to align with our evolving needs and current business requirements.

This role attracts a Market Pay Supplement of up to £10,000 to September 2026, the amount awarded will be based on the outcome of a capability assessment.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

As part of Workplace Platforms within the Identity Management Team, as senior member, you will get the opportunity to work on vital projects with a wide range of responsibilities. You will work within specified technical specialties and provide technical expertise in the configuration, implementation and management of M365 services.

• Act as the primary expert for M365, providing guidance on best practices, upgrades, and new features
• Provide guidance to IT teams, resolving high-level technical escalations, and conducting workshops to improve the team's knowledge
• Creating and maintaining comprehensive architectural blueprints and technical documentation (High-Level Design/HLD) for M365 environments
• Assist in developing and implementing security, compliance, and governance policies, including configuring Microsoft Purview, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Conditional Access policies
• Usage of PowerShell to automate administrative and deployment tasks to enhance efficiency
• Manage and lead associated Technical Specialists within the Identity\M365 team

Main Duties

• Managing UKHSA's M365 roadmap on a day-to-day basis, overseeing the monitoring, planning, and implementation of updates, features, and enhancements within the M365 suite
• Collaborate with a team of Technical Specialists and Architects to design and implement cutting-edge solutions for collaboration applications and services within UKHSA
• Ensure a consistent, secure user Identity journey is fully supported across all M365 and related Azure services
• Lead the development of and delivery of strategic roadmaps for M365, ensuring alignment with business goals and requirements
• Play a pivotal role in the deployment of new technologies, with a focus on Microsoft M365 to enhance efficiency
• Cover the end-to-end solution across a range of technical domains but may only be responsible for one part of that solution

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours, and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV).

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. Please do not exceed 1000 words.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Experience of designing and building Microsoft 365 architectures in support of IT programmes and project

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview. Behaviours, and Technical skills will be tested at interview. The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Seeing the Big Picture (lead behaviour)
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and influencing

There will be a 10-15 minute presentation You will be asked to present on a topic related M365 architecture.

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Additional Information

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Future Location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

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