Solution Architect
London Borough of Havering
Contract: Permanent / Hybrid
Pay: Grade 10 – £59,511 to £63,966 per annum

The London Borough of Havering is looking for an experienced Solution Architect to play a key role in shaping the future of our digital services. You will design and govern end-to-end solutions that are secure, scalable, aligned with the council’s strategic goals and helping to deliver modern, intuitive services that make a real difference to residents, businesses and staff.

About the Role

As a Solution Architect, you’ll translate business and user needs into robust, sustainable technology solutions. Working closely with colleagues across user-centred design, product, engineering and cyber security, you’ll ensure our services are resilient, compliant and future-ready. You’ll also help embed good architecture practice across the organisation and act as a trusted advisor on design decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design of effective, end-to-end solution architectures that meet user, business, and technical requirements.
• Ensure solutions align with the council’s enterprise principles, data strategy, and relevant government standards (DDaT, SFIA, WCAG).
• Govern delivery through design reviews, risk assessments and non-functional requirements such as resilience, performance and operability.
• Make build vs buy recommendations (SaaS, COTS) and select appropriate integration patterns (APIs, events, ETL).
• Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to deliver secure, sustainable services.
• Share knowledge, mentor colleagues and contribute to the council’s architecture standards and patterns.

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Proven experience designing and governing solutions within a complex organisation.
• A strong background in cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP), integration and security-by-design.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture methods such as TOGAF (or equivalent).
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical trade-offs to non-technical stakeholders.
• A degree or equivalent experience, with relevant certifications in architecture or digital strategy welcomed.

As one of the greenest boroughs in London, resourcefulness is in our nature. We don’t wait to be told, we take the initiative. We face the future head-on, embracing new challenges with open minds and fresh ideas. There’s lots of opportunities to progress here, and if you seize them we’ll support you all the way. Choose Havering and see the difference you’ll make to the people that live, work and learn here.

This role will be carried out via hybrid working, consisting of a combination of remote working and office-based engagement.

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.