Description
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Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 21st August 2025
- Location: MOD Corsham, MOD Abbeywood and Main Building London
- Salary: £59,690 - £65,610
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
- Reference number: 417368
Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.
We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.
Watch our video to see what we do at Defence Digital!
Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity to join Defence Digital as a Lead Enterprise Architect within a new team, allowing you to influence and establish this area. You will play a pivotal role in shaping our digital future. In this exciting position, you will network and communicate with senior stakeholders across enterprises, seeking opportunities for improvement whilst supporting communities and teams.
You will also have the opportunity to work with the international Enterprise Architects to support NATO initiatives and meetings. This may require some international travel.
Responsibilities
Strategic Responsibilities:
- Provide enterprise-level architectural leadership across the Application and Software Services domain, covering micro services, software standards and APIs.
- Define and drive the future-state (To-Be) architecture and strategy, ensuring alignment with Defence Digital’s objectives and evolving threat and technology landscapes.
- Develop and maintain a strategic road map for Application and Software services, incorporating modern technologies.
- Lead the definition and documentation of the As-Is architecture in accordance with the TOGAF framework, providing a baseline for transformation planning.
- Contribute to strategic planning and investment decisions, influencing senior stakeholders and ensuring architectural considerations shape future capability development.
- Act as a senior architectural voice in governance boards, design authorities, relevant NATO meetings and cross-departmental forums, ensuring coherent enterprise-wide Application and Software solutions.
- Collaborate with domain leads to ensure interoperability and integration with broader defence architecture and enterprise services.
Operational Responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day line management and professional development support to a small team of architects within the Application and Software domain.
- Ensure the accurate modelling of current and future architectures using ArchiMate, supporting clear communication and stakeholder engagement.
- Work closely with delivery teams to embed architectural direction into programme and project execution, ensuring consistency with strategic intent.
- Support technical assurance and design review processes, ensuring compliance with architectural standards and security requirements.
- Maintain up-to-date architectural artefacts and documentation, contributing to the overall architecture repository.
- Engage with business analysts, engineers, and solution architects to ensure architecture is both practical and achievable within delivery constraints.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration across teams, promoting architectural best practice and reuse.
- Represent the MOD and UK at national at relevant national and international meetings.
Note; In this role you will represent the organisation in high level NATO forums and working groups which will require international travel.
For more information on the Enterprise Architect profession please see the Government Digital and Data Framework;
Person specification
To be successful in the role of Lead Enterprise Architect you will bring the following;
- Extensive Enterprise Architecture Leadership: Demonstrable success in leading enterprise architecture in complex, large-scale environments, with expertise in frameworks like TOGAF and the ability to define As-Is and To-Be architectures, strategies, and road maps.
- Deep Technical Acumen: Passion and practical experience in modern application and software technologies, including micro-services, orchestration, development pipelines, and API/integration technologies.
- Strategic Architectural Vision: Proven ability to shape and deliver long-term architectural strategies that align with organisational objectives, ideally with experience in contributing to strategic digital backbone initiatives.
- Influential Leadership & Collaboration: Strong track record of leading and mentoring technical teams, coupled with exceptional skills in influencing and collaborating with diverse multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders.
- Advanced Modelling & Communication: Proficient in architectural modelling tools (e.g., BizzDesign) and languages such as ArchiMate, with outstanding written and verbal communication skills to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to all audiences.
Application
When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max.1250 words) demonstrating the Essential Criteria listed below:
Essential Criteria
- Proven experience in leading enterprise architecture within complex, large-scale environments.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience with recognised frameworks such as TOGAF.
- Experience defining both As-Is and To-Be architectures, including visions, strategies, taxonomies, standards and patterns, and producing road maps to guide transformation.
- Experience of promoting pan-Defence reuse, operational sustainability, and scalability, to achieve value for money, drive integration by default, reduce duplicative technology across the enterprise and delivery portfolio.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Communicating between the technical and non-technical.
- Community collaboration
- Governance and assurance
- Problem definition and shaping
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday
- Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
- Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being
- Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms
- Pension contribution: 28.97%.
- Discover my benefits for more information
This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £15,300 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview and reviewed annually in line with departmental policy.
Learning & Development
In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- Professional and Personal Development of skills
- Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD
- Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
At sift, you will be assessed on the following:
Please complete the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard, ensuring your CV highlights your relevance to the Essential Criteria listed in the Person Specification above.
All applicants will also need to provide a Personal Statement (max. 1250 words) and it is vital that this includes evidence of the Essential Criteria. Your CV and personal statement will be assessed to determine your suitability to be invited to interview.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours, and Technical Skills:
Behaviours
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
- Communicating between the technical and non-technical
- Community collaboration
- Governance and assurance
- Problem definition and shaping
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Equality and Diversity
Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.
AI Usage in Job Applications
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Professional Framework Statement
Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing. Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.
This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Defence Digital is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way it conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Defence Digital and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Business's transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).
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)
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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