THE NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND
MANAGING EMPLOYER: CHECS
IT DEPARTMENT
JOB PROFILE
JOB TITLE:
IT Technical Architect
GRADE:
Competitive
LOCATION:
Church House
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Head of Technical Architecture
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
N/A
KEY RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal IT department colleagues, NCI employees and managers, other
service users and external IT providers
BACKGROUND:
The IT Department has undergone a radical transformation. IT now
executes a mixture of on-premise, Cloud and 3rd party sourced IT
services, in a an entirely new and modern IT infrastructure that utilises
the latest technologies. The IT function serves 600 staff in NCIs and NCIs
co-located bodies and aims to adopt common solutions across NCIs
where practical. IT provides a broad range of customer focused IT
services such as technical architecture and support, networks, change
management, business analysis, project management, Training,
Procurement, systems administration and applications hosting requiring
a range of sophisticated and innovative skills.
JOB SUMMARY:
To design, develop and deliver integrated technology solutions, IT
architecture and roadmaps, provide technical consultancy and support
and work with colleagues, projects and 3rd parties to conduct IT impact
assessments, specify and recommend organisation wide integrated
solutions and operate as an intelligent IT partner to business areas to
ensure their needs and priorities are reflected in IT plans and delivered
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MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
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Work with the Business Analysts, IT colleagues and departments to understand business
requirements and inform business cases and gather and translate technical requirements so
that solution options recommended provide the best fit against requirements
Carry out a mix of architecture, systems and business analysis and produce high level design
documents and solution designs that effectively meet business needs
Undertake IT impact assessments in response to change requests and business cases and
pprovide in-depth analysis of several solution options, as well as take the lead on the design
where required
Create the high level impact assessment responses at the scoping stage ensuring the 'as-is’
application landscape is captured and the 'to-be’ application landscape is defined and impacted
Review and identify technical specifications, define the scope of solutions, produce clear
technical design documentation and diagrams and ensure they fit with the overall systems
architecture for NCIs
Support the Lead Technical Architect to perform the design authority role on projects ensuring
change control, that solutions align to the solution architecture and design issues are managed
and resolved as they arise
Active involvement in any vendor selection processes and projects delivering solutions that
need to integrate with NCIS IT platform
Provide technical consultancy across a broad technology spectrum to IT colleagues and NCIs
departments, staff and 3rd party IT providers
Provide support across the NCIs applications, databases, servers, network, hosting platform and
new systems development, including problem resolution and release management
Develop technical standards and IT security documentation and work with projects, NCIs
colleagues and 3rd parties engaged in IT procurement and development to ensure compliance
Business Partner NCI departments to understand their services and information processing
needs, support them effectively and inform their business plans and IT plans
Keep abreast with developments in the IT industry to ensure solution architectures are kept in
line with industry standard and only deviate for added value and benefit purposes
The main duties and responsibilities of your post are outlined in your job description. This list is not
exhaustive and is intended to reflect your main tasks and areas of work. Changes may occur over time
and you will be expected to agree any reasonable changes to your job description that are
commensurate with your banding and in line with the general nature of your post. You will be
consulted about any changes to your job description before these are implemented.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
This section outlines the requirements and qualities the post-holder needs in order to fulfil the post.
These are divided into ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria and both are grouped into the categories listed
below. ‘Essential’ criteria are those that the post-holder absolutely must have in order to do the job,
i.e. the job cannot be done without those qualities. ‘Desirable’ criteria are those qualities that would
be either useful, an advantage or preferable to have in order to do the job or those which can be trained
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to do, i.e. the job can be done without those qualities. Anything that is not absolutely ‘essential’ falls
into this category.
Essential
Education:
 A degree in IT or a related business topic
 Certified or highly knowledgeable ITIL and TOGAF
Skills/Aptitudes:
 Ability to effectively problem solve and identify solutions
 Ability to bridge the gap between business process, technical architecture and solution architecture
 Proficiency in methods and techniques for structured reviews, including reviews of non-functional
requirements, technical documents, test plans, business cases and other key deliverables
 Strong written and verbal communication skills
 Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
 Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Knowledge/Experience:
 Significant experience in developing and supporting IT systems and providing integrated solutions
that operate on the core technologies in use
 Experience in working with functional, technical, design and business processes to create solution
designs for new or existing systems
 Experience in IT Industry and IT security standards, architecture principles and views design,
solutions modelling and systems behavior
 A proven track record in a similar role to provide consultancy and support
 Strong analysis, design, testing and problem solving skills
 Outstanding communication and relationship building skills
 Database and Data structure knowledge
Personal Attributes:
 Committed to delivering a high level of customer service
 Passionate about getting things right first time
 A sense of urgency and commitment to completion of work, attention to detail, quality and
confidentiality
 Committed to continuing professional development and identifying means to update key
knowledge
Circumstances:
The role is based in Westminster and requires working at Lambeth Palace or Bermondsey and
occasional travel to Supported Housing locations across the Country
Desirable
Education:
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Lean Six Sigma
Skills/Aptitudes:
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Project management
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Knowledge/Experience:
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Good experience of IT Architecture and underlying frameworks, including the development and
ensuring adherence to Architecture principles and standards
GENERAL CONDITIONS:
Diversity
We understand the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds, with diverse
cultures and talents. We aim to create a workforce that:
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values difference in others and respects the dignity and worth of each individual
reflects the diversity of the nation that the Church of England exists to serve
fosters a climate of creativity, tolerance and diversity that will help all staff to develop to their full
potential.
We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and ensuring that all employees, job
applicants, customers and other persons with whom we deal are treated fairly and are not subjected
to discrimination. We want to ensure that we not only observe the relevant legislation but also do
whatever is necessary to provide genuine equality of opportunity. We expect all of our employees to
be treated and to treat others with respect. Our aim is to provide a working environment free from
harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form which may affect the dignity of the individual.
Standards of Behaviour and Conduct
Staff are expected to act at all times with due consideration for others and in a manner befitting their
position as employees of the Church and as professionals, whatever their job.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
The NCIs take Health and Safety at work very seriously and require their staff to familiarise themselves
with, and follow, their policy.
Confidentiality
Staff must not pass on to unauthorised persons, any information obtained in the course of their duties
without the permission of their Head of Department.
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TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Starting Salary:
Competitive
Pension Contributions:
Non-clergy staff will be admitted to the Church Administrators Pension
Fund (CAPF, DC Section). Clergy already in the Church of England Funded
Pensions Scheme (CEFPS) will have the option of either remaining in this
scheme or joining the CAPF scheme.
There is no contracting – out certificate under the Pension Schemes Act
1993 in force for this employment in relation to the CAPF and CEFPS.
Both CAPF and CEFPS members are contracted-in to the State Second
Pension.
Hours of Duty:
Normal hours of work are 35 per week, Monday to Friday with an hour’s
unpaid break for lunch.
Annual Leave:
25 days paid leave per leave year. This is exclusive of public holidays and
additional holidays approved by your employer.
Season Ticket Loan:
Staff are eligible to apply for an interest-free travel season ticket loan for
their journey to and from work.
Contract:
The post is offered on an open-ended contract, subject to a six month
probationary period.
Please note, if you have not heard from us within 3 days of the interview date, you have been
unsuccessful in your application.
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