Solution Architect

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Job summary

The Solution Architect provides corporate-level architectural leadership, authoritative design governance and enterprise solution assurance across the Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospitals Collaborative.

The postholder holds system-wide accountability for ensuring that all major digital investments, including EPR, PACS, LIMS, Microsoft platforms, integration services, infrastructure modernisation and data platforms are architecturally sound, secure, interoperable, scalable and aligned to enterprise strategy and national NHS frameworks.

The role carries substantial responsibility for:

  • Patient safety implications of solution design
  • Enterprise cyber resilience
  • Multi-million-pound capital investment integrity
  • Long-term sustainability and technical debt management
  • Regulatory compliance (DSPT, Clinical Safety, IG)
  • Organisational digital maturity

Decisions taken at this level directly influence service continuity, financial stewardship, system integration integrity, regulatory assurance and organisational reputation across multiple Acute Trusts.

The Solution Architect operates with significant professional autonomy and acts as a senior Design Authority across the Collaborative, providing executive-level advice to programme boards, digital governance committees and clinical leadership.

Main duties of the job

Act as senior Design Authority for solution and service architecture across major transformation programmes and cross-Trust initiatives.

Translate enterprise architecture strategy, target operating models and ICS digital objectives into executable architectural blueprints.

Lead the development and governance of enterprise solution patterns, standards, reference architectures and reusable design frameworks.

Influence technology direction and investment decisions to reduce technical debt, improve resilience and optimise long-term cost structures.

Provide architectural input to corporate digital strategy and enterprise roadmap planning.

Shape cross-organisational convergence strategies to standardise platforms and improve system interoperability.

Horizon scan emerging technologies (AI, cloud-native services, automation, interoperability innovations) and assess safe adoption pathways.

Chair or formally contribute to Architecture Review Boards and design governance forums.

Approve architectural designs for high-value, high-risk or system-critical digital investments.

Provide architectural oversight and assurance for substantial multi-million-pound digital programme investments.

Define cost models, lifecycle implications and total cost of ownership for proposed solution designs.

Provide formal input into business case development, investment prioritisation and capital planning.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Master’s degree level (or equivalent depth of knowledge gained through substantial senior experience) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Digital Architecture, Engineering, Health Informatics or a related discipline, demonstrating highly specialised architectural expertise across multiple enterprise technology domains.
  • Formal Enterprise Architecture and/or Solution Architecture certification (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman, ArchiMate, BCS Enterprise & Solution Architecture, or equivalent recognised framework), with demonstrable application within large-scale, regulated environments.

Experience

Essential

  • Extensive senior-level experience in solution architecture, enterprise design authority or senior technical leadership roles within large, complex, multi-site organisations, ideally within the NHS or similarly regulated public sector environments.
  • Proven track record of translating enterprise architecture strategies and target operating models into implementable, costed and risk-assessed solution designs across diverse programmes and stakeholder groups.

Skills

Essential

  • Highly specialised and authoritative knowledge across application, integration, infrastructure, security and data architecture domains, with the ability to synthesise these into cohesive enterprise solutions

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to NHS values, public accountability and the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate digital services that directly support patient care and clinical outcomes.
  • Acts as a visible role model for the Collaborative’s values: QEHKL – Living our values, NNUH – PRIDE, JPUH – CARER
  • Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 2 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.