Job summary
- Main area
- Technical
- Grade
- Band 8c
- Contract
- 2 years (Fixed Term or secondment)
- Hours
- Full time
- Home or remote working
- Job ref
- 364-A-9260
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- The Lodge
- Town
- Wickford
- Salary
- £76,965 - £88,682 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Chief Solution Architect
Band 8c
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
The Chief Solution Architect (CSA) is a senior role within the Digital, Data and Technology leadership team. The post holder will be accountable and responsible for the creation and production of solution designs of multiple applications, services and infrastructure with the organisation.
Reporting into the Chief Technology Officer, but working day to day with multiple portfolios and programmes, the role is to oversee the design and planning of solutions architectures, defining and implementing standards and best practices for digital solution
The Chief Solution Architect will be the subject matter expert and will produce and present policy, designs and recommendations for the target business outcomes that capitalise on relevant business strategies and requirements
Main duties of the job
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Communication
· Advise the Trust senior staff to use enterprise solutions rather than supplier proposed solutions.
· Persuade Trust senior staff to adopt enterprise IT solutions and services in a standard way.
· Negotiate with senior Trust stakeholders and suppliers to deliver value for money services to the Trust.
· Work in partnership with the AD of system programmes to establist shared services best practices
· Responsible for ensuring the teams knowledge of strategic business plans.
· Accountable for ensuring the trusts current and future state are visible, ensuring the wider digital leadership are informed and consulted.
· Responsible for the communication and application of the Architecture processes.
· Ensure the maintenance of the Architecture repository and tool set.
· Communicate (both verbal and written), with all levels of the multidisciplinary teams, external partners and with patients through focus groups in a diplomatic and tactful manner.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This job profile is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder.
The post holder will be expected to perform any other duties or responsibilities as assigned by management, within scope of the role.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to Master degree level in an IT, science or engineering discipline or equivalent qualification, or with relevant experience, training and knowledge
Knowledge/Skills& Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven significant experience as a lead solution architect or other architectural discipline.
- Proven experience of managing a team of intellectual and committed individuals in a complex and versatile working environment.
- Proven indepth understanding of: Microsoft enterprise tools (e.g. SharePoint Experience of implementing projects in a governed environment A/I Page 11 of 19 Dynamics, BizTalk, SQL Server, .NET etc.) and Messaging Services HL7, XML.
- Proven experience of managing a variety of large, complex projects - scheduling and planning skills important.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of implementing projects in a governed environment
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Adam Whiting
- Job title
- Deputy Director of ITT
- Email address
- [email protected]
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