Principal solution architect

Band 8d · Solution architect · 699 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Principal solution architect

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G6.

A principal solution architect can be responsible for a large programme or group of solution architecture projects, or a single, very complex or critical business area.
At this role level, you will:
lead teams of more junior solution architects
lead multiple architecture projects or programmes
build relationships with senior stakeholders across multiple business or technical areas in the organisation and its partners
be proactive in identifying opportunities to improve the organisation and its partners
work with technology partners to inform their roadmaps
take a leading role in the overall direction of business and digital capabilities
inspire other architects and help them understand how to meet organisational goals

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Lead solution architecture for the organization's largest or most critical programs.
Set solution architecture standards, patterns, and methods for the organization.
Advise directors and partner organizations on the design of critical, shared health and care services.
Resolve the hardest design conflicts between programs, suppliers, and partner organizations.
Lead the solution architecture practice and develop its people.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Architect for the whole contextUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: assess how trends in society and industry practices might impact the organisation work with people outside of your organisation to inform policies, strategies and standards anticipate changes to policy and build resilience through your architectural work coach others in identifying important trends
Architecture communicationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels, and across organisations, using architecture communication techniques mediate between people in difficult architectural discussions gain support from business and technical stakeholders for architectural initiatives with high levels of risk, impact and complexity coach and support others in architecture communication
Commercial perspectiveUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: identify appropriate contractual frameworks and approaches identify, evaluate and select appropriate suppliers
Community collaborationUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community
Making architectural decisionsUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: make and guide architectural design decisions characterised by high levels of risk and complexity identify and address architectural risks across the organisation or wider government lead and evolve architectural governance and assurance represent architectural governance as part of wider governance, for example, legal or commercial
Problem definition and shapingUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: lead the framing of a problem characterised by high complexity, complication, or risk so that a solution can be created coach others in defining problems and describing appropriate options for solutions help others challenge requirements and assumptions, and identify opportunities when defining problems and solution options
Strategy designUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: define and connect strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government enable the implementation of strategies or visions across the organisation or wider government, for example, by advocating for resources and removing blockers
Technical design throughout the life cycleUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: create technical designs characterised by high risk, impact, and complexity lead and guide others in creating technical designs that achieve organisational objectives use feedback to optimise and refine standards for technical designs throughout the life cycle
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: shape organizational strategy using a deep understanding of the health and care system represent the organization with health and care partners and leaders anticipate how policy and service changes will affect digital services and care
Health data interoperabilityThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set interoperability standards and strategy for the organization lead national or cross-organization standards work assure the design of critical integrations across many systems
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set information governance policy and strategy advise the board on information risk and compliance represent the organization with regulators and partners
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead hazard identification and risk assessment for a product or change write and maintain hazard logs and clinical safety case reports agree risk controls with product teams and check that they work advise teams on applying clinical risk management standards
Medical device software regulationThis reference	Working (2)	You can: follow a software life cycle process that meets medical device standards produce the records that such a process requires
Organizational risk managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: run the risk process for a directorate or program assess risks against the risk appetite and escalate them report on risks to committees
People managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: line manage a team, setting objectives and running appraisals support wellbeing and manage attendance, performance, and conduct plan the team's development and succession
Budget managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: track spending against a small budget and raise variances authorize spending within your limit

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading solution architecture across multiple programs or organizations.

Band 8d outline

Knowledge: Strategic knowledge across functions and the wider health and care system.
Autonomy: Shapes organization-wide strategy; deputises for a director.
Scope: A major function or several functions.
Leadership: Leads several functions or a large department.
Accountability: Major functions, large budgets, and organization-wide risks.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	6	Gives highly complex, highly contentious information where there are significant barriers to acceptance, using the highest level of communication skills.	60
Knowledge, training, and experience	8	Advanced knowledge (doctorate plus further training or equivalent), or specialist knowledge across more than one discipline built over a long period.	240
Analytical and judgmental skills	5	Judgments on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organizational skills	5	Forms long-term strategic plans, with uncertainty and effects across the organization.	60
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	5	Implements and develops a range of policies or services for a directorate.	45
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	4	Holds or sets the budget for a department or service, or buys or maintains its assets.	32
Responsibility for people	4	Line manages a function or department, designs training programs as a main duty, or delivers a full range of HR services.	32
Responsibility for information resources	6	Manages and develops information systems across the organization as the main duty.	46
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	6	Interprets overall policy and strategy to set goals and standards.	60
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	4	Frequent prolonged concentration, or occasional intense concentration.	18
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8d: 675 to 720)			699

Banded above the UK GDaD PCF grade suggestion (Band 8c): health-sector adverts place this role at Band 8d. Freedom to act is level 6 because the job sets the organization's solution architecture standards; financial resources and people are level 4 because it leads the practice and its budget.