Lead network architect

Band 8a · Network architect · 572 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Lead network architect

Most often performed at Civil Service grade SEO or G7.

A lead network architect is accountable for designs and networks representing their business area.
At this role level, you will:
be a point of escalation
actively input into governance forums that determine IT strategy
cascade messages, standards and best practice from other architecture teams and design authorities to the network architecture team
act as a subject matter expert for network architects
represent network architects internally and externally
have an understanding of all network technology including LAN (local area network), WAN (wide area network), wifi, data centre LAN, SD (software-defined) networks, telephony, mobile solutions infrastructure, unified comms, network management solutions, and network specific security and remote access technologies and approaches
champion new technologies and solutions
coach and mentor network architects and associate network architects
be a strategic thinker who can communicate network concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders

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

Own the network architecture for the organisation, including its sites, data centres, and cloud connections.
Set network design standards and assure designs at the design authority.
Design network resilience and recovery for critical clinical services, and make sure it is tested.
Advise on network investment, supplier contracts, and the network risks of new services.
Act as the expert point of escalation and guide other network architects and engineers.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Governance and assuranceUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: ensure appropriate and proportionate governance and assurance is in place and is continuously improved, aligned to organisational and government needs guide teams through governance and assurance processes, such as service assessments, to ensure standards are met share the team's governance and assurance processes so stakeholders trust them to deliver value in a sustainable way
IT infrastructureUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: lead teams and departments in the design, implementation, administration and support of infrastructure solutions and services
Systems designUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: design systems characterised by high levels of risk, impact, and business or technical complexity control system design practice within an enterprise or industry architecture influence industry-based models for the development of new technology applications develop effective implementation and procurement strategies, consistent with business needs ensure adherence to relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices
Systems integrationUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: define the integration build co-ordinate build activities across systems understand how to undertake and support integration testing activities
Technical understandingUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: anticipate and advise on future technology changes that present opportunities for the product or programme
Troubleshooting and problem resolutionUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: break a problem down into its component parts to identify and diagnose root causes troubleshoot and identify problems across different technology capabilities
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: analyse how a service fits into care pathways across organisations work with clinicians, care staff, and patients to shape digital services explain the effect of digital decisions on care, safety, and staff workload
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: take part in hazard workshops and contribute to a hazard log follow the clinical risk management process for your work provide evidence for a clinical safety case, such as test results
Identity and access managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: create, change, and remove user accounts and access rights check access against role-based access rules
Vulnerability managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: prioritise vulnerabilities by risk, including to patient services scope and manage penetration tests and remediation
Medical device software regulationThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: explain that some health software is regulated as a medical device know who to ask when a product might be a medical device
Organisational risk managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: record and update risks for your area suggest controls and track actions

Typical qualifications and experience

Substantial experience of network architecture for complex organisations, at a level equivalent to a master's degree.

Band 8a outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge of a discipline and its management.
Autonomy: Interprets organisational policy for a service; sets the team's direction.
Scope: A service area or a discipline across the organisation.
Leadership: Manages a team, or leads a discipline without line management.
Accountability: A service area, its staff, and its budget.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	7	Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).	196
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	4	Plans a broad range of complex activities or strategies, adjusting them as needed.	42
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	4	Implements policy and develops policy or services for a service or several areas.	32
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	2	Handles cash or valuables, looks after equipment used by others, controls stock, or authorises small payments.	12
Responsibility for people	3	Manages a group of staff day to day, teaches core or specialist training, or gives core HR advice.	21
Responsibility for information resources	6	Manages and develops information systems across the organisation as the main duty.	46
Responsibility for research and development	3	Carries out research or development within formal programmes as a main duty.	21
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
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 8a: 540 to 584)			572

Banded above the UK GDaD PCF grade suggestion (Band 7): health-sector adverts place this role at Band 8a. Information resources is level 6 because the job owns the network architecture that all of the organisation's information systems depend on.