Solutions Architect

Closing date for applications:  Wednesday 19 June 2024 at noon

AlphaPlus is a Manchester-based education service business specialising in standards, assessment and certification.  We help our clients design, develop, deploy and evaluate qualifications and their underpinning assessments.  Our work spans the public and private sectors, schools, colleges, vocational and professional learning and includes work across the UK’s four nations, and international projects.  AlphaPlus is a member of the AQA group.

AlphaPlus uses technology extensively in its day-to-day operations, advises clients on technology, and increasingly selects and integrates commercially available technology into a solution for clients.  This can involve some development work.

We are looking for an individual who can step into, or grow into, a Solutions Architect role within AlphaPlus.  The successful applicant will be a technologist with an entrepreneurial client-focused outlook who can help grow our technical capability.  The postholder must be a self-starter with a solid technology background.  They will support and be line-managed by the enterprise architect, who in turn is managed by the director responsible for technology.

This is a genuine career opportunity for an individual who will be responsible for:

Typical project activities

• Leading on IT system integration and development processes to meet client needs. 
• Conducting regular evaluations of the overall architecture estate and collaborating with other teams to improve the designs. 
• Documenting proposed and delivered architectures, including any technical design where clarity is needed.  Maintain document sets through any changes. 
• Evaluating any project constraints and devising alternatives to reduce risks.
• Keeping internal and client stakeholders updated about the status of the project technical development and notifying them when issues arise.
• Analysing and finding any impacts that that technical changes may have on a client’s business.
• Hands on development or supervising and motivating 3rd party code development teams to improve their efficiency and productivity with respect to timelines and budget.
• Hands on development or supervising 3rd party database development teams, with knowledge of SQL development targeting SQL Server.
• Performing continuous research on emerging technologies to stay updated with the best alternatives and to improve the existing architectures for clients.

The successful candidate will:

• possess a first degree level or higher
• be inquisitive with excellent analytical capabilities
• have strong technology skills
• be able to assimilate information quickly
• have a commitment to delivering excellent customer service
• be able to work across a range of technologies
• have excellent communication skills in both technical and non-technical terms
• be able to balance the roles of technologist and project manager.
• have experience of contributing to the  lifecycle of projects requiring software development elements and  of delivering the software-related components of projects.

Formal training in software development such as a computer science degree would be useful but is not essential.

Benefits include:

• discretionary profit related bonus scheme
• NEST workplace pension scheme – tier 1
• enhanced sick pay cover
• enhanced maternity/parental leave
• 25 days paid leave plus the eight statutory bank holidays
• commitment to developing the expertise of our employees.

The post is permanent, full-time working 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday and is Manchester office-based.   Job share/other flexible working arrangements may be considered for the right candidate.  Any such preferences are to be discussed further at interview. The company offers hybrid working (two days per week minimum in the office, with three days working at home).  The exact allocation of office-based days is decided by the appointee's manager, although flexibility remains our policy and approach.

The role will also involve national and occasional international travel, potentially including working in customer offices.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview on 25 June 2024 although this date may be subject to change.

Please note that AlphaPlus is not licensed to offer sponsorship under the UK government’s skilled worker sponsorship scheme.

The full job description and application instructions are published on the company website jobs pages.  Application is direct via the company's online application form.