Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity for up to 12 months.

Join a Council Shaping the Future of Public Services

Essex Digital Service is transforming how Essex County Council delivers services, making it easier and safer for people to get things done, whether they're colleagues or residents. We design and deliver modern, user-focused digital solutions that support everything from social care and education to transport and the environment. Our vision is to build digitally empowered, 21st-century services that work across teams and boundaries, delivering real value to the people who rely on them every day.

In this strategic role, you'll shape the future of ECC's operating model by aligning business strategy with service delivery. As Business Architect, you'll lead a complex portfolio of architecture and design work that drives efficiency, improves customer experience, and supports ECC's ambition to become a leading digital council. You'll bring expert insight, challenge assumptions, and foster a culture of innovation, bridging the gap between strategy and execution to deliver meaningful change.

To read more about our business area, please visit: Corporate Services

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing expert guidance on ECC's current and future operating models to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Develop a shared, documented view of business needs, capabilities, and processes to inform strategic investment and change planning.
• Create scalable business models and architectures using recognised frameworks, ensuring alignment with ECC's strategic objectives.
• Analyse complex business and user challenges, assess digital maturity, and recommend solutions that drive transformation and value.
• Lead the business architecture elements of high-level business cases, supporting prioritisation and funding decisions.
• Deliver a portfolio of business architecture and design work, including operating models and service structures, that improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Collaborate with HR and organisational development teams to assess the impact of transformation and ensure change is effectively managed.
• Explore and advocate for emerging technologies that enhance ECC's digital services and operating model.
• Define and maintain principles, patterns, and standards to guide ECC's business architecture strategy and digital journey.
• Support the Head of Design in developing a consultancy-led team culture and mentoring business architects and designers to build multi-skilled capability.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject, with extensive experience in business architecture within digital services or public sector environments.
• Accredited in TOGAF 9.2 (or similar), with working knowledge of frameworks such as ArchiMate, BPMN, COBIT, and IT4IT.
• Proven ability to analyse complex business problems and develop strategic, scalable solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience leading enterprise business solutions, including process reengineering and organisational design programmes.
• Knowledge of change management tools and techniques, with experience supporting transformation initiatives.
• Experience in enterprise architecture, emerging technologies and their application in digital service delivery
• Committed to continuous professional development and staying current with evolving delivery models and methodologies.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.

Downloads

Pay and Reward | Our Ways of Working | About Us | Organisation Behaviours