Please note, this vacancy is open to current University of Glasgow employees only 

Job Purpose

The Solution Architect supports key stakeholders by shaping and delivering systems and solutions aligned to their needs and objectives.

The postholder will have expertise and experience across technology and its application to business objectives and be able to design, direct and deliver holistic solutions to key business challenges and objectives.

Working directly with stakeholders across the University, as well as colleagues in Information Services, Transformation, Procurement, and PIA, the postholder will be accountable for delivering viable, pragmatic, and effective architectures and design blueprints which ensure the success of key transformational technology initiatives, and the realisation of the University’s strategic objectives.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.      Build the University’s technology initiatives through collaboration, innovative strategies and engaging communications.

2.      Apply professional expertise in the architecture and design of solutions, ensuring technological  proposals are reviewed thoroughly but pragmatically, augmented and enhanced by the Information Services Team against the strategies of the University.

3.      Ensure technology solutions are scalable, expandable, and will deliver on the strategic aims of the university for the future.

4.      Contribute to business cases, providing technology insights and recommendations.

5.      Act as the advocate for the services of the Information Services across the University, ensuring success by working with colleagues to gain support, sponsorship and commitment for their work.

6.      Provide insight around technology wherever it is used, delivered or required by engaging with teams across the University.

7.      Maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, ensuring proposals are created with appropriate collaboration.

8.      Advise and support he development of system integration requirements and technical designs, ensuring that solutions integrate effectively with existing systems and align with the University’s integration strategy.

9.      Guide, advice and support the definition of solution options and the selection of a preferred approach. Represent those proposals in the Enterprise Design Authority and other applicable bodies.

10.   Work with stakeholders and suppliers, to design end-to-end solutions that our objectives, considering factors such as scalability, security, performance, and cost-effectiveness

11.   Provide technical guidance throughout any development as required.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post, having acquired the necessary professional and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles. OR Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9, 10, 11 (Ordinary/Honours degree, Post Graduate Qualification) or equivalent), including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in management role(s).

A2 A grounding in all areas of technology provision, extensive knowledge across a range of areas of technology and an awareness of current trends.

A3 Demonstrable experience of analysis and proposals in at least one of the domains of technology, applications, data, or business.

A4 Appreciation of technology and data governance and security considerations.

A5 Member of a professional body.

Desirable:

B1 Understanding of Enterprise and Solution Architecture as a discipline and its application to real world challenges.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Collaborative, facilitation, and influencing skills.

C2 The ability to balance short term and long term needs with clarity and transparency.

C3 Interpersonal skills: ability to communicate and consult effectively with other technical specialists, business stakeholders and senior academics on complex problems and to provide clear and informative explanations.

C4 Good communication skills in all of: face to face, e-mail, telephone and written in order to understand problems and negotiate the action required.

C5 Lateral thinking to propose innovative and practical solutions.

C6 Good analytical skills.

C7 Problem solving particularly in complex environments in which solutions need to be identified and enacted quickly.

Experience

Essential:

E1  In depth experience of working in both traditional and agile delivery environments.

E2 Experience of pragmatically applying architecture frameworks to real world challenges.

E3 Proven experience of engaging stakeholders across the whole range from students to senior academics and University management.

E4 Experience of making informed decisions whilst under pressure.

E5 Proven experience of taking responsibility for actions that can have considerable impact on a very significant number of the University community.

E6 Experience of delivering in at least one of a business analysis, data analysis, or technical delivery role.

Desirable:

F1 Awareness of a Higher Education environment.

F2 In depth experience of a particular area of process and technology, e.g. ERP, student records management, digital experience, or automation.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £50,253 - £58,225 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

Closing date: 23:45 2nd November 2025

The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. **For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.