Enterprise Architect Needed at Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cardiff (Apply Now)

Not many technology leadership roles come with a mandate that affects the health and wellbeing of an entire nation, but this one does. Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is the body responsible for developing the NHS Wales workforce, and its digital team is in the middle of one of the most ambitious transformation projects in Welsh public sector history: consolidating multiple legacy systems into a single, modern digital and data platform used by over 10,000 people across Wales.

The salary range is £80,698 to £92,984 per year, placing this firmly in senior leadership territory. It is a public sector role, which means it comes with a pension scheme, structured development and the kind of long-term stability that is increasingly rare in the private tech market. And for international candidates, the employer has confirmed that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available and that overseas applicants will be considered alongside all others.

Cardiff is an often-overlooked destination for tech professionals. The cost of living is considerably lower than London, the city has a growing digital and public sector technology community, and the quality of life is genuinely strong. For someone looking to step into an enterprise architecture leadership role without the noise and expense of a London move, this is a seriously compelling package.

Job Overview

What You Would Actually Be Doing

• Setting the technical direction for HEIW’s digital platform: This is not an advisory or consultancy role. You will own the enterprise architecture strategy and be accountable for the decisions that shape how digital systems are built, maintained and evolved across the organisation.
• Leading the Microsoft technology stack at scale: Power Platform, Dataverse, Azure and .NET are at the centre of HEIW’s architecture. You will not just be familiar with these tools. You will be the senior authority on how they are used and governed.
• Overseeing the consolidation of legacy systems: HEIW is in the middle of a multi-year business transformation project. A significant part of your role involves the careful and strategic migration away from older systems into a unified digital platform.
• Mentoring and leading engineering teams: You will take responsibility for the professional development of high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. This includes embedding modern engineering principles and creating an environment of continuous improvement.
• Influencing national NHS Wales digital policy: This role has reach beyond HEIW itself. You will act as a system leader across NHS Wales, which means your technical decisions and standards recommendations will influence how digital infrastructure is approached across the Welsh health system.
• Building external partnerships: Relationships with government bodies, health boards, universities, industry partners and technology suppliers are part of the scope. You will represent HEIW at a senior level in these conversations.
• Ensuring safety, interoperability and security compliance: The NHS environment carries strict standards. You will be responsible for making sure that all digital solutions meet national requirements, including clinical safety standards and data governance obligations.
• Working within an Agile Scrum environment: The team operates using Agile methodology. You will be expected to lead within this framework and champion iterative delivery and continuous improvement practices.

Who They Are Looking For

Must-haves:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in software engineering, platform architecture or enterprise systems with clear accountability for technical strategy
• Proven track record of leading large-scale digital architecture across multiple organisations, ideally in health, care or another highly regulated sector
• Deep expertise in Microsoft technologies including Power Platform, Dataverse, .NET, Azure and the wider Microsoft ecosystem
• Demonstrable experience of modernising and refactoring legacy systems in complex environments
• Experience leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams and building inclusive, high-trust working cultures
• Ability to translate technical strategy into business outcomes and clearly articulate this to non-technical stakeholders
• A Master’s degree in IT, Computer Science or Computer Engineering (or equivalent demonstrable experience)
• Relevant professional certifications in software development, cloud computing and Agile methodologies
• Microsoft Power Platform, Dataverse or Azure platform qualifications

Nice-to-haves:

• Experience developing strategies, policies and business cases including formal business planning
• Architecture certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, TOGAF 9, IASA certifications or equivalent
• Practitioner-level experience in software development assurance and risk management
• Welsh language skills at any level (speaking, reading, writing or understanding)

If you have the depth of experience this role requires but do not hold every certification listed, equivalent demonstrable knowledge is explicitly accepted. The employer has made clear that experience can substitute for formal qualifications in several areas.

What Most Applicants Get Wrong

1. Applying with a generic enterprise architecture CV that does not reflect public sector or regulated industry experience

This is a senior NHS role within a highly regulated environment. Applicants who send a CV built around private sector consulting or commercial product companies, without repositioning their experience in terms of governance, safety, compliance and cross-organisational influence, will struggle to make the shortlist. The language you use matters as much as the experience itself.

1. Failing to address the leadership and people development dimension in their application

Many candidates focus almost entirely on the technical architecture elements and treat the leadership responsibilities as secondary. HEIW is explicit that this role involves leading high-performing teams, embedding best practice, and taking people on a journey of continuous development. If your application does not give substantial weight to your leadership philosophy and the results you have achieved with teams, you are answering only half the brief.

1. Being unprepared for values-based and competency interview questions alongside technical ones

NHS hiring processes typically combine technical assessment with structured competency and values-based questions. Candidates who prepare thoroughly for architecture discussions but have no prepared examples around inclusion, compassionate leadership, stakeholder management and ethical decision-making often underperform in the final stages despite strong technical credibility.

How to Apply (and Actually Get Noticed)

1. Read the full job listing on the Trac jobs platform before you do anything else. The listing contains detailed person specification criteria that form the basis of both the shortlisting process and the interview assessment.
2. Visit the official application portal at apps.trac.jobs using the link in the official listing. NHS Wales roles are processed through this system and applications submitted by other means will not be considered.
3. Complete the application form in full. NHS application forms are detailed. Every section of the person specification should be addressed in your supporting statement. Leaving sections blank or writing “see CV” is an immediate shortlisting risk.
4. Write a supporting statement that maps your experience to each essential criterion listed under Experience, Qualifications and Skills. Use the exact language from the person specification where relevant. Panel shortlisting is often scored against these criteria.
5. Address both the technical and leadership dimensions of the role with equal weight. Your statement should include specific examples of architecture decisions you have led, transformation projects you have shaped, and teams you have developed.
6. If you are applying for sponsorship, state this clearly and early in your application. The employer has confirmed that sponsored applicants are welcome and will be considered alongside all others.
7. Begin gathering your criminal record certificates from all countries where you have lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. This is a mandatory requirement for overseas applicants under UK immigration rules and it takes time to obtain.
8. Submit your application well before the 12 May 2026 closing date. NHS roles at this level attract competitive applicant pools and some shortlisting may begin before the deadline closes.
9. If you have Welsh language skills at any level, note them in your application. The listing flags this as desirable and it may be a differentiating factor in a close shortlist.

Visa and Eligibility

Visa sponsorship is available for this role. HEIW has confirmed that applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be assessed on the same basis as all other applicants. The salary range (£80,698 to £92,984) comfortably exceeds the Skilled Worker visa threshold, which makes this route realistic for eligible candidates.

For full guidance on the Skilled Worker visa, including points requirements, eligible occupations and how to apply, visit the official UK Visas and Immigration website at gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

Overseas applicants should also be aware that from April 2017, anyone applying for entry clearance into the UK has been required to provide a criminal record certificate from every country they have lived in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. This applies to adult dependants travelling with you as well. Official guidance on overseas criminal record checks is available at gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to the most common questions people ask about this Enterprise Architect role at Health Education and Improvement Wales, including eligibility, interview format, visa requirements and what to expect from the application process.

What does an Enterprise Architect do in an NHS organisation like HEIW?

An Enterprise Architect in this context is responsible for setting the overarching technical strategy for the organisation’s digital systems, ensuring they are secure, interoperable, scalable and aligned with national NHS standards. At HEIW, this includes leading a major multi-year transformation programme to consolidate multiple legacy platforms into a single modern digital infrastructure.

Is prior NHS or health sector experience required to apply?

The listing describes experience in health, care or other highly regulated sectors as desirable rather than essential. The core requirement is extensive senior leadership experience in enterprise systems and digital architecture. Candidates from regulated industries outside health such as financial services, government or utilities are likely to be considered if their technical credentials are strong.

What Microsoft certifications does HEIW expect candidates to hold?

The listing requires a recognised qualification in Microsoft Power Platform, Dataverse and the Azure platform. Desirable certifications include Azure Solutions Architect Expert, TOGAF 9, IASA certifications and Certified Architect from The Open Group. The employer also states that equivalent demonstrable experience may be accepted in place of formal qualifications.

How does the NHS application process differ from a standard job application?

NHS applications are completed via a structured online form on the Trac system rather than by submitting a standalone CV and cover letter. Your supporting statement is assessed against each criterion in the person specification, and shortlisting is typically scored. This means your application must address every essential criterion with specific examples, not general statements.

Can I apply for this role if I currently live outside the UK?

Yes. HEIW has explicitly confirmed that applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are welcome. The salary for this role is well above the sponsorship threshold, making it a viable route for international candidates who meet the experience requirements.

Is there flexibility to work remotely in this role?

The listing does not specify a hybrid or remote working arrangement. The role is advertised as Cardiff-based and the nature of a senior leadership position within NHS Wales, which requires travel to other locations as stated in the person specification, suggests some in-person presence is expected. It is worth raising working arrangements at interview or during the recruitment process.

What is the significance of the Disclosure and Barring Service check mentioned in the listing?

This role is subject to a DBS check, which means HEIW will conduct a criminal records check as part of the pre-employment process. This applies to all successful candidates and is standard for roles within the NHS. For overseas applicants, an additional criminal record certificate from each country of prior residence is also required.

Why is Cardiff worth considering for a senior tech professional relocating to the UK?

Cardiff offers a substantially lower cost of living compared to London or Bristol, with a strong and growing public sector technology community. Senior salaries in Wales stretch considerably further in terms of housing and lifestyle. HEIW’s platform affects over 10,000 NHS Wales users, so the scale and impact of the work is comparable to much larger organisations in more expensive cities.

Official Application Link

Apply directly for the Enterprise Architect position at Health Education and Improvement Wales via the Trac Jobs portal. The closing date is 12 May 2026.

Need Personal Guidance to Study or Work Abroad?

You can now book for a personal guidance for your scholarship applications, visa requirements, or if you’re financially ready to study or work abroad and just need someone to walk you through the process.

Book Consultation

- SPONSORED ADVERT -