Role:

Salary Band 11, £53,583 – £58,455

Location: Agile, Forth Banks Police Station and homeworking  

Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, permanent  

Working for #TeamNP  

Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in.   

As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted.   

As one of the top 50 UK inclusive employers and a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.   

Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best.   

Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters.    

Learn about our full benefits package  

The role  

Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Digital Department as a Solutions Architect.  

What you’ll do 

• Translate business needs into technical solutions that align with the Force’s vision and support ongoing projects and improvements.


• Collaborate with business and technology partners to explore innovative ideas and define viable technical options.


• Lead a systems analysis team, ensuring consistent, high-quality approaches to design and testing.


• Identify and mitigate risks in both functional and non-functional aspects of proposed solutions.


• Ensure architectural compliance by working closely with Enterprise and Domain Architects across technical, security, data, and application domains.


• Own and govern technical standards across the Force, maintaining a standards register and driving compliance.


• Act as the technology authority for new solutions, supporting project estimates, resolving architectural/integration issues, and contributing to incident and problem management through root cause analysis and technical solution definition.

Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description

What you’ll bring 

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in IT or related field.


• Proven experience designing systems that align with business and architectural goals.


• Strong knowledge of IT services, tools, and technologies across the full software lifecycle.


• Skilled in Agile and Waterfall methodologies, and ITSM tools.


• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.


• Independent and collaborative problem solver with a focus on innovation.


• Leadership in mentoring, strategic guidance, and team development.


• Commitment to continuous improvement and delivering consistent, high-quality service.

We know it’s important for you to feel that you’re not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.   

Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone.  

Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Chris Pierce, Senior Solutions Architect by email at chris.pierce@northumbria.police.uk 

What we offer 

• 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years+ service) plus 8 bank holidays


• NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme


• Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave


• Flexi time – allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs


• Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours)


• Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force


• Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution


• Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts


• Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers


• Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets


• We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support


• Access to gyms in some stations 


• Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel


• Cycle to work scheme


• Opportunity to volunteer in local community   

Just so you know 

Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Solutions Architect with #TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute.   

The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by a face to face interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert.   

We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, with whom we collaborate with to improve the lives of disabled employees. We are also a Disability Confident Employer, therefore if you demonstrate that you meet the minimum criteria for this role as stated in the advert, we will progress your application and offer you an interview.  

If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly.   

Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives. 

If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed.  A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references.  

Terms of appointment  

This is a permanent role subject to a six-month probationary period. 

If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally.  

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.