Solutions Architect

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

What to expect

For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast-moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too.

Eversheds Sutherland offers a highly rewarding experience to IT professionals. You’ll be faced with the challenge of meeting the needs of thousands of colleagues in an innovative culture that recognises technology as a key enabler of its services. Building on a highly sophisticated infrastructure, you will be stretching your skills but at the same time enjoying a great sense of teamwork where your contribution is highly valued

Overview:

Eversheds Sutherland are seeking an experienced Solution Architect to join our existing Architecture & Design team in Birmingham. As an IT Solution Architect at Eversheds Sutherland, you will be responsible for designing and delivering robust, scalable, and secure technology solutions that align with the firm's strategic objectives. You will collaborate with business stakeholders, IT teams, and external partners to translate business requirements into effective architectural designs, supporting our Cloud First strategy and digital transformation initiatives

Key Responsibilities:

Solution Design & Delivery

• Lead the development of solution architectures across multiple projects.
• Interpreting business requirements, either directly with stakeholders or in collaboration with business analyst
• Understanding the as-is architecture
• Translate business requirements into end-to-end solution architectures.
• Align projects with enterprise roadmaps and shape systems’ roadmaps.
• Define target architectures and transition roadmaps.
• Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, and compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Presents options (in plain English) and assist stakeholders select the appropriate one.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business and IT stakeholders.
• Drive key decisions and influence stakeholders

Technical Leadership

• Guide development and implementation teams, resolving technical challenges.
• Provide technical oversight during project delivery.
• Provide designs for integrations to existing systems
• Assist in key policy decisions from technical viewpoint, such as data residency
• Provide technical conduit between delivery team and technical areas in IT
• Feed into the enterprise architecture roadmaps

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Research emerging technologies and industry trends.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and process improvement.

Governance & Risk

• Identify architectural risks and propose mitigation strategies.
• Keeping the information asset register up to date         
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies (e.g., data residency, security).

Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Working experience in one or multiple IT areas.
• Proven experience as a Solution Architect in a complex enterprise environment.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Azure (IaaS, PaaS) and cloud-native design principles.
• Experience with enterprise integration patterns and API management.
• Familiarity with security, compliance, and data privacy best practices.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• An ability to identify and own technical challenges and lead efforts to overcome these.
• A self-motivated professional with personality and enthusiasm for delivering value to the firm.
• Knowledge of project delivery cycles and frameworks.
• Understanding of Quality.
• An enthusiasm to learn more about new/existing products.
• Understanding of data governance and information security standards.

Desirable

• Experience in the legal or professional services sector.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF.
• Experience with DevOps practices and tools.
• Experience of business analysis and large-scale business process change initiatives.
• Experience of working with external suppliers, including offshore development teams.

Technology Experience:

• Microsoft Azure (IaaS, PaaS, Azure AD, Azure DevOps)
• Win365, Microsoft 365 and Power Platform
• Integration tools
• Identity and Access Management
• AI knowledge
• Enterprise applications (e.g. document management, case management, CRM, finance)
• Good networking and infrastructure knowledge/background
• Project delivery cycles and methodologies such as Agile

Personal Attributes:

• Proficient in strategic thinking, diplomacy, persuasion, and influencing others
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development.
• Confident when interacting with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Solution oriented
• Practical, resilient, and resourceful, with the ability to quickly adapt to changing situations.
• Able to work independently, prioritise tasks, and multitask effectively.
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude and a proactive approach.

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.