Solution Designer , Chippenham, United Kingdom)

A Deep Dive into the Lead Consultant Specialist Role: Shaping Defence Networks at BT

Are you an experienced network solutions architect with a passion for innovation and a desire to make a significant impact in the defence sector? This Lead Consultant Specialist position at BT offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of enterprise network solutions within a critical national infrastructure context.

The Opportunity: Impact and Influence

This role places you at the forefront of designing and delivering complex, secure, and innovative network solutions for defence customers. Here’s what makes this a standout opportunity:

• High Impact: Play a pivotal role in transforming how defence customers operate, directly contributing to national security through cutting-edge network architectures.
• Leadership Position: As a lead consultant specialist, you'll provide expert technical design leadership across the entire solution lifecycle, from conception to delivery.
• Strategic Collaboration: Work across a diverse ecosystem, engaging with defence customers, internal teams (Sales, Business, Technology, Security, Operations), and leading third-party technology providers. This ensures a holistic understanding and seamless integration of solutions.
• Technical Breadth & Depth: Tackle unique and sensitive challenges, drawing upon a robust foundation in ICT frameworks, security principles, and industry best practices. You'll gain exposure to a wide array of vendor solutions including Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, F5, Nokia, Ribbon, Avaya, Microsoft, AWS, Dell/EMC, HPE, and Blackberry.
• Career Growth: Join the Technical Design Authority (TDA) team, working alongside architects and technology experts. This environment fosters continuous learning and offers world-class training and development opportunities.

Your Core Contribution: What You'll Be Doing

As the solution designer for specific domains or service platforms, your responsibilities will include:

• Translating complex customer visions and business needs into actionable solution design requirements.
• Creating comprehensive statements of work and offering subject matter expertise for various stakeholders.
• Developing detailed enterprise and solution architecture documentation, including 'as-is,' 'to-be,' and transitional states.
• Crucially, you'll be involved in cost assessments (CAPEX/OPEX), identifying dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies to support business opportunities and service delivery.

Skills for Success: What They're Looking For

To thrive in this role, candidates should possess a strong blend of technical expertise and strategic acumen:

• Broad Technical Knowledge: Familiarity and hands-on experience with a wide range of ICT vendor solutions and industry-standard architecture approaches.
• Security-First Mindset: A deep understanding and practical application of robust security principles and strict policy requirements, essential for the defence sector.
• Strategic Financial Acumen: Ability to understand CAPEX/OPEX costings and ensure proposed solutions align with customer needs and budgets.
• Problem Solving & Risk Management: Adept at identifying risks, assessing impacts, proposing mitigation strategies, and solving complex problems effectively.
• Exceptional Communication: Skilled at explaining intricate ICT solutions to stakeholders with varying levels of technical expertise, fostering clear understanding and collaboration.
• Adaptability: Capability to respond effectively to in-life change requests and bid proposals, tailoring solutions to evolving customer requirements.

Beyond the Role: Why BT?

Joining BT means becoming part of an organization with 175+ years of heritage, a global leader in secure connectivity and collaboration. The company emphasizes a culture of growth, diversity, and impact:

• Attractive Compensation: A competitive salary package, a 10% on-target bonus, and a significant £5000 annual bonus for individuals holding DV (Developed Vetting) clearance.
• Robust Benefits: A generous BT Pension scheme (10% BT contribution), 25 days annual leave increasing with service, and a wide range of flexible benefits including cycle to work, healthcare, and season ticket loans.
• Inclusive Culture: BT is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. They actively champion digital inclusion and aim to make a positive societal impact. The company explicitly encourages applications from individuals who may not meet every single requirement, promoting diversity in their teams.
• Flexibility: While the role is listed as full-time, BT is open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including job shares or reduced hours.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path

Before applying, consider the following aspects:

• Security Clearance: The role operates within the defence sector, requiring adherence to stringent security protocols. The significant bonus for DV clearance highlights its importance, implying it may be a prerequisite or a critical skill to develop.
• Complexity & Pressure: You will be working on highly sensitive and complex projects where precision and compliance are paramount. This environment demands meticulous attention to detail and resilience.
• Multi-Location: The role offers flexibility across multiple locations (Bristol, Chippenham, Reading, Hemel Hempstead). Candidates should consider their preferred working location and willingness to commute or relocate.

Ready to Make Your Mark?

This Lead Consultant Specialist role at BT offers an exceptional platform for experienced professionals to leverage their expertise, innovate within a critical sector, and advance their careers within a supportive and forward-thinking organization. If you're driven by the challenge of shaping enterprise network solutions for national defence and thrive in a collaborative, high-impact environment, this opportunity could be your next significant career step.