Digital Platform Architect

Who you are

• We are looking for someone who combines product judgement, technical literacy and strong communication skills
• You do not need to be a specialist engineer but you do need to understand enough about digital products, data, systems and AI to commission well, challenge suppliers and make good decisions on behalf of a non-technical organisation
• Experience in digital product management, platform development, service design or technology-enabled programme delivery
• A track record of turning user needs and organisational strategy into practical product requirements
• The technical grounding to work confidently with developers, engineers, UX specialists and external technology suppliers
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, deadlines and technical dependencies
• Good judgement around safeguarding, data protection and responsible use of technology
• Experience in education, EdTech, widening participation, social mobility, youth work, government digital or a social implact technology organisation
• Experience using AI-assisted or agentic tools such as Claude Code, Codex or equipvalent to prototype, test or specify digital product ideas
• Experience working with CRMs, learning platforms, application systems, CMSs, dashboards or student-facing systems
• Knowledge of accessibility standards
• Experience commissioning or managing external developers, agencies or technical consultants

What the job involves

• Do you want to help us shape the next stage of digital support for our young people? Apply for our Digital Platform Architect role!
• Each year, working with our university and employer partners, we support thousands of young people through our programmes and continue that support through our alumni community
• Sutton Trust Online was developed to extend that support digitally
• It now complements our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes through online guidance, resources, events, tools and progression support
• As the Trust approaches its 30th anniversary, we want to build on this foundation and think carefully about the next stage of our digital programming: how we make the student experience more coherent, how digital support connects with our wider programmes and how we use data, AI and external partners responsibly to improve guidance over time
• Over the next two years, the Digital Platform Architect will help us define and deliver that next stage
• The role will sit between the Trust’s programme ambitions and the technical partners who help support them, bringing the product judgement, technical literacy and delivery grip we need to make informed decisions about digital development, AI, data, systems and student experience
• This is not a traditional programme management role and it is not a hands-on engineering role
• You do not need to be a full-stack developer but you will need the confidence to work with engineers, UX specialists, AI partners and suppliers and the ability to turn complex programme ideas into practical product decisions
• This is a chance to shape student-facing digital programming used by thousands of young people each year at a point when AI is changing how students access guidance, information and opportunity
• Help us build something ambitious, responsible and genuinely useful: digital support that extends the reach of a 30-year social mobility mission and helps young people navigate key progression points with clearer, more personalised guidance
• By the end of the two-year period, we expect this role to have helped the Trust develop:
• A clear product and technical route for Sutton Trust digital programming
• A stronger student-facing digital experience that supports student agency and avoids over direction or inappropriate automation
• A clearer architecture for how digital programming connects with the Trust's wider systems, data and programme delivery
• AI-enabled features that are useful, responsible and grounded in Sutton Trust content
• Internal teams better equipped to manage, understand and iterate the platform after the build phase
• A product based on student feedback, staff insight and engagement data to refine the platform experience over time
• Full-time, fixed-term two-year contract

The application process

• Deadline: 23:59, Sunday 16th August
• Please note that your application should be submitted in one go - you can view the questions by clicking on the link if you would like to prepare in advance
• Interviews:
• Applications should reach us by 23:59 on Sunday 16th August, with first round interviews held on Monday 24th August, and second round interviews held on Friday 4th September. Both rounds will take place at our London offices

Benefits

• Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank holidays (29 days per annum for roles at 'Head of' level and above).
• Pension scheme: Contributory pension scheme (subject to the conditions of the scheme) which includes a 7% employer pension contribution.
• Family leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity/ partner, adoption, shared parental leave pay and carer's leave (conditions apply)
• Flexible working: Minimum 2 office days per week, plus Flexible Working Policy
• Wellbeing: 2 paid mental health/ self-care days, annual wellbeing workshops and access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Other benefits include: Cycle to work scheme, life assurance cover, season ticket loans, and free tea, coffee, fruit and lunch when working from the office.