Nine candidates seek Estonia’s chief government IT architect role

Nine people have applied to become Estonia’s chief government IT architect, the Information System Authority (RIA) told ERR after the application deadline closed on Friday.

RIA will review the candidates’ documents this week and hold interviews next week, said communications manager Karit Kaasik. The authority aims to appoint someone as soon as possible, but has not set a date for the appointment.

The new chief architect will oversee the technological direction of Estonia’s digital government and help ensure its information systems develop as a unified, interoperable and secure whole. The role calls for technical expertise, experience in architecture and development, and the ability to coordinate work across organisations and explain technology choices to both engineers and senior managers.

RIA said the appointee’s mandate and the government’s architecture management model will be developed with the new chief architect and the country’s technology leaders and architects.

The vacancy did not specify a salary. RIA said pay would depend on the successful candidate’s experience and technical and management skills, while also taking account of public-sector pay limits. Applicants were asked to state their salary expectations.