Deal Architect - Presales

The Deal Architect – Presales role is a pivotal role that bridges the gap between the technical depth of our digital capabilities and the strategic needs of our clients during pre-sales and early delivery phases at Version1. 

The Presales team is part of our Commercial team which is at the leading edge of our organisational strategies and initiatives (AI, Data, Digital, Cloud, Partners). Presales reflects wider Version 1 core values and is heavily focussed on proactive and responsive customer engagement and customer first outcomes. As a leading member of the Presales Team, you will support business development efforts by proactively contributing expertise to pre-sales conversations, creating compelling bid and proposal content, and facilitating seamless handovers to delivery teams. This role is ideal for a self-starting individual, who thrives on collaboration, storytelling with digital themes and innovation, and being at the forefront of shaping innovative digital transformation solutions and strategy that meet real-world client needs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Pre-Sales Engagement Support
   1. Collaborate with Commercial and Capability leads to understand client needs and determine, validate and shape associated strategies, craft tailored solution narratives, and contribute technical and business domain insight to client conversations.
   2. Provide subject matter expertise during early-stage discussions, workshops, and discovery engagements.
   3. Participate in qualification, shaping, and scoping of new opportunities.
2. Proposal Writing & Solution Design
   1. Own and contribute to the solution-oriented components of proposals, RFP responses, and client presentations.
   2. Ensure that proposed digital solutions are fit-for-purpose, aligned to relevant strategies and best practices, and clearly communicated.
   3. Support the creation and refinement of reusable templates, boilerplate content, and accelerators.
3. Collaboration with wider Version 1 Teams
   1. Act as a liaison between pre-sales, Commercial, CTO Office (service line leads, technology specialists, partner management) and delivery to ensure smooth handover of solution context, risks, assumptions, and customer expectations.
   2. Participate in early-stage delivery activities (e.g., onboarding, kick-off, or workshops) to support continuity and establish trust with the client.
   3. Proactively maintain visibility on engagements to provide on-going ad-hoc support where necessary.
4. Knowledge Management & Continuous Improvement
   1. Capture lessons learned from pre-sales efforts and delivery outcomes to refine approaches and improve future engagements.
   2. Contribute to the evolution of the Digital Practice by maintaining knowledge and promoting awareness of emerging tools, platforms, and methods in the digital space.
   3. Share knowledge across the organisation through internal communities, collateral, and training support.
5. Strategic Mindset
   1. Contribute to the shaping of Version 1’s Digital go-to-market strategy by identifying opportunities for growth across technologies, sectors, and partnerships.
   2. Support the wider digitally focussed commercial and technical teams, in recognising emerging vendors and strategic plays that align with client needs and Version 1 capabilities.

Things We Desire

Expected Experience & Skills – Things We Desire

1. Initiative & Adaptability
   1. Self-starter who thrives in a dynamic environment and proactively seeks opportunities to innovate, add value and deliver commercial outcomes rapidly and predictably. In many pre-sales' scenarios, you are one of the individuals who success often depends on.
   2. Able to juggle multiple priorities, work under pressure, and manage ambiguity in a fast-paced setting.
   3. Able to listen, understand and communicate in an effective and compelling manner with a range of customer and partner stakeholders (C-Suite, architects, commercial, support and technical).
2. Digital, AI and Supporting Digital Solution Knowledge
   1. Experience shaping or delivering digital solutions in a consultancy, pre-sales, or technical advisory role.
   2. Knowledge of AI and Next Generation Development  best-practice implementation and awareness and experience of defining and solution customer AI use cases using a range of Cloud Vendor technologies (Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle. Knowledge and experience of one or more of the following key Digital and AI (virtual assistant, Agentic AI) technologies; Azure Open AI, Github CoPilot, Cursor, Devin, Windsurf.
   3. Legacy Application Modernisation design and technology approaches particularly those using next generation development approaches.
   4. Experience of designing, applying and integrating domain specific solutions such as Digital Twins, IoT, Case and Service Management, Geospatial solutions using a range of Cloud Vendor and third-party solutions.
3. Evidenced Business Domain Knowledge and Experience of one or more of the following: Financial Services, Public Sector or Private Sector domains.

1. Proposal & Communication Expertise
   1. Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex concepts to technical and business audiences.
   2. Experience of contributing to high-quality proposals and solution narratives in response to client needs.
2. Client-Facing Collaboration
   1. Comfortable interacting directly with clients and internal stakeholders at various levels.
   2. Ability to understand, interpret, and translate customer requirements into viable solutions and impactful content.
3. Effective Internal Teamworking & Agility
   1. Proven ability to work collaboratively across sales, pre-sales, design, architecture and delivery teams.
   2. Skilled at documenting, transferring, and maintaining continuity of solution knowledge across phases of the client journey.
4. Strong Networking
   1. Skilled in building and maintaining professional relationships with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders.
   2. Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and open up new opportunities through proactive engagement within partner ecosystems and industry networks.

5. Other Experience & Skills – Things We Admire 

Experience of developing new customers globally and in new international markets (USA, Europe) and of working with a range of international solution delivery centres (nearshore, offshore) etc.

Experience of developing and leveraging cloud partner and third-party vendors to develop associated go to market strategies and partnering initiatives.