Senior Enterprise Architect - Hybrid Working from London or Bristol - Circa £150K+ Package

The Enterprise Architect (EA) – Operate is responsible for architecting the technology capabilities within a portfolio of IT applications that support key Enabling functions such as Finance, People & Culture (P&C), and Fulfilment within the business. The EA will engage with both strategic and operational leaders to understand the business's objectives in support areas like Finance, Logistics, HR, and other enabling functions. This insight will drive the creation of an implementable application architecture that supports the organization's mission to deliver innovative products and services globally.

This role involves creating architecture and roadmaps and ensuring they are implemented through major programs and project alignment with active governance. The EA will work closely with various technology teams to ensure a seamless and integrated solution is delivered, collaborating with Business Architects and Data Architects to ensure the business and technical needs are fully addressed.

The EA will lead advancements in critical business support functions, with expertise in ERP (Finance, P&C, Inventory), Fulfilment, and related application suites. They will communicate the value of architecture strategies to both technical and business teams, driving the organization's capabilities forward at pace.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage with strategic and operational business stakeholders to assess their needs and drive better business outcomes.
• Provide proactive guidance to stakeholders and raise awareness of opportunities offered by technology.
• Define technology components and guide investment decisions in the domain, continuously assessing the technology estate for maximum value.
• Lead the development of architecture artefacts for current, future, and transition states of the Application Estate, ensuring key business stakeholder buy-in.
• Take ownership of creating and maintaining architecture standards, patterns, and tools that support successful architecture implementation.
• Actively participate in Governance forums overseeing architecture implementation and promptly make critical decisions to ensure alignment with strategic plans.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the definition of Enabling Applications Architecture aligned with broader Enterprise Architecture and the organization's strategy.
• Assess the financial and technical impact of changes and agree on an investment strategy to transition to the target architecture.
• Facilitate the development of technology strategies, roadmaps, and plans for the Enabling Applications domain.
• Lead the creation of architecture principles and standards for decision-making in the Enabling Applications domain, contributing to overarching Enterprise Architecture Principles.
• Monitor the implementation of architecture standards and adherence to strategic objectives.
• Manage exceptions to architecture standards and address technical debt as necessary.
• Engage stakeholders to identify technology-enabled innovations that drive business strategy, focusing on revenue growth, cost optimization, and risk mitigation.
• Promote the adoption of new technologies and reuse of existing technology for business capabilities and processes.
• Monitor and report on progress against architecture roadmaps and target architecture.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a team of specialist architects, coaching and mentoring them to achieve both personal objectives and the organization's technology strategy.
• Collaborate with technology vendors relevant to Enabling Applications to ensure optimal outcomes for the organization.

Skills and Experience

• Strong ability to balance both short- and long-term perspectives in aligning technology with business goals.
• Skilled in estimating the financial impact of technology options.
• Expertise in applying diverse technical solutions to drive business capabilities and outcomes.
• Quick to grasp the functions and potential of new and emerging technologies.
• Proven leadership, respected as a thought leader, and able to influence business and IT leaders.
• Effective communicator with both technical and non-technical audiences, including board-level executives.
• Experienced in working with business leaders and managing professional, diplomatic pushback.
• Technology-neutral, focused on outcomes over preferences.
• Driven by long-term success, with strong innovation, foresight, and design thinking skills.
• Multiculturally sensitive, organized, and output-oriented.
• Adaptable to change and comfortable with ambiguity.

Skills & Knowledge

• Extensive experience defining architectural artifacts (models, roadmaps, strategies, etc.).
• Proficient in Architecture Modelling and Notation techniques.
• Deep experience with enterprise applications like SAP, Salesforce.
• Leadership in large-scale transformation programs and business architecture.
• Applied formal architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman).
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Experience

• Experience as an Enterprise Architect supporting digital transformation.
• Skilled in defining and maintaining reference architecture and artifacts.
• Proven track record of leading high-performance teams toward challenging goals.