Head of Architecture & Applications in Brighton

When was the last time you had a real impact in technology leadership?

Brighton & Hove City Council is breaking barriers and setting a new standard for what good looks like in tech: we move at breakneck speed, clear obstacles, deliver great technology, and have placed technology at the very heart of our strategy. And we do this in a caring, dynamic environment where we support each other to be the very best that we can be.

And now we need you.

We are looking for a visionary Head of Architecture & Applications to define the technical backbone of the council’s future.

This role will set the strategic direction for our entire systems landscape: from major line-of-business applications through to integrations, standards, and roadmaps. You will bring coherence to a fragmented estate, ensuring every technology decision aligns to a clear and sustainable target architecture.

You’ll lead the full lifecycle of our application estate: overseeing suppliers, upgrades, integrations and custom builds, while embedding strong architectural governance that enables delivery without blocking it. This is a role for someone who can balance long-term thinking with pragmatic decision-making, shaping a modern, integrated, and resilient digital ecosystem that underpins everything we do.

Most importantly? We want you to bring your experience and expertise to the table as one of six brand new heads of service: building the team your way, creating a setup you believe in, and setting the standard for what you know good looks like. Set direction instead of waiting for it; find ways to get things done, instead of reasons not to; and deliver outcomes people notice and care about.

If you want to work somewhere where you can actually make a mark: this might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. To achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage women applicants and applicants from a white other and disabled background.