At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architecture and security strategy across a hybrid environment, driving delivery and integration.
- Company: Dynamic tech company in London with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £120,000, full-time role, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced environment with a focus on practical solutions and team development.
- Why this job: Make impactful decisions in a senior role that shapes the future of technology in the organisation.
- Qualifications: Proven enterprise architecture experience and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 120000 € per year.
We are looking for a technically credible, delivery-focused Head of Architecture and Security to join a Group ICT function operating across multiple European businesses. This is a senior leadership role combining genuine enterprise architecture authority with practical security ownership and hands-on delivery oversight — not a theoretical or governance-only position.
Reporting to the Group IT Director and line managing the Technical Engineering Manager, you will set architecture direction across a hybrid estate, own application integration architecture across the Group, drive M365 and End User Computing strategy, and make proportionate security decisions that enable the business rather than block it. The organisation values pace, pragmatism, and outcomes. This is a role for someone who turns ambiguous problems into clear options and drives decisions through to delivered results.
What you’ll do
- Establish and maintain clear architecture views across the Group’s hybrid environment — on-premise infrastructure, Azure cloud, Microsoft 365, identity, and security — that are genuinely useful to both engineers and senior business stakeholders.
- Own the Group’s application integration architecture: set integration standards, understand how systems across the businesses connect and exchange data, and challenge approaches that are inconsistent, fragile, or undocumented.
- Convert ambiguous business and technical problems into workable solution designs with clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations.
- Set strategic direction for Microsoft 365 and End User Computing, ensuring the platform’s capabilities are understood and exploited before new technology is proposed.
- Own security strategy and risk-based decision-making for the ICT function, embedding security pragmatically across architecture, delivery, and operations.
- Drive delivery pace by simplifying decision-making, removing blockers, and creating clear, executable plans that teams can act upon.
- Line manage the Technical Engineering Manager, setting expectations, reviewing performance, and developing their leadership capability.
- Represent the ICT function confidently with senior business stakeholders, vendors, and in technical governance discussions.
What we’re looking for
- Demonstrable enterprise architecture capability: experience producing architecture views, setting coherent direction across a hybrid estate, and making pragmatic design choices about cloud migration and on-premise retention.
- Application integration architecture experience: evidence of setting integration standards, understanding APIs and data exchange patterns, and challenging development teams on how systems connect.
- Strong strategic depth across Microsoft 365 and identity: tenant-level governance, Conditional Access, device posture, identity governance, and data protection.
- Security strategy and risk-based decision-making: a proven ability to own proportionate security decisions across infrastructure, cloud, identity, and operations in a commercially aware way.
- Broad infrastructure credibility: sufficient understanding of on-premise infrastructure — servers, storage, networking, virtualisation, and resilience — to challenge engineering proposals and set direction.
- Azure cloud architecture understanding, including hybrid integration, governance, and migration sequencing.
- Leadership through influence, not hands-on execution: clear evidence of setting direction, coaching teams, and delivering results through others.
- Experience managing senior technical staff, setting expectations, and holding direct reports accountable for delivery and team outcomes.
- Clear, effective communication: the ability to explain complex topics simply and produce artefacts — diagrams, design documents, decision records — that people actually use.
- A delivery-focused mindset: someone who turns problems into decisions and outcomes quickly, drives momentum, and holds teams to timelines.
- Senior presence and interpersonal skills: confident operating at a senior level, professional and sociable, comfortable engaging across technical and business functions.
Desirable
- Interest in and awareness of practical AI and automation adoption within ICT functions.
- Experience in regulated financial services environments.
- Experience operating across multiple European jurisdictions.
The role in brief
- Direct reports: Technical Engineering Manager
- Location: Victoria, London — office-based, five days per week
- Salary: Up to £120,000
- Contract: Full-time, permanent
If you are a senior architecture and security leader who combines technical credibility with clear communication and a genuine drive for delivery, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Head of Architecture and Security employer: Computappoint
As a leading employer in the heart of London, we offer an exciting opportunity for the Head of Architecture and Security to thrive in a dynamic and collaborative work environment. Our culture prioritises innovation and practical solutions, empowering employees to drive meaningful change while enjoying competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. With a strong focus on professional development and leadership growth, we are committed to nurturing talent and fostering a workplace where every team member can excel.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture and Security
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make those personal connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their architecture and security needs, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to walk in feeling confident and ready to showcase your skills!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you can turn ambiguous problems into clear solutions. We know you’ve got the skills, so let’s make sure you can communicate them effectively during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals who can drive results and make an impact.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture and Security
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Technical Credibility:When writing your application, make sure to highlight your experience in enterprise architecture and security. We want to see how you've set direction across hybrid environments and made pragmatic design choices that have led to successful outcomes.
Be Clear and Concise:Use straightforward language to explain complex topics. We appreciate clear communication, so ensure your application includes well-structured documents or diagrams that showcase your ability to simplify intricate ideas for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Demonstrate Leadership Skills:We’re looking for someone who can lead through influence. In your application, share examples of how you’ve coached teams, set expectations, and delivered results through others. This will show us your capability in managing senior technical staff effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Computappoint
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of enterprise architecture principles, especially in hybrid environments. Be ready to discuss your experience with Azure cloud, on-premise infrastructure, and how you've set integration standards in the past.
✨Showcase Your Security Savvy
Prepare to talk about your approach to security strategy and risk-based decision-making. Highlight specific examples where you've made pragmatic security choices that enabled business outcomes rather than hindered them.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in simple terms. Bring along any diagrams or design documents you've created that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and senior stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Through Influence
Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams by setting clear expectations and coaching others. Discuss how you've driven results through collaboration rather than hands-on execution, showcasing your ability to manage senior technical staff.