At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architecture and security strategy across a hybrid IT environment, driving impactful decisions.
- Company: Dynamic tech group operating across Europe, focused on innovation and delivery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £120,000, full-time role in vibrant London office.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a fast-paced, outcome-driven environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of architecture and security while making a real difference in a collaborative setting.
- Qualifications: Proven enterprise architecture experience and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 120000 € per year.
Permanent position in London (Victoria) - 5 days per week onsite, up to £120,000.
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. Formal certification such as TOGAF is valued but not required.
- 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:
- Reports to: Group IT Director
- 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 & Security employer: Computappoint
Join a dynamic and innovative team in the heart of London (Victoria) as the Head of Architecture & Security, where your expertise will directly influence the architecture direction and security strategy across multiple European businesses. We pride ourselves on a collaborative work culture that values pace, pragmatism, and tangible outcomes, offering you the opportunity to lead and develop teams while driving meaningful change. With a competitive salary of up to £120,000 and a commitment to employee growth, this role is perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture & Security
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, conferences, or even local events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in enterprise architecture and security. Share specific examples of how you've tackled complex problems and delivered results.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you're interested in, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly through our website, express your interest, and share how your skills align with their needs. It shows initiative and can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by practising your communication skills. Be ready to explain complex topics simply and clearly. Remember, they want to see how you can translate your technical knowledge into actionable insights that benefit the business.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture & Security
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Architecture & Security role. Highlight your enterprise architecture capabilities and any relevant security strategies you've implemented.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've turned ambiguous problems into clear solutions and driven results in previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior role, emphasise your experience in managing teams and influencing stakeholders. We want to see how you've set direction and coached others to achieve their goals.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Computappoint
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you can discuss your experience with enterprise architecture in detail. Be ready to explain how you've set direction across hybrid environments and made pragmatic design choices. This role is all about practical application, so have examples at the ready!
✨Demonstrate Security Savvy
Prepare to talk about your approach to security strategy and risk-based decision-making. Think of specific instances where you've embedded security into architecture and delivery. The interviewers will want to see that you can make decisions that enable the business while keeping it secure.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This position requires strong leadership through influence. Be prepared to share how you've managed senior technical staff and set expectations. Highlight your ability to coach teams and deliver results through others, as this will be key to your success in the role.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex topics simply. You might need to produce diagrams or design documents during the interview, so think about how you can convey your ideas effectively. Remember, clear communication is crucial for engaging with both technical and business stakeholders.
