At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead digital transformation and shape enterprise architecture in a global transportation company.
- Company: Global Transportation Company with a focus on innovation and technology.
- Benefits: Competitive day rate, strong executive backing, and immediate start.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a high-performing team and influence key stakeholders.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on technology strategy and drive change at scale.
- Qualifications: Proven senior technology leadership experience and expertise in enterprise architecture.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
We are supporting a global Transportation organisation on the appointment of a Chief Architect (Interim) to lead a critical phase of its digital and technology transformation. This is a high-impact leadership role, operating at the heart of the digital leadership team, with responsibility for shaping and delivering enterprise-wide architecture and engineering strategy in a complex, large-scale environment.
The Opportunity
This role blends strategic vision with Architecture & Engineering leadership, taking ownership of architecture as a true business enabler, not just a governance function. You will be responsible for modernising legacy environments, accelerating digital capabilities, and embedding scalable, future-ready technology foundations. A key part of the remit will also involve enabling increased adoption of AI and emerging technologies, supporting innovation across operational and customer-facing functions. With significant investment underway and strong executive backing, this is a unique opportunity to influence the direction of a globally recognised organisation at pace.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and own the end-to-end Architecture and Engineering strategy, aligned to wider business and technology objectives
- Provide leadership across enterprise, solution and platform architecture, alongside software engineering teams
- Define and implement architecture standards, guardrails and governance, ensuring consistency across delivery
- Drive adoption of modern practices including cloud, DevSecOps, APIs, microservices and Agile delivery
- Establish and evolve foundational capabilities that enable product teams to innovate at speed
- Act as a senior decision-maker on technology direction, standards and strategic design across the enterprise
- Develop and present technology roadmaps and business cases, influencing senior stakeholders on key trade-offs
- Build and maintain trusted relationships across business and technology leadership, acting as a strategic advisor
- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing architecture and engineering leadership team
- Champion a culture of engineering excellence, innovation and continuous improvement
Scope & Scale
- Reporting to the Chief Information Officer
- Direct leadership of 5-10 senior leaders, with a dotted line to an overall team of 100+, and additional third-party resources
- Accountability for £10m+ Opex budget, with governance across a significantly larger technology spend
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience operating in a senior technology leadership role within a complex, global organisation
- Deep expertise across enterprise architecture and full-stack engineering, including modern digital platforms
- Strong understanding of cloud architectures, APIs, microservices, DevSecOps and scalable application design
- Experience leading architecture across application, data and infrastructure domains
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive enterprise-wide change
- Track record of leading and developing large, multi-disciplinary teams
- Experience working in Agile, product-centric environments (e.g. SAFe)
- Strong commercial awareness, including business case development and technology investment decisions
Leadership Profile
You will bring a combination of:
- Strategic thinking and technical depth
- Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
- A collaborative, inclusive leadership style
- The confidence to challenge the status quo and drive change
- A passion for innovation, learning and continuous improvement
Why Apply
- Enterprise-wide impact within a globally recognised organisation
- Significant influence over technology strategy and investment
- Opportunity to shape modern architecture and engineering capabilities at scale
- Immediate start, with strong executive visibility and backing
Chief Architect (Interim) employer: Harvey Nash Group
Join a globally recognised transportation organisation in London as an Interim Chief Architect, where you will play a pivotal role in driving digital transformation and shaping enterprise-wide architecture strategies. With a strong emphasis on innovation and continuous improvement, the company fosters a collaborative work culture that values strategic thinking and technical expertise, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and influence over technology investments. This is a unique chance to lead a high-performing team in a dynamic environment, supported by substantial executive backing and resources.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Architect (Interim)
✨Get your portfolio ready!
When applying for that temporary architecture gig, make sure your portfolio is top-notch. Showcase your best projects, even if they were just uni assignments or side hustles. Include visuals and a brief description to show your design process and creativity.
✨Tap into local architecture events
Check out local architecture exhibitions, talks, and meetups. These events are brilliant for networking and you never know who might be looking for temporary help or just has a contact that could lead you to the right opportunity. Plus, it's a great way to stay updated on trends in the field!
✨Leverage temporary recruitment agencies
Consider registering with recruitment agencies that specialise in architecture roles. They often have access to temporary positions that aren’t advertised elsewhere. It's an easy way to find that next role without much fuss, plus they can help you polish your approach!
✨Show up where the architects are
Join online architecture forums or social media groups where professionals share opportunities. Engaging with these communities not only boosts your visibility but can also lead to job leads and collaborations. Don't underestimate the power of a simple message introducing yourself!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Architect (Interim)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Aesthetics:In the architecture game, your portfolio is your best friend. Make sure it showcases a range of your projects, highlighting both your design skills and technical ability. Don't just list what you've done – tell a story behind your designs, and show us how you think spatially!
Emphasise Collaborative Projects:Since this is a temporary role, showing you can work well with others is key. Highlight any collaborative projects in your CV or cover letter. Let us see how you’ve contributed in team settings – we want to know that you can hit the ground running alongside our crew at Harvey Nash Group.
Tailor Your Application for the Short Term:For temporary gigs, focus on your flexibility and how quickly you adapt to new environments. In your cover letter, mention your eagerness to learn and contribute immediately. We want to see that you’re ready to bring your skills to Harvey Nash Group without needing a long onboarding process!
Stay Up-to-Date with Trends:Architecture is constantly evolving, so make sure your application reflects your awareness of current design trends, software tools, and sustainable practices. Mention any relevant certifications or courses you've taken recently – it shows that you're serious about staying on top of your game for that temporary role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Harvey Nash Group
✨Showcase Your Creative Portfolio
When interviewing for a temporary role in architecture, it’s crucial that we bring along a strong portfolio that highlights our best projects. Make sure to include a variety of work that showcases your design skills, technical drawings, and even any 3D models or visualisations. This will help the interviewers at Harvey Nash Group see your creative process and your ability to tackle different challenges in architectural design.
✨Brush Up on Software Skills
Be prepared to answer questions about architectural software like AutoCAD, Revit, or SketchUp, since many firms, including Harvey Nash Group, heavily rely on these tools. If possible, brush up on your skills with quick tutorials beforehand, and be ready to discuss how you used these tools in past projects. This shows that you’re not just a pretty face but also technically savvy!
✨Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability
Temporary roles often require us to jump into projects mid-flow, so highlight experiences where you've quickly adapted to new teams or changing project scopes. Talk about your problem-solving strategies and how you handle unexpected challenges — this will show Harvey Nash Group that you can seamlessly integrate into their ongoing work without missing a beat.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your critical thinking and design choices in real-time. Practice answers where you explain how you would approach specific architectural challenges or collaborate with different stakeholders. This will not only demonstrate our thought process but also show how we can contribute meaningfully to the team at Harvey Nash Group from day one.
