IT / Enterprise Architect in Reading

IT Architect plays a key role within the Technology and Information function, providing architectural oversight across technology domains, services, programmes, and change initiatives. Working under the direction of the Lead Enterprise Architect, the role helps ensure technology solutions are secure, scalable, interoperable, cost‑effective, appropriately governed, and aligned with business strategy, operating model, and long‑term digital ambitions.

Working across stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery teams, the role bridges strategic architecture and practical delivery to support business transformation and achieve operational excellence.

Why this role matters: Technology underpins every aspect of operations, from supporting internal users to enabling critical services for shareholders. This role helps ensure technology investments are aligned to business objectives, reducing complexity, managing risk, and supporting sustainable growth. By providing architectural authority and technical leadership, the role enables informed decision‑making, innovation, and long‑term value creation.

What you’ll be here to do:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders, IT teams, and suppliers to align technology solutions to business goals.
• Support the development and evolution of enterprise architecture across business, application, data, and technology domains.
• Support technology strategy, portfolio planning, roadmaps, and investment decisions through architectural insight and understanding of industry frameworks.
• Develop and maintain architecture principles, standards, policies, and governance frameworks.
• Provide architecture assurance and challenge solution designs to ensure alignment with enterprise standards.
• Apply security, resilience, integration, data governance, and privacy principles throughout solution designs.
• Support architecture governance forums and provide recommendations on risks, trade‑offs, and opportunities.
• Review and question supplier architecture deliverables and design quality.
• Monitor emerging technologies and best practices and recommend innovation opportunities that deliver business value.
• Support the definition of supplier contracts and the management of suppliers in-life.
• Work with Cyber‑Security, Data, Digital Enablement, Operations, and Delivery teams to turn business demand into effective technology change.
• Promote best practice, continuous improvement, and alignment to Company's enterprise architecture vision.

Who we’re looking for:

• Broad experience in enterprise, solution, or technology architecture roles.
• Strong understanding of architecture frameworks, industry best-practices, and common architecture principles.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms, integration architectures, APIs, data platforms, and modern technology patterns.
• Experience working across business, application, data, and technology domains.
• Ability to assess technology options, risks, costs, and business value.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, including presenting to senior audiences.
• Experience working with suppliers and outsourced delivery partners.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts in clear business terms.
• Experience in technical governance or compliance.

If you also have the following, we’d especially like to hear from you:

• Architecture qualifications such as TOGAF, Open CA, BCS, or equivalent.
• Cloud architecture certifications (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
• ITIL, CISSP, ISSAP, or other security and service management qualifications.
• Experience in telecommunications, OSS/BSS, infrastructure management, or network operations.
• Experience within joint venture, regulated, safety‑critical, or multi‑supplier environments.
• Experience supporting long‑term outsourcing and strategic supplier partnerships.