At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead IT architecture strategy to drive life-changing science and improve human health.
- Company: Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world-leading genomics research centre.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusivity and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of science while tackling humanity's greatest challenges.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in IT architecture and experience with complex technology environments.
The predicted salary is between 83064 - 98000 £ per year.
Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We are looking for a Head of Enterprise IT Architecture to lead, coordinate and develop the IT architectural strategy, governance and standards across the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
This is a senior leadership role within the Informatics and Digital Solutions (IDS) function, with responsibility for ensuring that technical designs and digital infrastructure align with institutional objectives and are robust, scalable, secure and interoperable. You will chair the Technical Design Authority and coordinate enterprise, domain and solution architecture across research, operational and infrastructure domains.
You will play a key role in managing complexity and technical debt while supporting sustainable innovation and promoting architectural best practice and design coherence across the Institute.
About the Role:
As Head of Enterprise IT Architecture, you will provide strategic leadership for architecture across a complex and diverse technology environment. You will lead and coordinate technical leads across enterprise applications, web, scientific compute, databases and infrastructure, and chair the Design Authority, providing strategic oversight of technical design assurance and architectural governance.
You will develop and maintain architecture principles, standards and technology roadmaps to guide institutional investment and delivery, including ownership of a comprehensive and up-to-date mapping of IDS systems and applications. You will review and approve key solution designs, ensuring alignment with agreed architectural standards and strategic goals.
Working with senior scientific, operational and technology leaders, you will ensure that IT architecture meets stakeholder requirements. You will guide the selection and adoption of new technologies, taking account of security, scalability and long-term sustainability, and lead technical risk management relating particularly to system design, integration and obsolescence.
You will oversee the simplification and rationalisation of the existing technology estate to reduce technical debt and improve efficiency, while promoting interoperability, data integrity and architectural reusability across the technology portfolio. You will represent the Institute in external architecture and digital infrastructure forums and help enhance strategic partnerships, including with organisations such as UKRI and EMBL-EBI.
A significant part of the role will be navigating architectural transformation across a complex, heterogeneous technical landscape: balancing standardisation with scientific flexibility and innovation, addressing long-standing technical debt, resolving divergent priorities and embedding effective governance without inhibiting agility or scientific discovery.
About You:
You will bring significant leadership experience in IT solution architecture within a complex technology environment, combined with the ability to work effectively with senior scientific, operational and technology stakeholders. You will be an effective communicator and influential leader, able to provide architectural direction while building strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills:
- Knowledge of TOGAF or other enterprise architecture frameworks
- In-depth knowledge of cloud, data, integration, and application architecture
- Architecture principles, standards development, and technology road mapping
- IT risk management, technical debt management and obsolescence planning
- Demonstrable leadership in IT solution architecture
- Experience in leading design governance (e.g., Technical Design Authority)
- Proven experience reducing technical debt in complex IT estates
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary architectural teams
- Ability to translate institutional strategy into actionable architecture roadmaps
- Ability to evaluate and select IT platforms, infrastructure, and tools
- Strong understanding of data interoperability and standardisation practices
- Excellent stakeholder communication and influencing skills
Communication: Translates complex technical information for varied audiences.
Collaboration: Forges strong relationships across programmes and support teams.
Leadership: Provides vision, clarity, and direction to multidisciplinary teams.
Innovation: Champions pragmatic, forward-thinking architectural solutions.
Results Driven: Delivers robust, cost-effective solutions aligned with strategy.
Integrity: Upholds high standards of technical, ethical, and institutional stewardship.
About Us:
IDS is part of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, a world leading genomics research centre. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine. We are open and collaborative; we share our data, results, tools and technologies across the world to advance science. Our findings are used to improve health and to understand life on Earth.
Our science is large-scale and organised into research Programmes, led by our Faculty who conceive and deliver our science, and supported by our Scientific Platforms and IT teams responsible for all data production pipelines, compute and storage facilities at the Institute.
Other Information:
Hybrid role, minimum of 2 days per week on campus. The role has line management responsibility for the Head of IT Security & Governance and Service Improvement Manager.
Application Process:
Please apply with your CV and a cover letter outlining your motivation for applying and how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria for the role. As previous experience is particularly important for this position, please use your cover letter to provide specific examples of how you have:
- led IT solution architecture within a complex technology environment and translated organisational strategy into actionable architecture roadmaps;
- led design governance, for example through a Design Authority, and influenced stakeholders across different technical, scientific or operational areas;
- reduced technical debt within a complex IT estate while balancing architectural standards, risk, sustainability and organisational requirements.
Salary per annum: £83,064 - £98,000
Job family: IDS PSG3 Role Profile
Contract Type: Permanent
Recruitment Process: Shortlisting w/c 19th October, Interviews w/c 26th October and w/c 2nd November
Closing date: 18th October 2026
Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:
We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks: LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability, Gender Equity and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others. We believe people do their best work when they can be their authentic selves. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.
Our Benefits:
We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute. Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.
Head of Enterprise IT Architecture employer: Sanger Institute
At Wellcome Sanger Institute, we are dedicated to improving human health and advancing scientific research in a supportive and mission-driven environment. As an Alliance Manager, you will benefit from a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance while engaging in meaningful collaborations with industry partners. Our commitment to diversity, employee wellbeing, and professional growth ensures that you can thrive and make a significant impact in the field of life sciences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Enterprise IT Architecture
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Sanger Institute values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
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Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Sanger Institute might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
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Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Sanger Institute!
✨Direct Apply to Sanger Institute
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Enterprise IT Architecture
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Sanger Institute.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Sanger Institute. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sanger Institute
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
