At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the architecture function and manage a diverse application portfolio for Warner Hotels.
- Company: Warner Hotels, a leader in hospitality with a focus on technology innovation.
- Benefits: Annual bonus, generous leave, discounts, and comprehensive health support.
- Other info: Build a new architecture function from the ground up with full CTO support.
- Why this job: Shape the future of our tech landscape and drive impactful change.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in architecture and application portfolio management.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Warner Hotels operates a portfolio of 100+ technology services across a modern, cloud-first estate — but the application landscape is fragmented, point-to-point integrations are the norm, and there is no enterprise architecture function to govern where the estate is going.
The result is cost, complexity, and constraint on the business's ability to grow.
We are looking for a
Head of Architecture & Applications who can bring order, clarity and direction to this landscape.
This role sits at the intersection of technical rigour and commercial pragmatism — someone who can define the target architecture, govern the application portfolio, and ensure that every application Warner runs is earning its place.
As the owner of Warner's enterprise architecture and application portfolio, you will define how the technology estate should evolve — across commercial applications (i Stay, Maestro, Zonal), corporate platforms (ERPx, Element Suite, Coupa), and the integrations that connect them.
You will set and govern architecture standards, lead the application rationalisation agenda, accelerate automation, and ensure that our platform choices support — not constrain — the business's strategic ambitions.
Why Join Us?
- Clean mandate: The architecture function does not exist today — you will build it from the ground up with full CTO sponsorship.
- Rationalisation and AI Enabled automation agenda to drive.
Key responsibilities
- Define & Own the Enterprise Architecture
- Establish and maintain Warner's enterprise architecture framework — covering application, data, integration, and infrastructure layers.
- Define target architecture principles, standards, and guardrails that all technology decisions are measured against.
- Lead architecture reviews for all significant change initiatives, ensuring alignment to the target state.
- Application Portfolio Management
- Own the full application portfolio — 160+ services across commercial, hotel operations, F&B, corporate and back-office domains
- Lead the application rationalisation roadmap: identifying duplication, underutilisation and consolidation opportunities.
- Manage application vendor relationships and licence agreements, ensuring value for money and strategic alignment.
- Integration Architecture & API Governance
- Define Warner's integration architecture — moving from point-to-point towards an API-first, event-driven model.
- Govern the integration landscape to reduce complexity, eliminate technical debt, and improve reliability.
- Work closely with the Head of Data & Digital Engineering to ensure the data platform and digital products are built on sound integration foundations.
- Technology Strategy & Governance
- Contribute to the overall IT strategy — specifically the 'Simplify the Core' pillar.
- Chair architecture governance forums and ensure all significant technology decisions are reviewed, documented, and aligned.
- Provide technology roadmapping capability, ensuring the business has visibility of where the estate is going and why.
You'll need to be comfortable working with this technical toolkit
- Enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF or equivalent).
- Application portfolio management across Saa S and on-premise.
- Power Automate / RPA
- Integration patterns: API-first, event-driven, microservices.
- Hospitality application landscape: PMS (Maestro), POS (Zonal), booking engines (i Stay), ERP (ERPx/Unit4), HCM (Element Suite).
- Cloud architecture: AWS and Azure.
Who You Are
- An Architect with Commercial Edge: You can design elegant systems and also make the business case for why they matter.
- A Portfolio Thinker: You see the whole estate, not just individual applications. You can rationalise as well as build.
- A Pragmatist: You know when 'good enough and deployed' beats 'perfect and delayed'.
- A Communicator: You can explain architecture decisions to a Finance Director as clearly as to an engineer.
- You'll have extensive experience within technology roles, working within architecture or application portfolio leadership.
- Demonstrable experience rationalising complex application estates.
- Hospitality, retail or multi-site consumer sector experience strongly preferred
- The benefits of working with us
- Annual Bonus
- Pension scheme: 3% employer, 5% employee
- 25 days annual leave per year + flexible 8 bank holidays + you can purchase up to 5 days additional leave per year
- 20% discount at breaks at Warner, Butlins & Haven + additional discounts during your stays
- Help @ Hand from Unum - including virtual GP, Physiotherapy support, Mental Health sessions
- Life Assurance
- Free Car Parking
- Electric Vehicle scheme
- Enhanced Family Friendly policies
- Refer a friend scheme
- Aslan: Our Reward & recognition portal includes access to a financial wellbeing platform
- Access to a discounts platform including a points based discount plan to increase your retail discounts
- Employee Assistance Programme
- L&G Care Concierge
- Glow Getters and Long Service Awards
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of Architecture & Applications in Hemel Hempstead employer: Warner Hotels
Warner Hotels is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and development, offering a vibrant work culture where creativity and collaboration thrive. Located in the picturesque Lakeside Coastal Village, Stoke-on-Trent, employees benefit from a supportive environment that values guest satisfaction and operational excellence, alongside competitive benefits and opportunities to shape memorable experiences for guests.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Architecture & Applications in Hemel Hempstead
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Warner Hotels who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Architecture & Applications in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Warner Hotels!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Warner Hotels. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Warner Hotels
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Warner Hotels.
