Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London
Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D

Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London

London Full-Time 90000 - 120000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Shape technology strategy and architecture for Supply Chain and R&D, driving business outcomes.
  • Company: Join a leading CPG company focused on innovation and transformation.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with mentorship and career advancement opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by bridging business strategy and technology execution.
  • Qualifications: 5-7 years as an Enterprise Architect with strong Supply Chain knowledge.

The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 £ per year.

We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Architect within the Supply Chain & R&D domains to shape and evolve the technology strategy and roadmap. This role plays a critical bridge between business strategy and technology execution, ensuring architecture decisions accelerate business outcomes, reduce complexity, and enable scalable, future-ready platforms. You will partner closely with senior business and IT leaders, guide investment decisions, and provide architectural leadership across transformation initiatives in a global, fast-moving CPG environment.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

  • Strategic Architecture & Business Alignment
    • Drive enterprise architecture with a business-outcome lens across Supply Chain and R&D.
    • Define and evolve the business technology strategy and multi-year roadmaps, covering applications, data, analytics, and integration.
    • Translate business strategy into target-state architectures, capability models, and investment priorities.
    • Proactively identify opportunities to digitize, modernize, and simplify business processes.
  • Architecture Governance & Portfolio Management
    • Lead architecture governance, reference architecture development, and technology standards.
    • Establish and mature application and technology portfolio management to increase transparency and reduce technical debt.
    • Assess solution designs across business, data, application, and technology layers to identify optionality, risks and trade-offs.
    • Accountable for High Level Designs across Supply Chain and R&D projects; ensuring solutions are fit-for-purpose and aligned with enterprise architecture principles.
  • Delivery Enablement & Technical Leadership
    • Provide architectural leadership across the full SDLC, supporting both project-centric and product-centric operating models.
    • Serve as architecture lead on complex initiatives, shaping solution design and ecosystem integration.
    • Partner with delivery teams to guide design decisions and ensure architectural quality.
    • Support build-vs-buy decisions and vendor evaluations; leading on software vendor selection exercises (RFPs).
  • Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
    • Build strong relationships with business executives, product leaders, and technology partners.
    • Communicate architecture direction and roadmaps in clear, compelling, executive-ready language.
    • Act as a trusted advisor, able to challenge constructively and influence without authority.
  • Practice & Capability Development
    • Mentor and coach architects, product teams, and stakeholders to instill strong architectural thinking.
    • Contribute to the evolution of the Enterprise Architecture practice, operating model, and ways of working.
    • Continuously monitor technology trends and disruptions relevant to Supply Chain, R&D, cloud, and data platforms.

Domain Expertise You Bring

  • Strong functional knowledge of Supply Chain (e.g., IBP, Logistics, Warehousing).
  • Solid understanding of R&D processes within a CPG environment.
  • Hands-on experience architecting complex, integrated Supply Chain solutions.
  • Deep familiarity with cloud and hybrid-cloud platforms, integration patterns, and modern application architectures.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
  • 5-7 years of experience as an Enterprise Architect focused on Supply Chain.
  • 4-6 years of prior experience in solution architecture or related technical roles.
  • Demonstrated experience defining enterprise roadmaps and guiding large-scale transformations.

Core Competencies

  • Systems thinking with the ability to balance long-term strategy and near-term delivery.
  • Strong analytical skills with comfort assessing cost, risk, and value trade-offs.
  • Executive-level communication and storytelling skills.
  • Consulting mindset: collaborative, structured, and outcome-oriented.
  • Ability to operate effectively in complex, federated, and politically nuanced environments.

Technical & Professional Skills

  • Expertise in modern enterprise architecture concepts: SaaS, APIs, microservices, event-driven architectures, and analytics.
  • Strong knowledge of domain/industry related technology landscape, accelerators and opportunities.
  • Experience in using AI solutions to bring business value in SC and R&D domains.
  • Strong understanding of operating models, financial management, and investment planning.
  • Familiarity with EA frameworks, modeling tools, Agile and scaled Agile approaches.
  • Proven leadership, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills.

Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London employer: Wella International Operations Switzerland Sàrl

As a leading player in the Consumer Packaged Goods sector, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that champions innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that our team members thrive both personally and professionally. Located in a vibrant area, we offer competitive benefits and a culture that values work-life balance, making us an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in technology strategy and architecture.
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Contact Detail:

Wella International Operations Switzerland Sàrl Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the Supply Chain and R&D sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself to key players. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

Tip Number 2

Showcase your expertise! Create a personal website or LinkedIn profile that highlights your experience in enterprise architecture and technology strategy. Share articles or insights related to Supply Chain and R&D to position yourself as a thought leader in the field.

Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. Be ready to discuss how you've driven business outcomes through technology decisions. Use clear, compelling language to communicate your architectural vision and how it aligns with business goals.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you. Tailor your application to highlight your experience in shaping technology strategies and leading transformations in fast-paced environments.

We think you need these skills to ace Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London

Enterprise Architecture
Supply Chain Knowledge
R&D Processes Understanding
Cloud and Hybrid-Cloud Platforms
Integration Patterns
Modern Application Architectures
SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
Architecture Governance
Portfolio Management
High Level Design
Stakeholder Management
Executive-Level Communication
Analytical Skills
Mentoring and Coaching
AI Solutions Implementation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in Supply Chain and R&D. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant projects or achievements!

Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, emphasise your ability to connect business strategy with technology execution. We’re looking for someone who can bridge the gap, so share examples of how you've driven enterprise architecture with a business-outcome lens.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your architectural leadership and technical expertise. Remember, we appreciate executive-level communication that tells a compelling story!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out on the chance to join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Wella International Operations Switzerland Sàrl

Know Your Architecture Inside Out

Make sure you have a solid grasp of enterprise architecture concepts, especially in the context of Supply Chain and R&D. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these concepts in previous roles, and think about specific examples where your architectural decisions led to improved business outcomes.

Speak Business Language

Since this role bridges technology and business strategy, practice articulating your technical knowledge in a way that resonates with business leaders. Prepare to explain how your architectural decisions can drive business value, reduce complexity, and support strategic goals.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

This position requires strong leadership and stakeholder management. Be prepared to share experiences where you've successfully influenced decisions or guided teams through complex projects. Highlight your mentoring abilities and how you've contributed to developing architectural practices.

Stay Current with Trends

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in cloud technologies, AI solutions, and modern application architectures relevant to Supply Chain and R&D. Bring insights into how these trends can be leveraged to enhance business processes and drive innovation within the company.

Director, Technology Strategy & Architecture - SC and R&D in London
Wella International Operations Switzerland Sàrl
Location: London

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