Head of Architecture

Job Description

The Head of Architecture is accountable for the strategic direction, performance and ongoing health of Sellafield Ltd's ICT architecture as well as the "Head of" the Architecture Business Unit. They support the Head of Strategy and Business partnering with integrating relevant information from ICT and ISO's architecture strategies and portfolios to develop the overall strategy, functionality, integration and quality of Sellafield Ltd's ICT Architecture.

This role will also act as the Chief Architect. This role is accountable for the successful delivery of the following teams:
• Enterprise Architecture • Solution Architecture • Solution Assurance • Application Portfolio Management
This role also has a wider responsibility for leading the architecture career path and Community of Practice guidance / advice to all architecture roles across the company; including those within ISO, such as Solution Design and Application Portfolio Management; and not within ISO, such as Business Architecture and IT Architecture roles within other Sellafield ICT organisations.
Additionally, the Head of Architecture is accountable for Design Authority for the scope within ISO's remit. Reporting into the CIO, this role is also a member of the ISO Leadership team and supports the setting of ISO's strategic priorities as well being a role model for NDA Leadership Standards and the Sellafield Manifesto. ISO are currently journeying through a revision to our Target Operating Model moving us to a multi–supplier commercial framework. This includes making changes to our organisation design, skills and capabilities, processes, governance and ways of working.

This role will be critical in leading the right behaviours and culture of collaboration across ISO and its supply chain to create a 'one team' feel and approach. This is a demanding but rewarding opportunity to join a highly capable, dynamic and supportive team at a pivotal time in the department's transformation!

Principal Accountabilities

Due to the PICTS Programme, many previously outsourced architecture capabilities are being brought in house to Sellafield, this is a significant increase in day to day responsibilities and accountabilities within ISO. The management of the supply chain will also increase in number of suppliers to manage as well as overall complexity, increasing the need to co–ordinate architecture design across multiple suppliers. The Enterprise Architecture team will be expanding in size as well as establishing a Community Of Practice across ISO – a key challenge is ensuring this is a success. This role will have both direct responsibility over the Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Solution Assurance and Application Portfolio Management teams, as well as matrix responsibilities to develop this architecture community across ISO. Strong commitment to innovation and the ability to lead and operate in a matrix environment will be crucial.

Deliverables

• Provide strategic direction, thought leadership and best practice to all teams within the role holder's accountability, ensuring continuous improvement and lessons learnt.
• As a member of the ISO Leadership Team contribute to and facilitate delivery of strategic ICT objectives for the organisation.
• Set the architectural vision, principles, best practices and direction for Sellafield Ltd ICT architecture.
• Lead in the development of ICT's architecture capability with an innovative approach.
• Participate and support the Strategy Lead in developing the ICT strategy.
• Partner with Portfolio teams to rationalise and approve ISO and ICT business portfolio plans and roadmaps.
• Identify and analyses enterprise business drivers to develop enterprise architecture. requirements and solutions, supporting the ICT Strategy development.
• Proactively analyse technology industry and market trends and determines potential impact upon the enterprise working collaboratively with Strategic Relationship Lead.
• Support the development of proof of concepts and innovation labs. • Accountable for ensuring that Solution Designs meet agreed standards, building blocks, principles and reference architecture.
• Accountable for the Application Portfolio Management Team, responsible for application deployment, performance, reliability, availability, security and licensing of Sellafield's portfolio of applications.
• Define and develop appropriate principles, policies, standards and architectural assets to create an appropriate balanced suite of Business, Data, Architecture, Technology and Security building blocks.
• Developing the wider architecture capability across ICT working alongside Head of Capability.
• Communicate and educate the wider Sellafield business on enterprise architecture. standards aligned to Head of Strategy and Business Relationship Management.
• Develop appropriate and robust enterprise architecture governance.
• Accountable for defining and assuring that SL's overall infrastructure is continuously evolving towards the desired target state architecture.
• Evaluate suppliers and vendors and technologies aligned to Sellafield Ltd Commercial. • Assure that ICT is using the appropriate technology, hardware and software.
• Ensure appropriate governance decision making frameworks are in place for escalation, review and approval for key issues, significant projects and decisions for all architecture domains and ensuring compliance with, IT standards, policies and architectural plans.
• Acts as a consultant in the development of ICT solutions for business needs.
• Provide line management to the Lead Enterprise Architect, Lead Solution Architect, Lead Assurance Architect, and Application Portfolio Management Lead, mentoring and supporting their development; including staff appraisal.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Capability to ensure the Architecture function is fully resourced with suitable and sufficient competent resource at all times.
• Manage the departmental budget in line with Sellafield Ltd financial controls.

Essential Skills

• Extensive experience leading complex teams, ideally including Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture and Solution Assurance, ideally within a multi–vendor environment.
• Extensive management experience in a highly regulated environment.
• Proven commercial acumen and prior accountability for budgets similar to the required Dimensions.
• Prior success as a Chief Architect (or equivalent) working on large, complex, enterprise–scale projects.
• Experience being able to interact at the CxO level as well as front line architecture staff.
• Experience developing Enterprise–wide architecture strategies.
• Understanding of current and future technology trends.
• Experience acting at a strategic level within an enterprise–sized organization.
• Experience of delivering ICT Design Authority within a large organization.
• Experience working within a complex multi–vendor outsourced IT environment.
• Information Technology Degree (equivalent or higher).
• Experience and understanding of delivering end to end (business processes to infrastructure) support of enterprise wide ICT solutions and large IT projects.
• Demonstrable ability to analyse and translate user requirements into technical/service solutions.
• Ability to inform others using technical knowledge.
• The Open Group TOGAF Architecture – Certified. • BCS Enterprise / Solution Architecture certification.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating teams.
• Finely tuned stakeholder management skills to ensure effective engagement at all levels, including up to Board level.
• Able to assess complex issues and to apply innovation in modifying existing approaches to solve problems.
• Ability to think and act both strategically and tactically.
• Demonstrable ability to see the big picture and strategic landscape and translate this into a vision.
• Demonstrable ability to establish a collaborative and inclusive working environment including the supply chain.
• Demonstrable ability to use LFE to inform future ways of working.
• Demonstrable experience of leading, implementing and embedding successful business change programmes.
• Extensive experience of working in a customer facing environment where effective stakeholder engagement, influencing skills and professional integrity are key.
• Be a team player.

Pay & Benefits

In promoting equal opportunities, Sellafield Ltd welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We select people according to their abilities and our needs. We want talented people from all backgrounds to choose to join our diverse teams, we'll support your work life balance with flexible and agile working options for full time and part time applicants. You are advised to regularly check your emails (including any junk mail/spam folders) for correspondence related to this post, including assessment or interview invitations and any other type of correspondence relating to your application. In the event of a high number of responses to any advert, Sellafield Ltd reserves the right to close the advert early. As users of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential skills for the vacancy. You will be able to declare a disability when completing our application form. For further details on the scheme please contact GBS Recruitment directly