Global Head of Enterprise Arhitecture

Job Summary

The Global Head of Enterprise Architecture is accountable for the delivery and oversight of all aspects of the Enterprise Architecture portfolio across the organisation. The role ensures the design and continual evolution of an enterprise architecture that supports and enables the strategic objectives of the business.

This position works collaboratively with senior leadership to define desired business outcomes and ensures that the architecture function is fully aligned to achieving those outcomes. The role is an integral member of the senior leadership team, providing strategic planning, operational expertise, and trusted counsel to drive the organisation’s long-term digital strategy.

The role leads, develops, and delivers the enterprise architecture strategy and business plan, ensuring consistent application of policy, processes, and standards across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the overall strategy, objectives, and projects within the Enterprise Architecture portfolio, aligned with the organisation’s wider strategic priorities.
• Define and own enterprise-level architecture strategies, policies, standards, and practices.
• Contribute to and support strategic planning activities within the digital function, shaping and evolving the architecture domain strategy.
• Manage enterprise architecture portfolio planning, budgeting, and operational resourcing, ensuring compliance with corporate reporting requirements and alignment with performance objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate market trends, emerging technologies, and business strategies to inform architectural direction.
• Develop and present business cases for approval, funding, and prioritisation of strategic initiatives.
• Ensure effective coordination between business strategies, transformation activities, and architectural direction.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across the enterprise architecture function, including the adoption of new tools, applications, and performance improvements.
• Provide strategic leadership and guidance to the architecture team, ensuring clarity of vision, high performance, and achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Promote and contribute to the organisation’s sustainability objectives, including the transition to net-zero carbon and the management of associated environmental impacts.
• Oversee cross-domain architecture efforts and ensure alignment of transformation activities to desired architectural outcomes.
• Serve as a senior member of the digital leadership team, contributing to the strategic agenda and influencing decisions across the wider digital portfolio.
• Act as an enterprise-wide leader, championing strategic initiatives and transformational change across the business.
• Represent the Enterprise Architecture function externally, managing relationships with key clients, partners, suppliers, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide executive leadership across the portfolio, supporting and mentoring senior leaders, facilitating succession planning, onboarding, and professional development.
• Promote and uphold the highest standards of health, safety, and wellbeing across all areas of responsibility.
• Provide thought leadership and expert counsel on enterprise architecture to senior leadership and stakeholders across the organisation.

Technical Competencies

Essential:

• Deep expertise across architecture domains — Application, Data, Infrastructure, Cloud, and Security.
• Broad experience in large-scale enterprise deployments and architectural integration.
• Proven success in developing and implementing long-term architecture roadmaps.
• Expertise in change management and transformation leadership.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and operational acumen.
• Advanced budgetary, audit, and risk management capabilities.

Desirable:

• Proven ability to lead large-scale transformation and change initiatives across complex business environments.

Industry Competencies

Essential:

• Extensive experience in digital leadership roles within complex, enterprise-scale organisations.
• Strong track record of success in leading large, high-performing digital or architecture functions.
• Up-to-date knowledge of emerging technologies, enterprise architecture best practices, and digital transformation trends.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of IT solution architectures specific to the construction, engineering, or infrastructure sectors.

Professional Competencies

Essential:

• A driven, results-oriented leader with a sense of urgency and purpose.
• Exceptional written, oral, and presentation skills, capable of communicating complex ideas clearly and commercially.
• Strong stakeholder management and influence at senior (C-suite) levels.
• Advanced negotiation and engagement skills.

Leadership Competencies

Essential:

• Advanced leadership skills, with experience leading and developing global teams.
• Strategic thinker capable of executing large-scale transformation.
• Persuasive, influential, and able to inspire confidence at all levels.
• Skilled in building and maintaining high-value professional networks and partnerships.

Qualifications, Certifications & Experience

Essential:

• Extensive experience in senior technology leadership roles.
• Degree or postgraduate qualification (or equivalent).
• Demonstrated success in senior executive or director-level positions.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic insight.
• Broad understanding of business management principles and techniques.

Desirable:

• TOGAF certification (or equivalent recognised enterprise architecture framework).