Chief Solution Architect / Executive Director - Architecture & AI
Chief Solution Architect / Executive Director – Architecture & AI
Insurance (Life & Pensions) | UK (Hybrid)
Overview
We are seeking a senior Solution Architecture leader with deep Insurance domain knowledge, strong Guidewire expertise, and proven experience applying AI and advanced analytics within regulated environments. This role will define and govern enterprise architecture across core platforms, digital, data, and AI, supporting large-scale transformation and modernisation initiatives.
Reporting to the Executive Committee, the role will act as the architectural authority for complex change programmes, ensuring technology decisions deliver business value, regulatory compliance, and long-term scalability.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise & Solution Architecture
- Define and own end-to-end solution architecture for core insurance platforms, digital channels, data, and AI capabilities.
- Establish and enforce architectural standards, patterns, and guardrails across transformation programmes.
- Ensure alignment between business strategy, technology roadmap, and delivery execution.
Guidewire Platform Leadership
- Provide architectural leadership across Guidewire PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, ClaimsCenter, and Digital.
- Define target-state architectures integrating Guidewire with cloud platforms, data lakes, AI services, and third-party ecosystems.
- Guide legacy-to-Guidewire migration strategies and modernisation roadmaps.
AI & Advanced Analytics
- Shape and govern the use of AI/ML across insurance use cases, including underwriting, pricing, claims automation, fraud detection, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.
- Ensure responsible AI design, model governance, explainability, and compliance with regulatory and ethical standards.
- Integrate AI capabilities into Guidewire-centric architectures without compromising stability or control.
Transformation & Change
- Act as architectural authority across multi-year transformation programmes.
- Support delivery teams and system integrators with clear architectural direction and decision-making.
- Balance innovation with operational resilience and regulatory compliance.
Governance & Stakeholder Management
- Engage with senior business, technology, risk, and compliance stakeholders to translate business outcomes into robust technical designs.
- Provide executive-level assurance on architecture, technology risk, and technical debt.
- Oversee strategic technology partners, vendors, and system integrators.
Experience & Background
- Extensive experience in Solution or Enterprise Architecture within Insurance, ideally Life & Pensions.
- Strong hands-on and strategic experience with Guidewire platforms in complex, large-scale environments.
- Demonstrated experience embedding AI/ML solutions into core insurance processes.
- Background in cloud-native architecture, data platforms, APIs, and integration patterns.
- Experience operating in highly regulated UK financial services environments.
Skills & Attributes
- Technically credible at executive and board level.
- Strong decision-maker with a pragmatic, value-driven approach.
- Able to influence delivery, engineering, and business teams without direct line management.
- Comfortable operating across strategy, design, and governance.
- Clear communicator able to translate complex technology into business outcomes.
What's on Offer
- Senior executive compensation package.
- Opportunity to shape enterprise architecture and AI strategy across a major insurance transformation.
- High visibility role with influence across business, technology, and delivery.
- Hybrid UK working model.