Chief Enterprise Architect

AXA Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 205,000 - 223,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Diversity programs

Learning opportunities

Job summary

AXA XL is seeking a Chief Enterprise Architect to define and govern an enterprise-wide architecture vision, ensuring the business strategy translates into an integrated technology, data and capability roadmap. The role drives modernization, resilience and AI-led architecture, reporting to the Chief Technology & AI Officer.

Lead architecture strategy across governance, data, application, and infrastructure domains, and partner with senior leaders to optimize investment and outcomes. U.K./U.S.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in enterprise capability architecture with embedded security/privacy/AI.
• Proven leadership of autonomous, high-performing global teams.
• Strong systems thinking, problem solving and efficiency improvement.
• Data-driven approach with robust decision making and outcomes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication for multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern enterprise architecture strategy aligned to business goals.
• Establish architecture governance, standards, patterns and guardrails.
• Lead modernization, cloud strategy, and application/platform rationalization.
• Translate business strategy into capability maps and investment priorities.
• Define data, integration and AI architecture; ensure governance and reuse.
• Embed security, risk and resilience in architecture and design.

Skills

End-to-end architecture

Leadership

Systems thinking

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder comms

Job description

AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Chief Enterprise Architect

Location: UK / US

AXA XL’s Chief Enterprise Architect is a key senior executive, leadership team role in the Technology & AI function, accountable for defining and governing the enterprise-wide architecture vision, ensuring our business strategy is translated into an integrated technology, data, and capability roadmap. This role drives simplification, modernization, resilience, and value through architecture-led decision making, transforming to AI-based architecture.

The role reports to AXA XL’s Chief Technology & AI Officer.

What you’ll be doing

Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Vision

• Define and maintain the enterprise target architecture aligned to AXA XL’s business strategy.
• Lead creation of multi-year architecture roadmaps across business, data, application, and infrastructure domains.
• Ensure architectural decisions support growth, customer experience, operational efficiency, and regulatory requirements.
• Own the enterprise AI architecture strategy, ensuring AI capabilities, platforms, data, governance and responsible controls are designed to scale securely while delivering measurable business value

Architecture Governance & Standards

• Establish and run enterprise architecture governance (design authorities, standards, patterns, guardrails).
• Approve or challenge major technology and platform decisions, ensuring architecture is consistent across portfolios, programs, and delivery teams.

Technology Simplification & Modernization

• Drive reduction of technical duplication, and complexity across the enterprise.
• Lead rationalization of application estates and platform portfolios, in addition to guiding cloud migration strategy and legacy modernization priorities.

Business & Capability Architecture

• Translate AXA XL’s business strategy into capability maps and operating model requirements.
• Partner with senior business leaders to define capability gaps and investment priorities.
• Build e2e integrated AI-based architecture and ensure engineering executes using this agreed architecture.
• Ensure technology investment is anchored in business outcomes.

Data, Integration & Platform Architecture

• Define enterprise integration principles (API strategy, event-driven architecture, interoperability).
• Align data architecture with enterprise data strategy, governance, and analytics needs.
• Define and keep Enterprise Architecture principles current, ensuring principles are embedded in the governance (architecture review, sourcing and procurement, AI, engineering) while promoting reuse of platforms, components, and shared services.

Security, Risk & Resilience by Design

• Ensure security and operational resilience are embedded in architecture standards; resulting in security, AI and privacy by design.
• Work with CISO, risk and compliance teams to ensure architecture meets regulatory expectations.

Drive architecture decisions that reduce systemic technology risk.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Deep expertise and hands‑on experience in e2e business and technology capability architecture with embedded security/privacy/AI. with a track record of success in the areas of delivery high impact learning and development solutions and operations
• Leadership experience in managing high performing teams who are autonomous, empowered and strive for excellence to serve a global scope
• Extensive critical thinking, systems thinking and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to continually seek to improve, create efficiencies and optimize service delivery
• Data and insight driven, the ability to make robust decisions and drive measurable outcomes
• Effective oral/written communication skills to be able to engage multiple stakeholders in driving change and embedding new processes/practices.

What we offer

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family‑friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future.

Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal‑led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We are training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see axaxl.com/sustainability.

The U.S. base salary range for this position is $275,000 to $300,000 USD.

AXA XL is a global Company. The salary range noted above is applicable only for US applicants. Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as a competitive retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers.

Who we are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid‑sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data‑driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com