Enterprise Architect

Affinity Water; Reading; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading water utility company in the UK seeks an Enterprise Architect to oversee digital transformation in their M25 project. The successful candidate will deliver comprehensive enterprise architecture while engaging with senior stakeholders and third-party suppliers. This role requires technical proficiency in data platforms and BI tools, alongside the understanding of established architectural frameworks. You will help shape initiatives that drive operational efficiency and innovation within the organization.

Qualifications

• Successfully running enterprise architecture for small and medium size organisations.
• Understanding of established architectural frameworks.
• Engaging third-party suppliers to understand their technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of enterprise architecture processes and principles.
• Development of an enterprise architecture methodology.
• Identification, reporting and tracking of architecture risks.

Skills

Enterprise architecture for small and medium size organisations

Understanding of architectural frameworks

Supporting delivery of technical solutions

Engaging senior level stakeholders

Familiarity with TOGAF

Technical proficiency in AWS Redshift

Technical proficiency in MS SQL Server

Proficiency in SQL, Python/R

Understanding of M25 business and digital technology

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Overview

most used part of the UK Strategic Road Network with it seeing over 200,000 vehicles per day and it’s a critical infrastructure asset for personal and goods vehicles into and around our capital. The network includes around 800 structures and 5 tunnels, so it requires high levels of performance, constant improvement and repairs to keep it operating smoothly. We've formed a Joint Venture project called Connect Plus Services (CPS) to work with our partners to widen, operate and maintain the M25 under a 30‑year contract and are looking for an Enterprise Architect to play a vital role in the delivery of the Digital Transformation of the M25 joint venture (busiest motorway network in Europe) – being instrumental in strategic change programmes and identifying innovative solutions to business needs. Accountability for IT architecture for the M25 IT systems and a roadmap of activity, aligned to architecture principles, to improve the longer‑term architecture.

Responsibilities

• Delivery of enterprise architecture processes and principles.
• Development of an enterprise architecture methodology, including key artefacts.
• Capture enterprise architecture decisions, providing logic and proposing plans to mitigate these impacts.
• Regular updates on progress made and status reporting to the Head of Business Transformation and Business Planning Director.
• Running and managing the Technical Design Authority (TDA) to review all proposed technical solutions and focus on bespoke solutions to ensure they have been coded effectively and considered security as part of their development.
• Supporting key governance forums, such as the Change Board and providing regular contributions to the Portfolio Review Meeting.
• Identification, reporting and tracking of architecture risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Escalating as required.

Qualifications

• Essential – Successfully running enterprise architecture for small and medium size organisations.
• Essential – Understanding of established architectural frameworks.
• Essential – Supporting delivery of technical solutions and ensuring compliance with business requirements.
• Essential – Presenting updates at complex governance forums.
• Essential – Engaging senior level stakeholders and obtaining buy‑in.
• Essential – Developing an enterprise architecture strategy organisation wide, along with roadmap, and communicating this to the business.
• Essential – Shaping of enterprise architecture initiatives and activities.
• Essential – Understanding of M25 business, digital technology and its application.
• Essential – Engaging third party suppliers to understand their technical solutions and their development roadmaps.
• Essential – Interdependency identification and tracking.
• Essential – Management of technical debt.
• Essential – Familiarity with architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF).
• Essential – Technical proficiency in data platforms (e.g., AWS Redshift, MS SQL Server), BI tools (e.g., Power BI), and scripting (SQL, Python/R).

Desirable

• Information Security experience and understanding of NIS (Network and Information Systems) regulations and ISO27001 accreditation.

Additional Information

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and we strive to build a workforce that truly reflects the communities we represent. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and any other protected characteristic. If you decide to apply for an opportunity with us, your application will be assessed based purely on your experience, the essential and desirable criteria, and your suitability for the role. We value each and every one's contribution as this builds our culture and means that if you work with us, you will be included, listened to, and respected. Please note, to be considered for this role, you must be based in the UK and must already be able to legally work in the UK. We are unable to offer or provide sponsorship for this position.