Group Head of Architecture

SSE plc; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 101,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

SSE plc is seeking a Group Head of Architecture to lead and shape SSE’s enterprise architecture across the Group. You will set standards, guardrails and a governance framework enabling confident delivery and resilient operation, while guiding major technology choices and investments.

You will lead the architecture profession, build capability across business units, and champion modern practices in a complex, asset‑intensive organisation. Flexible first options and senior leadership growth await.

Qualifications

• Executive leadership of architecture in a large, federated organisation.
• Ability to translate business strategy into enterprise capabilities and roadmaps.
• Broad expertise across enterprise, solution and technology architecture (cloud, infra, apps, platforms).
• Experience delivering transformations with secure, resilient operations.
• Proven ability to lead across matrixed teams and partners.
• Experience modernising governance, tooling, and architecture-as-code in agile delivery.
• Strong commercial and financial judgement with investment portfolio thinking.
• Experience in asset-intensive or regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Own SSE’s Group-wide architecture direction and alignment across business units and IT.
• Set strategy and governance for architecture including standards, guardrails and decision frameworks.
• Oversee architecture governance from strategy through implementation and operation.
• Build relationships with CIOs and senior leaders to inform major technology decisions.
• Modernise the architecture function with automation, AI-assisted analysis and reusable foundations.
• Lead, develop and nurture SSE’s architecture community and talent pipeline.

Skills

Executive leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cloud & infrastructure

Transformation delivery

Matrix leadership

Governance & standards

Commercial judgement

Asset-intensive / regulated

Job description

Base Location

You'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in one of the following locations: Reading, Havant, London, Perth or Glasgow

Salary

£101,000 - £151,400 + car/car allowance + performance-related bonus + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern

Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

The Group Head of Architecture will lead architecture across SSE at a pivotal point in the Group’s transformation. You will shape and maintain the Group-wide architecture direction through which SSE’s ambition is translated into coherent, enduring capability, ensuring major technology choices, investments, platforms and solutions work together across our businesses. Combining clear authority with strong partnership, you will set the principles, standards, guardrails and decision framework that enable confident delivery and resilient operation. You will also lead SSE’s architecture profession, building the technical depth, commercial judgement and modern practices needed to keep the organisation ready for what comes next.

You will

• Own SSE’s Group-wide architecture direction, ensuring current, target and transition architectures connect business capabilities, applications, platforms, infrastructure and operational technology across the Group.
• Set the direction for Heads of Architecture across Business Units, Group Technology Solutions and Corporate Functions, working collaboratively to translate Group and Business Unit ambition into aligned roadmaps, technology choices and investment priorities that balance value, cost, resilience, risk and delivery speed, while maintaining close alignment with the Data, AI and Cybersecurity functions.
• Oversee enterprise, solution and technology architecture, providing clear governance, standards and guardrails that enable and support delivery from strategy and investment through implementation and resilient operation.
• Build trusted and collaborative relationships with CIOs, business and operational leaders and delivery executives, bringing clear leadership, constructive challenge and considered trade-offs to major technology, investment and delivery decisions.
• Modernise the architecture function through trusted repositories, automation, architecture-as-code, AI-assisted analysis and testable controls, while promoting shared foundations, purposeful simplification, collaboration and reuse.
• Lead and develop SSE’s architecture profession and community, building technical capability, inclusive career pathways and succession, strengthening collaborative strategic partnerships, and turning emerging technology, market and regulatory developments into practical choices for SSE.

You have

• Executive-level experience leading architecture or an equivalent enterprise technology function in a large, complex and federated organisation, spanning strategy, governance, delivery and operation, with the ability to bring people together around a shared direction.
• A proven track record of translating business strategy into enterprise capabilities, target architectures, roadmaps, investment choices and measurable delivery outcomes.
• Broad and credible technical expertise across enterprise, solution and technology architecture, including cloud, infrastructure, networks, applications, platforms, integration, digital technologies and operational technology.
• Significant transformation, delivery and operational experience, ensuring complex technology solutions are implementable, secure, resilient, operable and effectively supported and managed throughout their lifecycle.
• Experience leading collaboratively through a matrix, connecting and aligning Business Unit and specialist architecture teams around common direction and shared decisions while building trusted relationships with CIOs, business leaders and delivery executives.
• Experience modernising architecture governance, methods and tooling for agile, product and programme delivery, including standards, patterns, guardrails, automation and architecture-as-code, while enabling teams to work effectively together.
• Strong commercial and financial judgement, including investment cases, portfolio prioritisation, sourcing and strategic partnerships, together with experience shaping modern digital, IT/OT or AI-enabled capabilities in an asset-intensive or regulated environment.

About SSE

SSE’s purpose is to provide energy needed today while building a better world of energy for tomorrow. We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. Our Transforming for Growth investment plansees us investing £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure across the five years to 2030.

Our IT division powers growth across all SSE business areas by making sure we have the systems, software and security needed to take the lead in a low carbon world. They provide expertise, advice and day-to-day support in emerging technologies, data and analytics, cyber security and more.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact [e-mail] to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.