Group Head of Architecture: Lead Enterprise Tech Strategy

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

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.