Head of Architecture

Dunelm; London, Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dunelm is seeking a Head of Architecture to lead their architectural practice and shape technology strategy. This role involves influencing strategic decisions, developing enterprise architectures, and mentoring teams in a hybrid work environment. Ideal candidates will possess deep architectural expertise, excellent communication skills, and a strategic mindset to align technology with business goals.

Qualifications

• Deep architectural expertise in complex enterprise environments.
• Hands-on experience with Archimate or similar tools.
• Brilliant communication skills for engaging stakeholders.
• Leadership and mentoring experience in guiding teams.
• Strategic thinking connecting architecture to business goals.
• Problem-solving mindset for tackling complex challenges.
• Broad technical experience with SaaS and Cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural practices and influence strategic decisions.
• Define and maintain architectural assets and roadmaps.
• Develop enterprise architectures and provide clear roadmaps.
• Use modelling tools to create architecture models.
• Establish forums and ensure architectural standards.
• Mentor others and share knowledge across the organization.
• Stay updated on emerging technologies and trends.
• Provide guidance on complex architectural challenges.
• Continuously improve architectural processes.

Skills

Architectural expertise

Enterprise modelling skills

Communication

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Technical experience

Inclusivity

Tools

Archimate

AWS

GCP

Job description

Overview

This role can be based out of our London or Leicester offices. We operate a hybrid working policy.

Home. There’s no place like it.

And there’s no feeling like helping people create a space that truly feels like theirs. At Dunelm, that’s what we do. We make home life lovelier for our customers, and we’ve built a caring, supportive culture that helps our people feel at home too.

Shape the Future of Our Technology

Are you a passionate and collaborative technology leader who loves solving complex problems and shaping the bigger picture? Do you have a knack for bringing people on board with a vision, guiding teams with confidence, and making technology work for real business challenges? If so, you might just be the perfect fit for our Head of Architecture role.

We’re on the lookout for a forward-thinking individual to lead our architectural practice, shape our technology strategy, and guide our teams through an exciting period of change. You'll have a big voice at the leadership table, defining and championing architectural principles that will set the foundations for our future success.

At Dunelm, we don’t look for culture fit—we look for culture add. We’re building a team that brings different experiences, perspectives, and ideas to the table.

If this role sounds like home to you, we’d love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Leading the way – Represent architecture at the highest levels, influencing strategic decisions and making sure our technology aligns with our business goals.

• Creating the blueprint – Define and maintain our architectural assets, ensuring they stay relevant, accessible, and meaningful.

• Mapping out the journey – Develop and document our current, transition, and future enterprise architectures, providing clear roadmaps for change.

• Bringing clarity to complexity – Use Archimate (or similar modelling tools) to create enterprise architecture models that give a bird’s-eye view of our technology landscape.

• Championing good practices – Establish forums, foster collaboration, and ensure our architectural standards are clear and consistent.

• Spreading the word – Be a champion for architecture, mentoring others and sharing knowledge across the organisation.

• Keeping us ahead of the curve – Stay on top of emerging technologies and trends, helping us make smart, forward-thinking decisions.

• Solving the tricky stuff – Provide expert guidance to teams tackling complex architectural challenges, ensuring solutions align with good practices.

• Making things better – Continuously improve our architectural processes, making them more efficient, effective, and adaptable.

What we'll look for in you

We need a collaborator, an influencer, and a strategic thinker—someone who knows architecture inside out but also knows how to communicate it to different audiences. Here’s what makes a great fit:

• Deep architectural expertise– You understand principles, patterns, and frameworks, and you know how to apply them in a complex enterprise environment.

• Enterprise modelling skills– You have hands-on experience with Archimate or similar tools, and you’re comfortable handling big-picture architectural models.

• Brilliant communication – You can break down technical concepts for non-tech folks, present ideas clearly, and engage with senior stakeholders.

• Leadership and mentoring experience – You’ve led teams, influenced decisions, and helped others develop their skills.

• Strategic thinking – You connect architectural decisions to business goals and know how to plan long-term roadmaps.

• A problem-solving mindset – You can tackle complex challenges and turn them into opportunities.

• Broad technical experience – You understand SaaS, Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), and modern software engineering.

• An inclusive approach – You value diversity and believe in creating an environment where different perspectives thrive.