Head of Enterprise Architecture

AWE; Reading; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9-day fortnight

Pension scheme

Maternity leave

Paternity leave

Career development

Employee Assistance Programme

Life assurance

Discounts

Volunteer leave

Job summary

AWE is seeking a Head of Enterprise Architecture to lead the enterprise‑wide architecture function, defining standards, policies and governance across all domains. Reporting to the Change pillar, you will provide strategic oversight of architectural alignment and assurance for digital and data initiatives, ensuring designs are secure, scalable and aligned with business needs.

This is an onsite, UK-based role (RG7 4PR between Reading and Basingstoke) with free parking and a 9‑day working

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
• Experience leading enterprise architecture in a complex, regulated environment.
• Expertise in application, data, infrastructure and security domains.
• Strong working knowledge of TOGAF or similar architecture frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience in architecture assurance, governance, and secure‑by‑design principles.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across technical and business audiences.

Responsibilities

• Align enterprise architecture with business goals and digital transformation priorities.
• Define and maintain enterprise‑wide architecture standards, frameworks and policies across all architecture domains.
• Lead architecture governance forums (e.g., Design Authority Board, Architecture Review Board), ensuring only compliant and strategically aligned designs are approved.
• Assure architectural decisions and artefacts meet standards for interoperability, scalability, security and sustainability.
• Maintain architectural traceability between strategic intent and programme outcomes.
• Drive consistency, best practice and maturity across all architects, ensuring common ways of working and aligned outputs.
• Ensure coherence and integration across shared platforms, services and architectural components.
• Own and evolve the enterprise architecture roadmap in line with business needs and technology trends.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Regulated environment

Architecture governance

Security-by-design

Communication & stakeholder management

TOGAF

Education

Degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

TOGAF

Job description

Head of Enterprise Architecture

Closing date: 10th August 2026

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: A competitive salary aligned with the seniority and impact of this role.

Working Pattern: AWE operates a 9-day working fortnight, with every other Friday as a non-working day. For this role, employees are required to work fully onsite. We support flexible working arrangements where possible, including part-time and varied working hours, while maintaining an onsite presence. Please let us know if you would like us to consider an alternative working pattern as part of your application.

Ready to play your part?

As Head of Enterprise Architecture, you will lead AWE's enterprise‑wide architecture function, defining and assuring standards, policies and governance across all domains. Reporting into the Change pillar, you will provide strategic oversight of architectural alignment and assurance for all digital and data initiatives, ensuring solution designs are secure, scalable and strategically aligned. Domain‑embedded architects remain functionally aligned to this role, supporting consistent, mature architecture practices across the organisation.

Key Accountabilities

• Align enterprise architecture with business goals and digital transformation priorities.
• Define and maintain enterprise‑wide architecture standards, frameworks and policies across all architecture domains.
• Lead architecture governance forums (e.g., Design Authority Board, Architecture Review Board), ensuring only compliant and strategically aligned designs are approved.
• Assure architectural decisions and artefacts meet standards for interoperability, scalability, security and sustainability.
• Maintain architectural traceability between strategic intent and programme outcomes.
• Drive consistency, best practice and maturity across all architects, ensuring common ways of working and aligned outputs.
• Ensure coherence and integration across shared platforms, services and architectural components.
• Own and evolve the enterprise architecture roadmap in line with business needs and technology trends.

Who are we looking for?

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline

• Experience leading enterprise architecture in a complex, regulated environment.

• Expertise in architecture domains including application, data, infrastructure, and security.

• Strong working knowledge of TOGAF or similar architecture frameworks.

• Demonstrable experience in architecture assurance, governance, and secure‑by‑design principles.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across technical and business audiences

Work hard, be rewarded:

We ask a lot and set the bar high because our work truly matters. In return we offer balance, with award winning benefits including:

• 9-day working fortnight - meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts - access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.