Head of Solution Architecture

BSI; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days’ annual leave

Paid sick leave

Bank holidays

Health insurance

Life insurance

Pension plan with company contribution

Car allowance (dependent on role)

Income protection

Paid maternity leave

Paid paternity leave

Paid parental leave

Adoption leave

Compassionate leave

Paid bereavement leave

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible benefits

Job summary

BSI is seeking a Head of Solutions Architecture in Covent Garden, London. This full-time, permanent role leads a high-performing team of Solution Architects, owns the Technical Design Authority, and provides strategic technology leadership across the organisation in a hybrid working model.

You will influence senior stakeholders, drive design decisions, and ensure customer-focused outcomes while balancing risk, cost, and technology advancements.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience leading a Solution Architecture function or practice within a complex technology environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with coaching and mentoring experience.
• Expertise in solution architecture, governance, and design authority processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Solution Architecture function, delivering high-quality, business-focused designs.
• Own governance, standards, and QA processes underpinning architecture delivery.
• Act as the Technical Design Authority, providing strategic tech leadership and oversight.
• Build and mentor a high-performing team of Solution Architects with growth plans.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture to align designs with roadmaps and standards.
• Lead architecture governance forums balancing cost, risk, usability, and sustainability.
• Manage service performance, SLAs, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage technology risks while enabling innovation and supplier engagement.

Skills

Solution architecture leadership

Stakeholder influence

People management

Architecture governance

Design authority

Leading technical teams

Job description

We exist to create positive change for people and the planet. Join us and make a difference too!

Job Title

Head of Solutions Architecture

Location

Covent Garden, London (Hybrid)

About The Role

As Head of Solution Architecture, you will lead the design and delivery of innovative, end-to-end technology solutions that solve complex business challenges and deliver exceptional customer outcomes. This is a full-time, permanent role, operating in a hybrid working environment. You will lead and develop a high-performing team of Solution Architects, own the Technical Design Authority, and provide strategic technology leadership across the organisation. To be successful, you will need strong solution architecture leadership experience, the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive design decisions, and a proven track record of leading customer-focused technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Solution Architecture function, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, business-focused solution designs.
• Own the governance, standards, and quality assurance processes that underpin solution architecture delivery.
• Act as the Technical Design Authority, providing strategic technology leadership and design oversight.
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of Solution Architects, driving professional growth and best practice sharing.
• Collaborate closely with Enterprise Architecture to align solution designs with strategic technology roadmaps and standards.
• Facilitate architecture and design governance forums, balancing compliance, usability, cost, risk, and sustainability considerations.
• Manage service performance, SLAs, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure effective and efficient architectural support.
• Identify, assess, and manage technology risks while contributing to innovation, product evaluation, and strategic supplier engagement.

To Be Successful In The Role, You Will

• Demonstrable experience leading a Solution Architecture function or practice within a complex technology environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with experience developing, coaching, and managing high-performing technical teams.
• Expertise in solution architecture, technology governance, and design authority processes.
• Excellent critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence at all levels.
• Proven ability to drive customer-focused outcomes while balancing technical, commercial, risk, and operational considerations.
• Strong understanding of at least one of the following domains: infrastructure, connectivity, integration/middleware, data and analytics, or information security.
• Experience establishing and maintaining architecture standards, performance measures, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Grow your career and expand your skills and knowledge. At BSI, we offer opportunities to work across industries and across the globe. You’ll benefit from the different perspectives and experiences of your international colleagues, as well as ongoing training and development. We offer flexible working, as well as

• 27 days’ annual leave
• Paid sick leave
• Bank holidays
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Pension plan with company contribution
• Car allowance (dependent on role)
• Income protection
• Paid maternity leave
• Paid paternity leave
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption leave
• Compassionate leave
• Paid bereavement leave
• Learning and development opportunities
• A wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle

We’re building an organisation that meets the challenges of tomorrow. Want to grow with us?

We exist to have a positive impact. Our people influence international thinking and action on important issues. Our 86,000 customers are based in 193 countries across the globe.

Now we’re taking on society’s biggest challenges. We’re developing standards and guidelines that will help our customers get to net zero, and we’re defining the way new technologies such as AI impact all our lives.

We’re focused on our future – and we’re looking for people who want to grow with us as we take on the challenges of tomorrow. At BSI, you’ll find a workplace where everyone can flourish and thrive, where innovation is encouraged and where learning is part of your everyday. You’ll contribute to work that shapes industries and enhances lives – and you’ll take pride in what you do.

We’re looking for passionate people who want to make a difference in a purpose‑led organisation. Together, we can help create a better society and a more sustainable world.

D&I Policy

The world needs fresh thinking and new perspectives to tackle its biggest challenges. It’s why, at BSI, we’re committed to creating a collaborative environment where everyone can contribute. Whatever your background, experience or outlook, here you can be your best self and do your best work.

If you have a disability or a health condition, please let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.

About Us

BSI is a business improvement and standards company and for over a century BSI has been recognized for having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives.

Today BSI partners with more than 77,500 clients in 195 countries and engages with a 15,000 strong global community of experts, industry and consumer groups, organizations and governments.

Utilizing its extensive expertise in key industry sectors - including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail, and healthcare - BSI delivers on its purpose by helping its clients fulfil theirs.

Living by our core values of Client-Centricity, Agility, and Collaboration, BSI provides organizations with the confidence to grow by partnering with them to tackle society’s critical issues – from climate change to building trust in digital transformation and everything in between - to accelerate progress towards a better society and a sustainable world.

BSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.