IAM Security Architect — Identity & Access Strategy Lead

CO-OP; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

An annual bonus

28 days holiday

A pension with up to 10% employer-con.

A company car or £6,000 car allowance

Private healthcare

Onsite gym access

30% discount on Co-op products

Stream – early access to earnings

Virtual healthcare

24/7 colleague support

Training and career progression

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Principal Security Architect in Manchester to shape and govern our IAM security architecture. You will lead identity controls, define standards, and provide strategic technical leadership across platforms, applications, data, and partner ecosystems.

You will influence senior partners and drive secure-by-design practices while aligning IAM with regulatory obligations and our technology strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and governing access management solutions across complex enterprise environments.
• Experience applying Zero Trust principles, including policy definition and enforcement.
• Influence senior partners and provide clear strategic technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead Co-op's IAM security architecture strategy and ensure secure identity controls across platforms.
• Define IAM standards, principles, and architectural patterns for colleagues, customers, partners, and systems.
• Provide expert guidance and independent assurance on authentication, authorisation, privileged access, and identity-related risks.
• Ensure IAM solutions align with security requirements, regulatory obligations, and wider technology strategy.
• Support risk-based decision-making and drive secure-by-design practices across programmes and platforms.
• Contribute to architecture governance, audits, and assurance activities with security, platform, and delivery teams.

Skills

IAM architecture

IDP

SSO

IGA

Secrets management

Privileged access

Microsoft Entra

Tools

Microsoft Entra

Job description

Co-op is seeking a Principal Security Architect in Manchester to shape and govern our IAM security architecture. You will lead identity controls, define standards, and provide strategic technical leadership across platforms, applications, data, and partner ecosystems.

You will influence senior partners and drive secure-by-design practices while aligning IAM with regulatory obligations and our technology strategy.