IAM Security Architect — Lead Identity & Access Security

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension up to 10%

Company car or £6,000 car allowance

Private healthcare

Onsite gym access

Co-op product discounts (30%)

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Principal Security Architect to lead IAM security architecture across our digital platforms in Manchester. You will shape standards, define architectures, and provide independent assurance on authentication, authorisation and privileged access to protect colleagues, customers, and partner ecosystems.

We expect deep IAM expertise, including IDP, SSO, IGA, and Secrets Management, with a strong track record implementing Zero Trust across large enterprise environments.

Qualifications

• Significant IAM security architecture experience including IDP, SSO, IGA, Secrets Management and Privileged Access Management.
• Strong knowledge of modern IAM principles, controls and technologies for applications, systems, platforms and data access.
• Experience designing and governing access management across complex enterprise environments including identity lifecycle management and IGA platforms.
• Experience applying Zero Trust principles, including policy definition, policy enforcement and conditional access.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Entra integration with wider identity technologies.

Responsibilities

• Shape and lead Co-op's IAM security architecture strategy, ensuring secure and consistent identity controls.
• Define IAM standards, principles and architectural patterns supporting secure access 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, identifying security risks early and promoting secure-by-design practices across programmes and platforms.
• Contribute to architecture governance, audits and assurance activities with security, platform and delivery teams.

Skills

IAM security architecture

Zero Trust

IDP

SSO

IGA

Privileged Access Management

Policy definition

Microsoft Entra

Identity lifecycle

Tools

Microsoft Entra

Job description

Co-op is seeking a Principal Security Architect to lead IAM security architecture across our digital platforms in Manchester. You will shape standards, define architectures, and provide independent assurance on authentication, authorisation and privileged access to protect colleagues, customers, and partner ecosystems.

We expect deep IAM expertise, including IDP, SSO, IGA, and Secrets Management, with a strong track record implementing Zero Trust across large enterprise environments.