Head of Architecture Position SummaryThe Head of Architecture is a senior technology and business-facing leader responsible for defining the architectural vision, strategic technology roadmap, and portfolio architecture direction for a designated business unit. This role ensures technology investments, transformation initiatives, and solution delivery activities support both business objectives and enterprise-wide architectural standards.
Working closely with Business Unit executives and enterprise technology leaders, the Head of Architecture establishes a cohesive architectural strategy spanning business capabilities, applications, integrations, data platforms, cloud technologies, artificial intelligence, and digital experiences. The role serves as the primary architecture authority for the portfolio, balancing immediate business priorities with long-term technology sustainability.
Operating within a distributed enterprise architecture environment, this leader partners with central architecture teams, platform organizations, and delivery stakeholders to align portfolio decisions with broader enterprise goals while advocating for business unit priorities. The position carries significant influence across investment planning, modernization initiatives, governance activities, and enterprise technology strategy.
Key ResponsibilitiesArchitecture Vision & Portfolio Leadership- Develop and maintain the strategic architecture vision and future-state roadmap for the business unit.
- Provide leadership across multiple products, platforms, programs, and business capabilities to ensure integrated end-to-end solution design.
- Establish architecture priorities that support organizational growth, modernization, operational efficiency, and innovation.
- Ensure portfolio roadmaps align with enterprise architecture principles and business strategy.
- Guide architectural decisions that support scalable, secure, and sustainable technology ecosystems.
- Lead and develop a team of architects supporting the business unit's delivery portfolio.
Business Unit Strategy & Technology Alignment- Serve as the senior architecture advisor to business and technology leadership within the portfolio.
- Partner with executive stakeholders to shape technology strategy, transformation initiatives, and investment priorities.
- Translate business objectives into capability-based architecture plans and technology roadmaps.
- Ensure alignment between business needs, customer experiences, operational processes, and technology investments.
- Collaborate with enterprise architecture leaders to balance business unit requirements with broader organizational priorities.
Modernization & Platform Evolution- Advance architecture strategies focused on cloud adoption, platform modernization, data transformation, integration capabilities, and AI enablement.
- Promote technology approaches that improve scalability, agility, security, and operational resilience.
- Drive architectural simplification through platform consolidation, capability reuse, and reduction of technical complexity.
- Support adoption of modern engineering practices, API-driven architectures, data-centric solutions, and emerging technologies.
- Encourage technology patterns that improve delivery speed, engineering productivity, and long-term maintainability.
Investment Planning & Portfolio Roadmaps- Influence technology investment decisions and portfolio planning activities across the business unit.
- Evaluate strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with long-term architecture objectives.
- Balance short-term delivery commitments with future-state architectural goals.
- Identify opportunities to maximize technology reuse, reduce duplication, and accelerate business value realization.
- Support prioritization of modernization programs, digital initiatives, data strategies, and platform enhancements.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide investment discussions involving shared capabilities and cross-functional programs.
End-to-End Architecture Ownership- Maintain accountability for architecture across business processes, applications, data assets, integrations, customer experiences, and technology platforms.
- Oversee architecture decisions that impact business operations, customer engagement, and enterprise capabilities.
- Ensure solutions support performance, scalability, reliability, and operational excellence objectives.
- Drive consistency across architecture domains while supporting business-specific needs.
- Promote integrated architecture approaches that connect business capabilities, data, technology platforms, and operational processes.
Governance, Risk & Compliance- Establish and enforce architecture standards, frameworks, and governance practices throughout the portfolio.
- Lead participation in architecture review boards, investment councils, and governance forums.
- Ensure technology decisions align with security, privacy, compliance, risk management, and resilience requirements.
- Partner with cybersecurity, legal, audit, risk, and compliance teams to address regulatory obligations and operational controls.
- Evaluate architecture risks and ensure mitigation strategies are incorporated into solutions and roadmaps.
- Provide architectural leadership during significant operational incidents and business continuity events.
Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Influence- Build strong relationships with business executives, product leaders, technology organizations, and enterprise architecture teams.
- Communicate architectural direction, investment priorities, and technology trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Represent the business unit's architecture interests in enterprise planning and governance discussions.
- Influence decisions that affect multiple portfolios, shared platforms, and enterprise technology capabilities.
- Provide thought leadership on technology trends, modernization opportunities, and future architecture strategies.
Team Leadership & Capability Development- Lead, mentor, and develop architects across the business unit architecture organization.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and architectural excellence.
- Support the evolution of architecture practices, governance processes, and technology standards.
- Promote knowledge sharing and cross-functional partnership across architecture and engineering communities.
- Build organizational architecture maturity through coaching, talent development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
QualificationsRequired Experience- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Technology, or a related discipline.
- 12+ years of progressive experience in architecture, technology strategy, engineering leadership, or related roles.
- Proven success leading architecture functions within large, highly regulated organizations.
- Experience developing technology roadmaps, transformation strategies, and enterprise-scale architecture initiatives.
- Deep expertise across business architecture, applications, data management, integration, cloud platforms, security, digital capabilities, and emerging technologies.
- Demonstrated success influencing executive stakeholders on technology strategy and investment decisions.
- Experience leading architecture teams and driving complex organizational change.
Preferred Experience- Background within insurance, financial services, healthcare, or another highly regulated industry.
- Knowledge of core business platforms supporting operations, customer engagement, finance, human resources, legal, and corporate functions.
- Experience guiding cloud modernization, digital transformation, AI adoption, and enterprise platform strategies.
- Familiarity with enterprise governance models, regulatory requirements, and risk-management frameworks.
- Advanced degree and/or relevant architecture, cloud, or leadership certifications.
Core Competencies- Strategic architecture leadership
- Portfolio and roadmap planning
- Enterprise technology strategy
- Executive stakeholder engagement
- Business and technology alignment
- Investment planning and prioritization
- Architecture governance and decision-making
- Modernization and digital transformation leadership
- Cross-functional influence and collaboration
- Team development and organizational leadership
- Risk, compliance, and operational resilience awareness
- Systems thinking and complex problem solving
Leadership Attributes- Demonstrates an enterprise-oriented mindset while effectively supporting business unit objectives.
- Drives innovation and modernization with a pragmatic approach to risk and operational stability.
- Promotes architectural consistency without impeding speed of execution.
- Makes strategic decisions that balance business value, technology sustainability, and organizational priorities.
- Develops high-performing architecture teams and fosters continuous learning.
- Leads through influence, collaboration, and clear communication across all levels of the organization.
Compensation: Starting at $225,000 annually
Compensation is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, knowledge, skills, other job-related qualifications.
