Senior Enterprise Architect

Employment type: Contract. Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance Sectors, driving real transformation change within our clients. We use proven technology, specialist teams and domain expertise to build solid technical foundations across platforms, data and business applications. We have a passion for using technology to solve business problems, working in partnership with our clients to help in achieving their goals. This role will combine Enterprise Architecture leadership with hands-on engagement across major programmes, projects and specific business or technology domains. The successful candidate will work closely with project teams, senior stakeholders, Solution Architects and external suppliers to ensure that proposed solutions align with enterprise strategy, architecture guardrails and wider company standards. This role requires significant Enterprise Architecture experience, supported by a strong grounding in Solution Architecture. The individual should be comfortable moving between strategic architecture activities and more detailed engagement with programmes, domains and solution proposals. Support the development and maturity of enterprise architecture strategies, roadmaps and capability models. Review existing architectural collateral and help identify and address material gaps. Contribute to current-state and target-state architecture development across relevant business and technology domains. Translate strategic priorities into practical architecture direction for programmes and projects. Help ensure that architecture collateral remains accurate, consistent, accessible and useful to delivery teams. Act as the senior architectural point of contact for designated domains, programmes or investment areas. Work closely with project teams to understand business needs, delivery constraints and technology dependencies. Provide architectural direction at an appropriate level of detail for specific project and programme decisions. Ensure project-level decisions remain aligned with enterprise strategy and target-state architecture. Review and assure architecture and solution designs produced by project teams, Solution Architects, vendors and delivery partners. Assess proposals against architecture principles, standards, guardrails and strategic roadmaps. Provide clear and constructive feedback where designs require further development. Work collaboratively with delivery teams to resolve architecture concerns rather than operating solely as a governance checkpoint. Document significant architecture decisions, exceptions, risks and recommendations. Apply Solution Architecture experience when reviewing detailed solution proposals and designs. Provide architectural input where requirements span multiple systems, domains or technology areas. Ensure solution designs consider integration, data, security, infrastructure, operational support and long-term maintainability. Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, programme teams, delivery managers, technical specialists and business representatives. Facilitate architecture discussions and help stakeholders understand key options and trade-offs. Present complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Work closely with Enterprise Architects, Solution Architects and other technical specialists. Engage constructively with external suppliers and challenge their proposals where appropriate. Act as a trusted adviser to the Architecture Function Lead and wider technology leadership. Requirements Extensive experience in senior Enterprise Architecture positions. Previous experience in Solution Architecture roles. Experience working across both strategic architecture and project-level solution delivery. Experience developing architecture strategies, roadmaps, capability models and target-state architectures. Strong understanding of architecture governance and solution assurance. Experience reviewing and assuring designs produced by internal teams, external suppliers and consultancy partners. Broad technical understanding across applications, integration, cloud, infrastructure, data, security and operational support. Experience engaging directly with complex projects and programmes. Ability to identify architecture risks, dependencies and strategic misalignment. Strong senior stakeholder management and influencing skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to operate effectively in a complex and evolving environment. Experience supporting transformation, digitalisation or technology-enabled change. Desirable Experience Experience within utilities industry. Experience supporting major capital investment or capital delivery programmes from an architecture perspective. Experience working across IT and Operational Technology environments. Understanding of the architecture challenges associated with integrating IT and OT systems. Familiarity with established architecture frameworks and methods, including TOGAF. Benefits At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success. We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life. In addition to a Competitive Salary , here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package: Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth. Flexible working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance. We can’t promise to always be able to meet every request, however are keen to discuss your individual preferences to make it work where we can. A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, well-being, and insurance schemes, an employee assistance programme, discounted cash plan and more….. At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment, regardless of whether they meet every requirement. If you don’t tick all the boxes but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we’re looking for, please do consider applying and highlight your transferable skills and experience. We embrace diversity in all its forms, valuing individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Your perspective and potential are important to us. If we can do anything to help make the hiring process more accessible, please let our talent acquisition team know when you apply so we can support any adjustments.