Principal Enterprise Architect

Company Description

Legal & General looks after around 700,000 institutional customers who have their retirement benefits secured with us. Operating continuously in the UK market from our entrance in 1987, we are the UK’s longest-running insurer.

Our Institutional Retirement division provides pension risk transfer (PRT) solutions for UK and US defined benefit (DB) schemes, and reinsurance solutions from our global hub in Bermuda. We work with companies, DB pension schemes and their advisors to help them secure and protect scheme members’ retirement benefits.

Joining us means you’ll support customers’ financial security in retirement; help companies to settle their pension liabilities and focus on growing their businesses; and enable investment for the long term to back our pension promises.

Job Description

We have an exciting new opportunity for a seasoned Enterprise Architect who will work closely with stakeholders, business representatives, business architecture and subject matter experts to plan technology systems and solutions that are aligned with L&Gs business strategy. The role holder will spearhead the planning and creation of roadmaps to satisfy the business’s needs and drive mobilisation of initiatives from pipeline. The post holder will work with the wider architecture area to govern IT solutions; to meet the Enterprise Architecture vision and satisfy IT standards.

What you’ll be doing:

• Enterprise Architecture: Lead the development and communication of the Enterprise Architecture and the business technology roadmaps, aligning the IT Vision with the business strategy. Manage the roadmaps, inform investment and implementation plan and ensure that the IT architecture is appropriate to business requirements and IT strategy. 
• Solution Architecture and Governance: Leading governance of the solution architecture and project solutions working with senior architects to assure compliance to the business technology and IT roadmaps, patterns and policies, wider enterprise architecture and IT standards, through management and organisation of reviews, consultancy and design authorities. 
• Manage the enterprise architecture function: Building and leading a team of enterprise architecture, identifying and addressing any capability gaps, supporting team activities and assuring their delivery. Taking the lead in all matters with regard to the management of enterprise architects, ensuring that management discretion is used in a consistent manner and that the area follows the Group’s policies and procedures including the Partnership Agreement to maximise business performance.
• Stakeholders: Establishing and maintaining regular communications with L&G’s business leaders and senior stakeholders as required, working alongside senior architects. Providing technology consultancy and executive support utilising enterprise architecture assets and data. 
• IT Strategy: Leading the development and communication of the IT Strategy for Institutional Retirement ensuring articulation of architectural design principles that guide technology decisions for Institutional Retirement and ensuring alignment with enterprise principles and business strategy.
• Architecture Practice: Being part of the Group Functions Architecture leadership team, working with other Senior Architects, and taking an active role in contributing to the effectiveness of the architecture practice through developing improved ways of working. Collaborating with other practices across L&G to share best practice.
• Technology Trends and Supplier: Leading analysis of technology industry and market trends to determine their potential impact on the enterprise architecture and potential for Institutional Retirement Vision and Strategy. Working alongside Senior Architects engaging suppliers to understand their future vision and strategy. Building supplier partnerships to gain the best outcome for the enterprise. Communicating out to senior business leaders where appropriate. 

Qualifications

Who we’re looking for:

• Degree in business, computer science, systems analysis or equivalent preferred 
• TOGAF or similar certification preferred 
• ITIL certification preferred 
• The regulatory environment, including FCA, PRA is desirable 
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture and IT roadmap design. 
• Knowledge and experience of IT industry standards, IT governance 
• Knowledge of business models, operating models, financial models, budgeting and risk management 
• Knowledge of business ecosystems, SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, SOA, API, open data, micro services, event driven IT and predictive analytics and business intelligence/analytics. 
• Exposure and understanding of existing and emerging new technologies and processing environment. 
• Experienced IT architect with broad technology experience in finance sector. 
• Strategic thinking, taking a broader picture view of situations. 
• Experience of IT Strategy and Governance formulation, Standards, Procedures & Policies formulation 
• Demonstrable knowledge of architecture governance through the use of enterprise architecture artefacts including principles, policies, views, viewpoints and building blocks 
• Vendor and technology neutral – more interested in business outcomes 
• Ability to develop, and project a positive image of the IT function and company through interpersonal, written and verbal communications to a wide range of audiences. . 
• Proven practical approach in supporting the business achieved business vision and targeted outcomes through IT solutions and innovation. 
• Track record of designing IT Roadmaps of multimillion £ solutions across an enterprise 
• Excellent stakeholder management skills. Building engagement with senior stakeholders, landing difficult messages and selling the architectural vision 
• Practical, common sense approach to delivering successful, collaborative outcomes 
• Experience of working with and influencing senior stakeholders as thought leader 

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes 
• Generous pension contribution 
• Life assurance 
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only) 
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, 26 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday 
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice 
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online 
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart 

Additional Information

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we’d love to hear from you.

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