Interim Head of Enterprise Architecture
Location: London, UK - Hybrid, 2-3 days onsite per week
Contract: 6 months, with potential extension
Start: ASAP
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Interim Head of Enterprise Architecture to join the Technology Leadership Team and establish the Enterprise Architecture capability from the ground up.
This is a high-impact leadership assignment within an organisation undergoing significant business and technology transformation. The successful candidate will define the enterprise architecture vision, establish the appropriate governance and operating model, and develop a practical roadmap connecting business strategy, technology investment and transformation priorities.
You will operate as a senior technology leader, working closely with the CTO / Technology Director, Executive Committee and Board-level stakeholders. The role requires someone who can combine strategic architectural leadership with sufficient technical depth to challenge, guide and influence decisions across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Architecture Leadership
- Establish and lead the Enterprise Architecture function.
- Define the enterprise architecture vision, mandate and operating model.
- Develop enterprise-wide architecture principles, standards and methodologies.
- Establish appropriate architecture governance, design authorities and review processes.
- Ensure technology strategy and investment are aligned with business objectives and transformation priorities.
- Build Enterprise Architecture as a pragmatic, delivery-focused function.
Current-State Assessment
- Assess the current business and technology landscape across applications, data, integration, infrastructure, cloud, security and operating models.
- Catalogue key platforms, dependencies, duplication, technical debt, constraints and architectural risks.
- Assess the maturity and effectiveness of the existing solution architecture capability.
- Identify gaps across software engineering, product development, architecture ownership and internal technical capability.
- Establish a clear evidence-based baseline for future technology decisions.
Target Architecture & Roadmap
- Define the organisation's future-state Target Enterprise Architecture.
- Develop business capability maps and connect them to systems, data, processes and strategic outcomes.
- Develop architecture strategies across applications, data, integration, cloud, infrastructure, security and digital platforms.
- Define transition states and an executable roadmap with clear milestones and sequencing.
- Identify opportunities for simplification, modernisation, standardisation, consolidation and decommissioning.
- Provide recommendations around buy vs build, platform selection, cloud strategy and sourcing.
- Produce clear architecture diagrams, artefacts and executive-level presentations.
Technology Strategy & Transformation
- Partner with business and technology leaders across application modernisation, integration, data, cloud, platforms and engineering.
- Provide architectural oversight across major transformation programmes and strategic technology initiatives.
- Ensure programme and project designs align with agreed enterprise principles and target architecture.
- Support technology business cases, investment decisions, vendor selection and technology due diligence.
- Help determine the appropriate balance between internal, outsourced, nearshore and offshore technology capability.
- Establish practical architectural guardrails that support delivery without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Executive & Board Engagement
- Act as a trusted strategic adviser to the CTO / Technology Director.
- Work directly with Executive Committee and Board-level stakeholders.
- Translate complex architecture decisions into clear business implications, risks, options and investment priorities.
- Prepare high-quality visual materials suitable for senior non-technical audiences.
- Present strategic architecture recommendations and support senior decision-making.
- Challenge assumptions constructively and drive evidence-based decisions.
Architecture Team Leadership
- Lead, coordinate and mentor the existing solution architecture team.
- Clarify architecture roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and domain ownership.
- Improve the quality and consistency of solution architecture and documentation.
- Establish appropriate architecture collaboration, assurance and escalation forums.
- Identify capability gaps and recommend the future shape and skills mix of the architecture function.
- Leave a sustainable operating model and clear handover for the permanent Head of Enterprise Architecture.
Key Deliverables
The initial assignment will focus on:
- Rapid assessment of the current business and technology architecture.
- Definition and visualisation of the Target Enterprise Architecture.
- Development of an executable transition roadmap.
- Establishment of architecture principles, governance and decision rights.
- Creation of a Board-ready architecture narrative and recommendations.
- Alignment of existing solution architects around a common enterprise direction.
- Identification of strategic technology priorities, dependencies, risks and investment implications.
- Creation of sustainable Enterprise Architecture foundations for the permanent leadership team.
Essential Experience
We are looking for a senior architecture leader with:
- Previous experience as a Head of Enterprise Architecture, Chief Architect, Enterprise Architecture Director or equivalent.
- Proven experience establishing, rebuilding or significantly maturing an Enterprise Architecture capability.
- Strong experience defining Target Enterprise Architecture for complex organisations.
- Experience taking an organisation from current-state discovery through to executive-approved target state and roadmap.
- Strong experience with architecture governance, assurance, standards and design authority models.
- Experience leading and developing solution architects or architecture teams.
- Board and Executive Committee exposure, including presenting strategic recommendations and influencing investment decisions.
- Experience working through significant business and technology transformation.
- Ability to operate effectively with incomplete information and deliver at pace.
- Strong understanding across areas such as applications, data, integration, cloud, infrastructure, security and technology operating models.
Background
The organisation is open to candidates from both business-led and technology-led architecture backgrounds.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Enterprise Architecture
- Business Architecture
- Transformation Architecture
- Solution Architecture
- Technical Architecture
- Chief Architect
- CTO-level technology leadership
- Strategy & Architecture leadership
A strong business orientation would be advantageous, but candidates must retain sufficient technical knowledge to assess options, challenge specialists and understand delivery implications.
Industry background is not a prerequisite. Transferable experience, delivery track record and leadership capability are more important than sector-specific experience.
Technology Environment
The organisation operates across a mixed enterprise technology landscape, including:
- Oracle
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Microsoft Business Central
- Broader Microsoft technologies
- Purchased and framework-based software solutions
- SQL
- Potential future Workday implementation
The organisation currently relies significantly on third-party software and consulting partners and does not yet have a mature in-house software engineering or product development capability.
The successful candidate will therefore need to consider architecture within the context of third-party platforms, supplier relationships, internal capability gaps and potential future nearshore/offshore delivery models.
Key Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Strong executive presence, credibility and gravitas.
- Pragmatic, commercially minded and outcomes-focused leadership.
- Clear, structured and decisive thinking.
- Excellent visual and conceptual communication skills.
- Ability to sketch, map and explain complex enterprise landscapes clearly.
- Confidence operating at both strategic and detailed technical levels.
- Comfort working within ambiguity and building capability from a low-maturity starting point.
- A collaborative approach combined with the confidence to challenge constructively.
- High levels of personal ownership and independence.
- Genuine enthusiasm for building an Enterprise Architecture capability from first principles.
Working Arrangement
- UK working capability required.
- London presence preferred.
- Approximately 2-3 days per week onsite.
- Occasional engagement with operational locations and business stakeholders outside London.
- Initial 3-6 month interim assignment, with potential extension.
- Engagement expected to operate through a Statement of Work with defined milestones and deliverables.
Why This Opportunity?
This is a high-impact Enterprise Architecture leadership assignment offering the opportunity to define the target architecture for an entire organisation and establish a formal architecture capability from the ground up.
You will work directly with senior technology and business leaders, influence Board-level decisions and shape the organisation's future technology direction.
The organisation is looking for a proven senior leader who can combine strategic thinking, technical credibility, executive communication and practical delivery to turn a broad transformation ambition into a clear, visual and executable architecture.
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
