Head of Architecture_

Head of Architecture – Allianz Technology UK Branch
Reporting directly to the Allianz Technology UK Head of IT.

An opportunity to lead and manage the Allianz Technology Solution and Technical architecture teams across Allianz Commercial, Personal and Specialty. You will work closely with stakeholders—including the Retained IT Organisation, business leaders, IT teams and external partners—to ensure that architectural solutions align with the organization’s strategic goals. Allianz is embarking on a cloud transformation journey, migrating from private cloud environments to a hybrid model using Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service and Software as a Service.

The Head of Architecture will drive migration strategies away from non‑strategic products such as Oracle Database and Web Logic Server onto compliant services within Allianz’s future cloud platform.

• Lead and manage the Solution and Technical architecture teams, providing direction, mentorship and support.
• Supervise architecture leads, ensuring alignment and coordination across projects.
• Develop and implement architectural strategies, roadmaps, standards, guidelines and best practices.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment, promoting continuous improvement and professional development.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in Allianz Technology Central, Allianz Group and the Allianz UK Retained Organisation to drive alignment to strategy.
• Engage stakeholders—including business leaders, IT teams and external partners—to understand their needs and communicate architectural concepts effectively.
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships to secure support for architectural initiatives.
• Oversee the design and implementation of architectural solutions, ensuring they meet business and technical requirements and adhere to quality gates.
• Conduct architectural reviews and provide recommendations to maintain solution integrity.
• Account for architectural governance processes for both Solution and Technical Architecture.
• Collaborate with project managers to integrate architectural deliverables into project plans and timelines.
• Monitor and report on progress, identifying and addressing issues or risks.
• Ensure solutions are delivered on time, within scope and within budget.
• Work with other cross‑functional verticals to ensure cohesive and integrated solutions.
• Participate in cross‑functional meetings to align architectural strategies with overall business objectives.
• Share knowledge and best practices with other vertical leads to promote a unified approach.
• Build a community within the Architecture vertical to share knowledge and promote cross‑skilling.
• Stays current with industry trends, emerging technologies and best practices.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement, including adoption of new technologies and Generative AI.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and development within the architecture team.

• Experience
  • Proven senior architecture role with a strong background in designing and implementing solutions.
  • Leadership experience with a team of architects or technical professionals.
  • Strong stakeholder liaison skills and ability to build relationships.
  • Experience collaborating with cross‑functional teams and verticals.
  • Familiarity with public cloud providers and offerings, specifically AWS and Azure.
  • Experience designing and deploying multi‑site solutions.
  • Exposure to formal Service Management & Support processes such as COBIT and ITIL.
• Skills
  • Certification in a recognised architectural framework or methodology such as TOGAF.
  • Strong leadership and motivational skills.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
  • Knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies and architecture best practices.
  • Proficiency in Linux and Windows Server.
  • Proficiency in cloud technologies and deployment models such as containerisation.
  • Proven written proposal skills.
  • Background in technical architecture or operations.
  • Experience with cloud transformation / migration to public cloud (advantage).

• Strategic Thinking
• Leadership and Team Management
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Comm…