NHS England

Lead Enterprise Architect

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

Are you ready to be at the forefront of one of the most ambitious digital transformations in the England? Do you want to shape the future of health and care for millions of people, driving innovation that improves lives every day?

Lead Enterprise Architects to provide strategic direction and leadership across our Enterprise Architecture function. This is a pivotal role in delivering the NHS' future plans, and ensuring digital and data products and services are aligned. You will work at the heart of digital transformation, influencing decisions that impact millions of patients and staff. This is more than just a job - it's a chance to make a profound impact on the health of the nation.

The post of Lead Enterprise Architect has been awarded a Recruitment and Retention Premia (RRP) in response to current labour market conditions. In recognition of this, the role attracts an additional monthly RRP payment equal to 20% per annum.

Please be aware that RRP is none contractual and subject to review.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you will use your strong analytical and architectural design skills along with a proven ability to challenge assumptions, drive consensus across roles & functions & influence at all levels. You will have excellent communication skills & an ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders within a complex environment.

You will:

Lead the development & governance of enterprise architecture across business, data, application, & technology domains. Collaborate with stakeholders to support development of an actionable future state of architecture across England. Drive productivity & estate rationalisation through operational & financial efficiency recommendations, collaborating cross-functionally to support implementation & improve adoption. Define and maintain architecture principles, standards, & roadmaps to support NHS strategic objectives. Provide expert consultancy to senior stakeholders, ensuring interoperability and compliance with NHS & national standards. Oversee architecture assurance for major programmes, balancing innovation with risk & cost considerations. Mentor & develop the architecture community, fostering best practice & continuous improvement

What's in it for you

A leadership role in shaping national digital health strategy. Flexible hybrid working (40% in-person expectation) from any NHSE offices. Opportunities for professional development, including TOGAF & advanced leadership training

About us

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential
Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation
Delivering value for money

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

Date posted

17 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8d

Salary

£109,610 to £126,404 a year (exclusive of HCAS) this includes an RRP payment of 20%

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

10 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

990-TD-TA-17307-E

Job locations

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

LS1 4AP

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a Lead Enterprise Architect, you will play an active role in delivering the NHS 10-Year Plan , which places digital transformation at the heart of our services. Youll lead architectural conversations that span domains and influence decisions that touch every aspect of health and care in England, working across programmes, products and services to ensure digital and data delivery is not only effective and efficient, but also aligned with organisational strategy and national priorities.

Were seeking bold thinkers, strategic leaders, and collaborative problem-solvers. If you bring deep architectural expertise, a passion for public service, and the ability to navigate complexity with clarity this is your opportunity to lead change at scale.

Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is - short-term vacancy.

If you like what you have read and think you have the skills and experience, we need then don't delay, apply today! We get lots of applications for our roles and so we sometimes have to close our posts early. Don't miss out!

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments:

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is - short-term vacancy.

Secondments:

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Master's degree or equivalent experience
TOGAF 9 Certified (or equivalent)

Skills

Essential

Proven ability to lead architecture governance, policy development, and strategic planning at organisational or national level

Experience

Essential

Substantial experience across EA domains (business, data, application, technology) with deep expertise in at least one
Significant experience of managing teams and initiatives, spanning management of people, processes and risk
Significant experience in consultancy, stakeholder engagement, assurance for large-scale programmes as well as development & ownership of architectural strategies, policies, standards and guidelines
Experience in financial planning, business case development, and procurement & commercial activities

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Master's degree or equivalent experience
TOGAF 9 Certified (or equivalent)

Skills

Essential

Proven ability to lead architecture governance, policy development, and strategic planning at organisational or national level

Experience

Essential

Substantial experience across EA domains (business, data, application, technology) with deep expertise in at least one
Significant experience of managing teams and initiatives, spanning management of people, processes and risk
Significant experience in consultancy, stakeholder engagement, assurance for large-scale programmes as well as development & ownership of architectural strategies, policies, standards and guidelines
Experience in financial planning, business case development, and procurement & commercial activities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

LS1 4AP

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Any NHSE Office

Nationally

LS1 4AP

Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/ (Opens in a new tab)