Head of Enterprise and Solution Architecture
Circa £105,000 to £114,000 plus private healthcare, company car or £6,000 car allowance and more great benefits (Work Level 4)
Manchester city centre - We’re open to flexible working arrangements, including condensed hours. You’ll work in a hybrid way, with travel to our Manchester office as required for team days, meetings, and events (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).
We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.
We’re looking for a Head of Enterprise & Solution Architecture to join our Digital, Technology & Data team in Manchester. In this role, you’ll set the direction for how our technology landscape evolves, making sure it’s aligned to our business goals and built to last. You’ll lead both enterprise and solution architecture, translating strategy into clear plans, standards and designs that guide how we deliver change. Working across the organisation, you’ll help ensure everything we build fits together, is well governed, and supports a simpler, more joined-up Co-op.
Why this role matters
This is a key leadership role at the heart of how we deliver change. Our Architecture practice operates in a federated manner with Enterprise Architecture as the pillar to bring it together. You’ll have the opportunity to shape major technology decisions, influence investment priorities, and bring clarity to complex programmes across the Co-op. By setting clear direction and standards, you’ll help teams move faster and make better decisions, knowing they’re building on strong foundations. It’s a role with real impact, connecting strategy to delivery, improving consistency and quality, and helping us create a technology landscape that supports our members, customers and colleagues now and into the future.
What you’ll do
• Define and evolve our enterprise architecture vision & framework, ensuring it reflects Co-op strategy and priorities
• Set clear standards, principles and guardrails across business, data, application and technology architecture
• Partner with Engineering to make architecture an enabler of delivery, realised through code, platforms and practices
• Work with our Product Line Architects, including governing target architectures and roadmaps, shaping technology investment and transformation decisions
• Lead and run the solution architecture practice, including ways of working, engagement and assurance
• Make sure solution designs are consistent, high quality and aligned to enterprise direction
• Work closely with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor on architecture and technology decisions
• Build and lead a strong architecture community, setting expectations for quality, collaboration and development
• Partner with delivery, engineering and product teams to ensure architecture supports effective and scalable change
What you’ll bring
We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:
• Strong experience in enterprise architecture, including defining vision, target states and roadmaps
• Proven ability to lead and develop architecture teams and practices, including solution architecture
• A clear understanding of how architecture supports successful delivery at scale
• Confidence engaging senior stakeholders and explaining technical direction in a clear, simple way
• Experience working in complex, matrix organisations and influencing across multiple teams
• Strong judgement when setting standards and making architectural decisions
• A broad understanding of modern technology landscapes, including platforms, integration and cloud
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to build relationships and bring people together around a shared direction
We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.
Why Co-op?
At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:
• A company car or £6,000 car allowance
• Private healthcare
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme
A place you’ll belong
We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.
We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.
Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion