Principal Strategy & Architecture Lead

Overview of the role 

Phoenix is a leading UK IT solutions and managed service provider, with a deep specialism in the public sector. We work with organisations across government, healthcare, defence, public safety, education, housing, and the charity sector - helping them modernise with confidence across cloud, data and AI, cyber security, and managed services. 

Through strategic partnerships with the world's leading technology providers - and a trusted place on the major public sector frameworks - our work has a direct impact on the services that millions of people rely on every day. 

Due to continued growth, we are hiring a new role to provide senior strategic leadership and architecture expertise, helping public sector organisations navigate complex change, make informed decisions, and deliver successful transformation outcomes. 

What will you be doing? 

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior customer stakeholders, providing strategic guidance across technology, digital, and organisational change initiatives 

• Lead the development of enterprise, digital, and technology strategies, aligning business objectives with architectural direction 

• Define and shape strategic roadmaps, ensuring clear prioritisation, sequencing, and delivery feasibility 

• Provide enterprise and security architecture leadership, setting direction, standards, and best practice across complex environments 

• Facilitate executive workshops and stakeholder engagements to support decision-making, alignment, and consensus building 

• Design and shape target operating models that enable organisational transformation and improved service outcomes 

• Support business case development and investment planning, ensuring alignment to strategic objectives and value realisation 

• Establish and contribute to governance forums, providing oversight, challenge, and assurance on key decisions and programmes 

• Lead or support transformation planning and mobilisation, ensuring initiatives are set up for successful delivery 

• Conduct independent reviews and assurance activities to identify risk, provide insight, and improve delivery confidence 

• Provide thought leadership across strategy, architecture, and assurance disciplines within customer engagements and internally 

• Collaborate across Phoenix teams to support business development, bids, and the growth of the ESAA capability 

• Contribute to the development of ESAA methodologies, frameworks, and propositions 

• Build strong, trusted relationships across customer organisations and wider stakeholders 

• Help customers navigate complexity, reduce risk, and achieve successful, sustainable outcomes 

Why should you apply? 

At Phoenix, our ambition is to be the UK's leading IT solutions and managed service provider - and we know that only happens because of our people. Culture isn't an afterthought here; it's the thing we work hardest on. 

We're proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work®, and to be recognised on their UK Best Workplaces lists for Women, Wellbeing, and Development. These aren't badges we chase - they're the result of how we genuinely choose to treat each other, and how seriously we take our colleagues' careers, health, and lives outside of work. 

When you join Phoenix, you can expect: 

• A culture built on trust and belonging: set out clearly in our Culture Blueprint, lived day-to-day, and reflected in our consistently strong colleague feedback. 

• Real investment in your development: structured learning pathways, funded industry certifications, mentoring, and the encouragement to stretch into new areas. 

• A workplace that takes wellbeing seriously: from mental health support and flexible working to active employee networks and a leadership team that listens. 

• A commitment to equity and inclusion: where we actively work to make Phoenix a brilliant place to build a career, whoever you are. 

• Work that matters: supporting the public sector organisations that keep the UK running, from government and healthcare to defence, public safety, education, housing, and the charities serving the most vulnerable in our communities. 

• Working with the best of the industry: alongside genuine experts, and with strategic partnerships across the world's leading technology providers, you'll be at the front of the conversations shaping how UK public services modernise. 

We believe in encouraging, supporting, and skilling our people up so that you can be the very best you can be at work - and we'd love you to consider being part of it. 

Take a look at our Culture Blueprint to get a real sense of who we are. 

What are we looking for? 

The right person for this role is an experienced strategic practitioner who is confident operating at senior levels, able to bring together strategy, architecture, and delivery to help organisations navigate complex change. They will typically be operating in roles such as Enterprise Architect, Transformation Lead, Security Architect, Principal Consultant, Technology Strategist or something similar. 

Key Skills & Experience: 

• Proven experience influencing strategy, architecture, or transformation in complex environments 

• Strong understanding across areas such as enterprise strategy, technology, cyber security, and architecture 

• Ability to engage and build credibility with senior stakeholders and executive teams 

• Skilled at translating complex challenges into clear, practical direction 

• Experience providing governance, assurance, and constructive challenge 

• Strong analytical thinking and sound decision-making capability 

• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills 

• Ability to lead through influence and build strong, collaborative relationships 

• Comfortable working in ambiguity and balancing strategic vision with delivery realities 

• Public sector experience desirable 

Practical stuff 

Where is the role based? 
Primary location is our HQ in Pocklington (YO42)  but this role can be remote with occasional visits to the HQ and to customers 

How many interviews? 
Following a screen with the Recruitment Team you can expect a two-stage interview process, one online and one in-person. 

What are the benefits? 
You can read about the benefits on offer here 😊 

*Important* BPSS Check 

As part of our recruitment process due to the nature of the work we do, all employees are required to undertake a Baseline Personal Security Standard (BPSS) check. While some employees require further security clearance, the BPSS check is a must-have requirement and all offers of employment are conditional pending the passing of this check 

Have you made it this far? 
 
If you’re still reading, we think there’s a strong chance you might be our kind of person. 
 

Here’s the thing, though — research suggests that 60% of women and underrepresented people might have already talked themselves out of applying. Even if you don’t check every box above, we want to encourage you to introduce yourself. 
 
We believe a diversity of perspectives and experiences makes a team stronger — and the stronger our team, the more successful we will be.