Skills

Leadership Incident Response Risk Management Architecture Enterprise Architecture Agile Recruitment

Job Specifications

Interim ( contact ) Head of IT & Technical Design Authority (TDA)

Defence Programme | High Security Environment | UK

Some technology roles manage systems.

This one owns them.

We’re supporting the search for a Head of IT & Technical Design Authority to lead the end-to-end digital architecture for a major tri-service Armed Forces recruitment programme valued at £1bn+.

This is a senior leadership role operating at the heart of a complex defence ecosystem, working directly with MOD, single services, Cabinet Office stakeholders and multiple consortium partners.

You will be the accountable design authority for the full technology estate, ensuring architecture, security, performance and delivery standards are met across a highly regulated, high-security environment.

This is not an operations or infrastructure management role.

It is enterprise architecture, systems integration and governance at scale.

Key responsibilities

Own the enterprise architecture, technical design and long-term digital roadmap
Act as the named Technical Design Authority across the full solution lifecycle
Lead architectural, security and technology decisions across all systems
Oversee delivery and integration across 30+ suppliers and partners
Ensure solutions meet functional, non-functional, performance and security requirements
Provide strategic leadership across multi-party delivery teams
Lead service resilience, risk management and incident response
Engage directly with MOD, Cabinet Office and senior defence stakeholders
Represent technology strategy at governance boards and programme leadership forums

What we’re looking for

Proven experience as a Technical Design Authority, Chief Architect, or senior technology leader
Strong enterprise architecture and systems integration background
Experience delivering large, complex government or defence programmes
Comfortable operating in high security / Official Sensitive environments
Track record managing multiple suppliers and contractual delivery
Experience working at senior stakeholder or board level
Strong commercial awareness and governance capability
Able to balance Agile digital delivery with structured/waterfall programmes

Ideal background

Experience from organisations such as defence primes, systems integrators, central government or major outsourcing/managed service environments.

Clearance

Eligibility for UK security clearance is essential.

If you’ve operated at this level before, you’ll recognise the accountability this role carries.

Message me directly for a confidential conversation.

About the Company

Welcome to LHH! We're a global leader in HR solutions that future-proofs organizations and careers worldwide. Our Advisory, Career Transition & Mobility, Leadership Development, and Recruitment Solutions enable transformation, and our job is never done because there’s always another tomorrow to prepare for. We make a difference to everyone we work with, and we do it with local expertise, backed by a global infrastructure and industry-leading technology. Our over 8,000 colleagues and coaches span 66 countries worldwide, ... Know more