Architecture Manager Stratford-upon-Avon

NFU Mutual Group; Stratford-upon-Avon; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company in Stratford-upon-Avon seeks an Architecture Manager to lead their Information Architecture capability. This crucial role demands a strategic leader to develop the team while ensuring effective governance over data architecture practices. You will engage with senior stakeholders, ensuring the information architecture aligns with business strategy. The position offers a salary range between £95,000 and £105,000 along with a 25% annual bonus and comprehensive benefits, underscoring our commitment to an inclusive workplace.

Benefits

Annual bonus (up to 25% of salary)

Contributory pension scheme

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Gym membership contributions

Employee discounts on insurance policies

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior architecture roles with leadership responsibilities.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders on governance decisions.
• Deep knowledge of data governance and regulatory considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Information Architecture team.
• Define and own the Information Architecture direction.
• Establish governance principles and standards.

Skills

Leadership

Information Architecture

Data Governance

Stakeholder Engagement

Communication

Education

ISEB Practitioner in Enterprise and Solution Architecture

TOGAF 9 Foundation

ITIL Practitioner

Tools

Data Models

Architectural Frameworks

Job description

# Architecture ManagerRegion: MidlandsLocation: Stratford-upon-AvonContract type: PermanentReference number: ITDI01557Working pattern: Full-timeSalary: £95,000 - £105,000 + 25% annual bonus + PMI + benefits package## Architecture Manager* Lead and govern architectural practices across a defined technology domain * Manage and develop a high-performing architecture team while driving strategic alignment * Hybrid working – 80% from home, 20% based in Stratford-upon-Avon.## About the roleWe are looking for an Architecture Manager to lead the Information Architecture capability at NFU Mutual. This role is accountable for setting clear direction across information and data architecture, ensuring consistent standards, strong governance, and practical alignment with business strategy. You will lead and develop a team of Information Architects, balancing strategic oversight with day-to-day delivery. The focus is on treating data and information as core organisational assets, improving how information is governed, modelled, integrated, and used across the enterprise. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, you will ensure information architecture outputs are pragmatic, scalable, and compliant with regulatory and organisational requirements. You will also play a key role in evolving ways of working, strengthening capability, and embedding good information architecture practices across programmes, products, and platforms. Alongside people leadership and governance, you will remain close enough to delivery to provide hands on support where needed, particularly on complex or high-risk initiatives. **What you’ll be doing** * Lead, manage, and develop the Information Architecture team, setting clear expectations, priorities, and standards of delivery. * Define and own the Information Architecture direction, ensuring data and information designs support business outcomes and long-term strategy. * Establish and maintain effective information and data architecture governance, including principles, standards, reference architectures, and assurance. * Build strong relationships with business, technology, and delivery leaders, providing informed challenge and pragmatic advice on data and information matters. * Ensure information architecture artefacts such as data models, data flows, master data designs, and information standards are consistently produced and applied. * Drive improvement in data quality, data ownership, and information lifecycle management across the organisation. * Identify future capability and skill needs within the Information Architecture team, actively supporting coaching, mentoring, and professional development. * Guide the adoption of improved tools, techniques, and methods for information and data architecture, keeping practice aligned with emerging best practice. * Act as a hands-on Information Architect on priority initiatives where depth of expertise or additional capacity is required.## About youYou are an experienced Information or Data Architect who is ready to step into, or further establish yourself in, a people leadership role. You may already be managing others or acting as a senior technical lead or coach and are now looking to take broader accountability for direction, standards, and capability. You bring a strong strategic mindset alongside a practical understanding of how information architecture works in delivery. You care about governance and quality, but you know when to be pragmatic. You are comfortable operating with senior stakeholders, helping them navigate data complexity, regulatory pressure, and competing priorities without over engineering solutions. Most importantly, you see data and information as business-critical assets and are motivated by improving how they are governed, designed, and used across the organisation. **You’ll also bring (Essentials):** * Significant experience in senior Information or Data Architecture roles, including leadership, mentoring, or coaching responsibilities. * Proven ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders on data, information, and governance decisions. * Deep knowledge of information and data architecture governance, data management, and regulatory considerations. * Experience improving data quality, data ownership, and information lifecycle management at scale. * A track record of evolving architecture practices, tools, or standards to improve consistency and effectiveness. * Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex data and architectural concepts clearly to non-technical audiences. **Desirables:** * Information Systems Examination Board (ISEB) Practitioner in Enterprise and Solution Architecture or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. * Architecture Framework (TOGAF) 9 Foundation or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. * ITIL Practitioner or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. * Prince 2 Foundation or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. * Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) Foundation or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. * Agile architecture qualification. e.g. SAFe or other relevant qualification, or equivalent experience. *At NFU Mutual, we support an inclusive workplace and value all the differences that make us unique. We celebrate the creativity and innovation that comes from diverse perspectives and experiences and share a common vision of doing the right thing for our customers and employees.* *We recognise that some candidates may experience barriers during the recruitment process. So, we encourage candidates to discuss any adjustments or accommodations they need to be the best they can be throughout our recruitment process.* *We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, a Race at Work and Women in Finance Charter signatory and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability, neurodiversity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.*## Benefits and Rewards* £95,000 - £105,000 depending on experience * Annual bonus (up to 25% of salary) * Contributory pension scheme, up to 20%, including your 8% contribution * 28 days annual leave + bank holidays + buy/sell/save holiday trading scheme * A Family Friendly policy that helps you balance your work and family responsibilities * Private medical insurance + options to add family members * Access to savings at High Street brands, travel and supermarkets * £20 contribution to a monthly gym membership – subject to T&Cs * Health and wellbeing plan- cashback for dentist, opticians, physio and more * Employee Volunteering - volunteerin the community for one day each year * Unlimited access to Refer a Friend £500 bonus scheme * Life Assurance coverof 4 x salary * Employee discounts of 15% on a range of NFU Mutual insurance policies. * Salary sacrifice employee car scheme - subject to eligibility## Working at NFU MutualWe’reone of the UK’s leading general insurance and financial services companies. For over 110 yearswe’veput our customers at the heart of everything we do.Ourpeopleare just as important to us. Wepride ourselves on being “a great place to work” and our Gallup Exceptional Workplace 2025 award was not only awarded with Distinction but also named us as the first UK-based company to receive a Gallup Exceptional Workplace for ten years in a row. We are also the only Insurer to feature in the LinkedIn Top 15 Companies 2025 list of ‘Best midsize employers to grow your career in the UK’, the Glassdoor Best Places to Work UK List 2023 and 2024, and were recognised as a certified UK Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute in 2023, 2024