Head of Solution Architecture & Design

DS Smith Plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable packaging company seeks a Head of Solution Architecture & Design to lead architectural strategy and governance across IT and security. This role involves overseeing the creation of designs, ensuring compliance, and fostering innovation. The ideal candidate will have significant experience with multi-domain teams, a strong grasp of infrastructure, cloud, and a talent for engaging stakeholders. A competitive salary and benefits are offered, reflecting the company's commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Company bonus

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Electric Car scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading multi-domain architecture teams.
• Strong understanding of hybrid infrastructure and cloud principles.
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks and governance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the solution design authority for IS&S projects.
• Develop multi-year technology roadmaps.
• Supervise High-Level Designs (HLDs) for projects.

Skills

Leadership in architecture teams

Infrastructure and cloud architecture

Stakeholder engagement

Deep understanding of security architectures

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

TOGAF

SABSA

ITIL

Job description

**About the role**The **Head of Solution Architecture & Design** acts as the design authority for DS Smith’s IT landscape — ensuring all solutions, infrastructure and security architectures follow one coherent blueprint.This role balances innovation with standardisation, ensuring every technology decision aligns with DS Smith’s Target Operating Model and long-term transformation goals. The function enables DS Smith to scale securely and efficiently by connecting enterprise architecture principles to practical delivery.**Key responsibilities for the Head of Solution Architecture & Design are:****Design Authority Leadership*** Serve as the solution design authority for DS Smith’s Infrastructure & Security projects and transformation programmes.* Define and maintain architectural standards, guardrails, and reference models that ensure consistency across domains.* Represent IS&S at the Technical Design Authority Board, providing governance and oversight across all infrastructure solution designs.**Architecture Integration & Alignment*** Lead a federated team of domain architects spanning Infrastructure, Workplace, and Security disciplines.* Ensure architectural alignment between IT, OT, and business systems to deliver an integrated enterprise design.* Drive coherence across network, hosting, workplace, and security architectures to enable standardisation and reuse.**Roadmaps & Platform Evolution*** Develop and maintain multi-year technology roadmaps covering infrastructure, security, and digital workplace platforms.* Partner with product and service owners to align investment priorities with architectural direction.* Influence strategic vendor roadmaps to ensure compatibility and long-term sustainability of DS Smith’s platforms.**Solution Design & Assurance*** Oversee the creation and approval of High-Level Designs (HLDs) for projects and initiatives.* Ensure all designs comply with architecture principles, information security requirements, and operational support models.* Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure solutions are built “right first time” and remain maintainable in operation.**Governance & Standards*** Own the solution architecture governance framework and ensure adherence through stage-gate and design review processes.* Partner with Enterprise Architecture and PMO to ensure solution design supports both business capability needs and cost efficiency.* Define design patterns and technical standards for re-use across delivery teams.**Collaboration & Cross-functional Partnership*** Partner closely with the Heads of Security Engineering, Infrastructure & Core Platforms, and Digital Workplace to ensure design translates seamlessly into build.* Support the Director of Infrastructure, Security & Services with technical input into strategic sourcing, TOM design, and transformation planning.* Act as the escalation point for architectural issues and risks during project delivery.**Leadership & People Development*** Build and lead a small, high-performing team of solution and domain architects* Foster an open, collaborative culture that values pragmatism, accountability, and innovation.* Develop internal talent through mentoring, certification support, and exposure to transformation programmes**About you*** Proven experience leading multi-domain architecture teams in a complex enterprise or shared services environment.* Strong understanding of infrastructure, cloud, and security architectures and how they interconnect.* Track record in defining and governing architecture frameworks across multiple delivery partners.* Experience leading design assurance for large transformation or integration programmes.* Deep experience in balancing innovation, cost, and standardisation through pragmatic architecture.* Strong grasp of architectural frameworks (TOGAF, SABSA, ITIL alignment).* Excellent understanding of hybrid infrastructure, workplace technologies, and cloud architecture principles.* Strategic communicator — able to translate technical architecture into clear business language.* Skilled in stakeholder engagement and influencing across executive and technical levels.* Comfortable operating in federated and multi-sourced delivery environments.We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products.We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation,manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!**What we offer*** Competitive salary* Company bonus* Pension scheme* Life assurance* Income protection* 25 days holiday plus bank holidays* Electric Car scheme*“To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.**Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”*#LI-CPWe are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products.We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 60,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation,manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!As the journey continues of bringing together the strengths of both organisations, during your candidate experience you may engage with our colleagues from International Paper! You could visit an International Paper or DS Smith site or office.