Director of Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy FTC

Role summary

Lead and develop Spire Healthcare’s Architecture function and define the technology, data, integration and AI strategies that enable Spire’s business goals.

The role connects business strategy, delivery portfolios and technology strategy, providing architectural leadership across transformation, commercial digital enablement and clinical and enterprise platforms. It builds a technology strategy covering systems, data and integration foundations alongside cyber-aligned technology choices and AI adoption.

The postholder must be a trusted senior leader who can work across Executive, business, clinical, technology and delivery stakeholders with the ability to balance strategic direction with pragmatic delivery. It ensures decisions are business-aligned, standards-led and strongly governed.

The role leads the ongoing development of the Architecture operating model, team capability, tooling and engagement processes so that architecture is embedded early in portfolio and programme decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain enterprise technology strategy, architecture principles, standards and multi-year roadmaps aligned to Spire’s business strategy, digital strategy, transformation priorities and regulatory obligations.
• Provide senior architectural input to commercial digital transformation, including CRM, CMS, self-service pathways, partner integration, contact centre strategy / omnichannel engagement and digital growth opportunities.
• Guide ERP, PAS/EPR architecture, including target-state architecture, procurement support, integration and data migration approach, business capability mapping and discovery activity.
• Evolve and shape Spire’s AI strategy, AI governance and AI adoption including alignment to existing project governance, risk processes, responsible AI controls, AI literacy and business-led automation patterns.
• Oversee data and integration architecture direction, including FHIR-aligned modelling, API governance, data strategy, Microsoft Fabric / Purview governance, data quality and ownership models alongside reusable interoperability patterns.
• Lead and develop Spire’s Enterprise Architecture Practice, including the operating model, engagement routes, design patterns, architecture repository and architecture capability.
• Evolve architecture governance through the Architecture Review Board and Technical Design Authority, ensuring governance is applied as “speed with safety” minimising delivery friction.
• Ensure solution architecture is embedded into delivery across platforms and portfolios.
• Partner with stakeholders from Information Security, Data Protection, Clinical Safety, Risk, Procurement and Legal to ensure technology choices meet necessary requirements.
• Lead technology assessment, horizon scanning, benchmarking and supplier evaluation, ensuring partner and vendor recommendations are grounded in business value, delivery risk, data implications and operational sustainability.
• Develop and communicate recommendations, strategy narratives, and risk positions for IT SLT, ExCo, Board-level forums and programme steering committees.
• Manage, mentor and develop the Architecture team across enterprise, solution, data, integration and domain architecture, including objectives, onboarding, role clarity, capability development and prioritisation.
• Ensure architecture activity connects portfolios and initiatives, identifying dependencies, duplication, tactical drift, platform misalignment and opportunities to simplify, reuse and accelerate delivery.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across Spire and its ecosystem partners, including strategic suppliers, delivery partners and technology vendors, while protecting coherent governance and engagement routes.
• Support annual operating plan and investment planning by providing architectural input to priorities, business cases, sequencing, resource demand, programme dependencies and benefits realisation.
• Promote pragmatic technology modernisation, balancing strategic ambition with affordability, operational readiness, cyber and regulatory risk and the need to deliver “good, not perfect” progress at pace.

Experience / Requirements – Must Have

• Senior enterprise architecture leadership experience in a complex, regulated, multi-site organisation, with the ability to align technology, data and delivery choices to business outcomes.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture methods, architecture operating models, governance forums, roadmaps, standards, transition states and design assurance practices.
• Experience leading architecture across major transformation programmes such as ERP, PAS/EPR, CRM/CMS, enterprise integration, data platform, cloud, identity, security or complex clinical/operational platforms.
• Ability to translate complex technology, data, integration, cyber and AI topics into clear language for senior business, clinical, operational and executive stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of data strategy, data governance, master and reference data management, data quality, analytics platforms, information protection and AI-ready data foundations.
• Strong knowledge of modern integration approaches, including APIs, FHIR/HL7 concepts, REST, event-driven patterns, middleware/iPaaS, legacy integration constraints and strategic interoperability blueprinting and governance.
• Good working knowledge of cloud, SaaS, PaaS and platform architectures, especially Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Purview and modern identity and conditional access patterns.
• Knowledge of security, privacy, risk and compliance considerations relevant to UK healthcare technology, including GDPR/data protection, cyber frameworks, DSPT/Cyber Essentials, clinical safety governance and regulatory assurance.
• Experience defining and operating technology governance that works with delivery lifecycles, DPIA/vendor assurance, procurement, portfolio planning, ARB/TDA processes and changing business priorities.
• Commercial and supplier management experience, including procurement support, RFI/RFP input, vendor assessment, contract and licensing considerations, TCO/ROI analysis and strategic partner management.
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop architecture teams and communities of practice, including direct and matrix leadership where influence is required without formal reporting lines.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, stakeholder management and balanced judgement skills - with resilience under pressure and a pragmatic delivery mindset.
• Experience assessing technology choices in terms of business value, operational sustainability, cyber and data risk, implementation complexity, maintainability and long-term platform fit.
• Exposure to SAP ECC to S/4HANA migration planning, ERP procurement, PAS/EPR transformation, integration discovery, data migration and programme leadership

Experience / Requirements – Desirable

• TOGAF Practitioner, ArchiMate, SAFe or equivalent architecture / agile delivery certifications.
• Experience in healthcare technology, private healthcare, NHS-facing interoperability, clinical systems, diagnostics, patient administration, EPR/PAS, RIS/PACS/LIMS or clinical workflow platforms.
• Experience with AI governance, Responsible AI, AI risk assessment, AI policy creation, Copilot / M365 Copilot adoption, Copilot Studio and agent governance.
• Experience with enterprise architecture tooling and portfolio visibility, such as LeanIX, ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM, technology reference models, capability models and architecture repositories.
• Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Purview, Power BI, Azure integration services, MuleSoft or equivalent iPaaS/API management technologies.
• Knowledge of information security frameworks and controls including NIST, CIS, ISO27001-aligned practices, PAM, zero trust, secure integration patterns and cloud security governance.
• Knowledge of clinical, data and interoperability standards such as HL7, FHIR, SNOMED CT, DICOM, openEHR, GS1, PHIN and other health-sector data or reporting standards.
• Experience supporting commercial digital channels, CRM, CMS, contact centre / CCaaS, consumer journeys, omnichannel patient engagement and B2B integration.
• Experience with sustainability, technology rationalisation, FinOps, cloud cost optimisation, accessibility-by-design and the contribution technology can make to ESG commitments.