As APFN accelerate our transformational journey, taking a more central integration role in the evolution of our System and Network Systems, there is a need for a Head of Architecture and Design. This role is a key leadership role responsible for defining, implementing, and overseeing the overall systems architecture and design strategy for the organisation.

This position requires a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of complex systems, emerging technologies, and a proven track record of leading successful architecture and design teams.

What you will be doing:

The Head of Architecture and Design will have the vision to set the strategy, have the understanding to make the best decisions and the tenacity to drive the solution to become a reality.

This is a great opportunity for a lead architect want to move to the next level of their career. Some level of telco experience is necessary and having excellent communications skills is a must. For example, the successful candidate is someone who can explain complex technical options to an exec level audience, identifying key risks and issues.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning:

• Develop and drive the overall systems (and network systems) architecture and design strategy aligned with the organization's business objectives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and peers within the Business, to understand business needs, providing strategic recommendations on technology solutions.

Team Leadership:

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of systems architects and designers.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative team culture, promoting continuous learning and professional development.
• Work cross functionally with other teams, leading the way in cross functional collaboration
• Size and scale the team appropriately to manage the demand of the Business Transformation

Systems Design and Development:

• Lead the design and development of scalable and robust systems (and network systems) architecture that meets current and future business needs.
• Ensure that systems are designed with security, scalability, operational support and maintainability in mind.
• Drive the delivery of the Architecture decisions and Systems architecture documents to meet the timescales of the Business programmes and projects.

Technology Evaluation and Adoption:

• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies, evaluating their potential impact on the organization.
• Make recommendations on the adoption of new technologies to enhance overall system capabilities.

Collaboration with Stakeholders:

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including software development, infrastructure, and operations, to ensure seamless integration of systems.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.

Quality Assurance:

• Establish and enforce best practices for system architecture and design.
• Implement quality assurance processes to ensure that solutions meet the highest standards of reliability and performance.

Risk Management:

• Identify and mitigate potential risks related to system architecture and design.
• Develop and implement contingency plans to ensure business continuity.

Budget Management:

• Collaborate with the finance department to establish and manage the budget for systems architecture and design initiatives.
• Ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency in technology investments.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain comprehensive documentation for systems architecture and design decisions.
• Provide regular reports to executive leadership on the status and progress of architecture initiatives.

About you:

You will have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. You'll have experience of working in Telco and proven experience in a senior-level role related to systems architecture and design. You will bring strong leadership and team management skills along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. An In-depth knowledge of current and emerging technologies will give you an advantage as will a solid understanding of security, compliance and data protection considerations in system design.

The benefits at APF...

At AllPoints Fibre, we're all about looking after you. We offer an extensive wellbeing package that goes beyond the EAP. Your benefits will include Bupa private medical insurance and dental cover, income protection insurance, group life insurance and a health plan to help with day to day expenses such as eye care... we will even pay for you to get a massage!

Everyone needs a break now and then, right? That's why we start all our employees off with a generous 30 days' annual leave allowance (pro rata), plus bank holidays. And if you ever need some extra time off due to illness or parental leave, we've got enhanced leave plans in place to support you through that.

Additionally we know how important it is to feel secure with your finances. That's why we have benefits dedicated to your financial wellbeing. You will be able to join our employer contributory pension and in addition to income protection insurance, group life insurance we offer cashback and voucher schemes to help cover living cost such as electricals and personal spending. 

About us:

Established in 2021, AllPoints Fibre has grown from regional roots in Jurassic Fibre, Giganet and Swish Fibre, to establish a national wholesale network.

APFN is now a leading wholesale provider of full-fibre broadband solutions, dedicated to transforming the digital landscape by delivering ultra-fast, dependable, and affordable internet services to businesses and homes across the UK. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service, creating innovative products and services whilst leading through sustainability.

We have set ourselves the goal to become the best place to work, we recognise that our people are at the heart of what we do - join us on our journey to become the UK’s most recommended way to connect!

Next steps 

If the role sounds like the right fit for you, we look forward to seeing your application! If shortlisted, our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to set up and initial conversation. Next stages will involve meeting with our hiring teams to discuss the role and your experience in more details.

One last thing...

AllPoints Fibre value diversity and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. Help us create a secure, inclusive digital world where diversity fuels innovation; your vision, your voice, and your skills have a place here!

If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made during your interview process, please tell us in your application.