Location: Caerphilly, with travel to client and Ministry of Defence sites as required
Business Unit: Services
Reporting Line: Director, Services
Package: Basic salary plus non-sales incentive
Clearance: SC clearance required, or eligibility to obtain it as a minimum. DV clearance is highly desirable.

A senior role at the heart of a secure Defence service

This is an opportunity to lead the technical architecture, operational assurance and service delivery of a complex Defence programme. You will shape how a secure multi-domain service is designed, governed, supported and improved, while acting as the senior technical authority across the programme.

Role summary

As Head of Service Architecture & Delivery, you will take full accountability for the technical outcomes of a secure communications and infrastructure IT service. You will lead service architecture, technical governance, operational performance and continual improvement, while serving as the main technical interface for senior stakeholders, security authorities and accreditation bodies.

What you’ll do

Technical leadership and architecture

• Act as the senior technical authority for the Defence programme
• Lead service architecture, design governance and technical assurance across a secure environment
• Own the service blueprint, service model and technical roadmap
• Maintain non-functional requirements, including performance, resilience, capacity and recoverability

Service delivery and operational assurance

• Lead the technical service team and provide direction across key technical domains
• Ensure the service is delivered, supported and improved in line with contracted service levels
• Oversee service transitions, integrations and onboarding activity
• Support service stability, operational effectiveness and continual improvement

Governance, security and compliance

• Chair the Technical Design Authority
• Ensure services align with Defence requirements and Secure by Design principles
• Govern configuration and asset management activities
• Provide technical assurance to security stakeholders and accreditation bodies

Stakeholder engagement

• Act as the primary technical liaison for senior Defence stakeholders and partner organisations
• Communicate technical direction, service status and assurance clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Build alignment across internal teams, specialist suppliers and customer stakeholders

Continuous improvement

• Drive improvements across architecture, operations, automation and service efficiency
• Keep technical documentation and training materials accurate and current

What success looks like

• The service is secure, stable and operating in line with Defence requirements and agreed service levels
• Architectural decisions are well governed, clearly documented and support long-term service performance
• Technical teams and specialist partners are aligned, accountable and delivering effectively
• Service transitions and onboarding activities are managed smoothly with strong technical control
• Senior stakeholders have confidence in the service, its direction and its technical assurance
• Continuous improvement leads to better efficiency, stronger operational resilience and improved service quality

What you’ll bring

Core experience

• At least five years in a senior technical leadership role such as Head of Technical Services, Programme Technical Lead or Principal Architect
• Experience delivering secure, complex IT services within Defence or other regulated environments
• Strong background in service architecture, design governance and technical assurance
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary technical teams in complex operational settings
• Strong stakeholder management skills with senior-level audiences
• Experience leading technical transitions or onboarding activity

Technical capability

• Strong knowledge of ITIL across service design, transition and operations
• Experience with Defence security standards, including JSP 440 and JSP 604
• Strong understanding of service stability, performance, supportability and continual improvement
• Ability to lead across infrastructure, networking, virtualisation, authentication, monitoring and automation
• Strong analytical and reporting capability

Behaviours and approach

• Clear and persuasive communicator with technical and non-technical audiences
• Strategic thinker who can balance operational priorities with long-term goals and risk
• Calm, analytical and decisive under pressure
• Accountable for outcomes, service quality and delivery standards
• Collaborative leader who can build trust, alignment and a strong one-team culture
• Detail-focused, proactive and committed to high-quality delivery in secure environments

Desirable

• Experience working within Defence programmes or secure government contracts
• TOGAF or another enterprise architecture certification
• PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, or equivalent project delivery experience
• ITIL v4 Foundation, with Managing Professional or Strategist preferred
• Technical certifications such as CCNP, MCSE or VCP
• Familiarity with SIEM, observability and automation tools
• Experience with MOD accreditation and Code of Connection processes
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience
• DV clearance, or the ability to obtain it

Why join Centerprise

Centerprise is a well-established UK technology provider with over 40 years of experience delivering infrastructure, cloud, managed services and lifecycle solutions. It combines the strength of a national organisation with the agility of a growing business, supporting public and private sector customers across the UK.

For this role, you will also have the opportunity to:

• Lead a technically significant Defence service with real operational importance
• Shape architectural direction and service improvement across a secure multi-domain environment
• Work closely with senior stakeholders, security authorities and specialist partners
• Play a visible leadership role in a business with a strong track record in government and Defence delivery

Benefits

Financial & lifestyle

• Basic salary plus non-sales incentive
• Pension scheme including salary sacrifice
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Death in Service cover at four times the basic salary
• SAGE Employee Benefits scheme
• Salary sacrifice charity donation scheme
• Ci Christmas Savings Club
• Ci Lottery
• Free parking at the office

Health & wellbeing

• Private Medical Insurance, partially subsidised
• Two personal well-being days
• Company supported the CSR Volunteer Day

Work-life balance

• 25 days holiday, rising to 28 after five years
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Hybrid working arrangement, with Monday and Friday as optional work-from-home days

Our culture

At Centerprise, people are trusted to take ownership, work collaboratively and keep improving. We value professionalism, accountability and clear thinking, while creating an environment where talented people can build long-term careers and make a visible impact.

Apply now

If you are ready to lead the architecture, assurance and delivery of a secure Defence service, we would like to hear from you. Apply now to take on a senior role where technical leadership, trust and service quality matter every day.