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Principal Architecture Assurance Lead (IT & OT)
Location: Glasgow / Perth / Aberdeen (Significant onsite presence required)
Engagement Duration: Multi-year (c. 5 years)
Role Summary
We are seeking a highly experienced, “heavyweight” Architecture Assurance leader (20–30 years’ experience) to establish and lead a robust, independent assurance capability across a large-scale transformation portfolio within SSEN.
This role will provide portfolio-level oversight and control across 30–50 concurrent initiatives, spanning both IT (c.70%) and Operational Technology (c.30%) environments, ensuring alignment to architectural standards, resilience, and long-term maintainability of critical infrastructure.
Operating with a high degree of independence, the role will shape, enforce, and challenge architectural decisions, ensuring consistency, quality, and adherence to policy across the transformation landscape.
What you'll be doing:
Portfolio Assurance Leadership
- Lead the architectural assurance of a large, complex transformation portfolio (30–50 projects)
- Oversee end-to-end assurance lifecycle, from early design through to delivery
- Maintain a “dip in / dip out” model, typically investing ~10% time per project
- Provide cross-project visibility to identify systemic risks, duplication, and misalignment
Team Leadership & Capability
- Lead and mentor a team of 2–3 senior architecture assurance consultants
- Set the tone for strong, independent challenge and technical authority
- Ensure consistent application of assurance methods, tools, and quality standards
Standards, Governance & Control
- Define and enforce clear architectural guardrails, reference architectures, and standards
- Drive uniformity and consistency across all projects, reducing fragmentation
- Actively participate in and shape governance forums (e.g. TDA / ARB equivalents)
- Ensure alignment to enterprise policy, security requirements, and regulatory expectations
Independent Challenge & Risk Management
- Provide independent, objective assurance separate from delivery pressures
- Identify and escalate architectural risks, gaps, and non-compliance
- Challenge design decisions where required, even at senior stakeholder level
- Act as a protector of the estate, prioritising long-term resilience over short-term delivery
IT / OT Integration & Assurance
- Operate across both IT and OT domains, ensuring cohesive architecture
- Drive convergence where appropriate, reducing silos and conflicting decisions
- Ensure solutions are secure, resilient, and fit for critical national infrastructure
Driving Better Delivery Behaviour
- “Force the conversation” with operational stakeholders to ensure real-world viability
- Encourage simplification, pragmatism, and agility in solution design
- Free up delivery teams by removing ambiguity and providing clear direction
- Promote a culture of nimble, outcome-focused engineering rather than bureaucratic governance
What experience you'll bring:
Experience
- 20–30 years’ experience in Enterprise / Solution Architecture and Assurance
- Proven experience leading architecture assurance across large transformation programmes
- Deep experience in regulated environments (e.g. utilities, energy, infrastructure)
- Demonstrated ability to operate across both IT and Operational Technology landscapes
Capabilities
- Strong authority in:
- Enterprise Architecture governance (TOGAF or equivalent)
- Architecture assurance frameworks and methodologies
- IT/OT convergence and integration
- Cyber and resilience-by-design principles
- Ability to operate credibly at CxO and Chief Architect level
- Strong stakeholder management with the confidence to challenge and influence senior leaders
Leadership Style
- Decisive, opinionated, and able to set direction clearly and consistently
- Pragmatic and delivery-focused — not overly bureaucratic
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and high-pressure environments
Working Model
- Based primarily across Glasgow, Perth and Aberdeen, with willingness to travel extensively
- Long-term engagement (multi-year), providing continuity and stability of assurance leadership
- Embedded within the customer environment but operating with clear independence from delivery teams
Success Outcomes
- Consistent, high-quality architecture across all programmes
- Reduced risk, duplication, and technical debt
- Strong alignment to standards, security, and policy
- Improved delivery speed through clearer direction and reduced rework
- A trusted, authoritative assurance function embedded within SSEN
Who we are:
At NTT DATA, you have endless opportunities to think big, act bold and take ownership. As a $30+ billion business and technology services, AI and digital infrastructure leader, we co-innovate solutions with clients and partners globally for business and societal impact. Serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100, with experts in over 70 countries, we encourage experimentation and recognize great work. Proudly a Global Top Employer, NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion annually in R&D. Make this the place where you belong, learn, and build your network. Make this the place where you grow.
what we'll offer you:
We offer a range of tailored benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. Our Learning and Development team ensure that there are continuous growth and development opportunities for our people. We also offer the opportunity to have flexible work options.
You can find more information about NTT DATA UK & Ireland here: https://uk.nttdata.com/
We are an equal opportunities employer. We believe in the fair treatment of all our employees and commit to promoting equity and diversity in our employment practices. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively collaborate with individuals who have disabilities and long-term health conditions which have an effect on their ability to do normal daily activities, ensuring that barriers are eliminated when it comes to employment opportunities. In line with our commitment, we guarantee an interview to applicants who declare to us, during the application process, that they have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. Join us in building a truly diverse and empowered team.
Location
“Upon joining the NTT DATA UK family, you will experience a culturally diverse organisation living our values of Clients First, Teamwork and Foresight as we partner with our customers every day.
At NTT DATA UK, we are proud to support and invest in our people. We offer a variety of rewarding career paths and opportunities to develop professionally - with access to cutting edge innovation.”
Niccolo Spataro, CEO, NTT DATA UK
