Programme Architect

Location: Wellington
Discipline: Telecommunications
Job type: Permanent
Salary: 138000 to 178000
Contact name: Matt Frizzell
Contact email: matt@placeme.nz
Job ref: 1424705
Published: about 8 hours ago
This is not a build role. This is not a “hands-on solutioning” role.

This is a senior architectural leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys shaping direction, guiding other architects, and influencing large programmes at a strategic level.

You will be joining a major national initiative – a $200m, multi-year programme.  You'll be an experienced Programme Architect able to act as the trusted architectural adviser to programme leadership.


What you’ll be responsible for

You will provide architectural leadership across one or more programme workstreams, setting clear direction rather than designing individual components.

This includes defining and evolving architectural direction for the programme, leading and guiding other architects, shaping solution options (buy / build / reuse / repurpose), producing and maintaining architectural roadmaps, translating business intent into coherent architectural strategy, providing assurance over designs and alignment to enterprise standards, and engaging heavily with stakeholders to clarify outcomes and reduce ambiguity.

A large part of this role is helping people who don’t yet know exactly what they want, work through their thinking and turn that into sensible architectural direction. Roughly speaking: 60% people & influence, 40% architecture.

About you

You’re likely a senior Solution Architect or Enterprise Architect who has operated at programme or portfolio level.

You probably have 10+ years’ experience in architecture or senior IT roles, experience leading or mentoring other architects, strong stakeholder engagement skills with both technical and non-technical audiences, background working across large, complex programmes, comfort operating in ambiguous, early-stage environments, and familiarity with TOGAF, ArchiMate or similar (certification not mandatory).

You do not need to be a deep hands-on technical specialist.


Why people find this role appealing

You’ll be working on a high-profile $200m national programme with genuine strategic influence and visibility across a large public-sector environment.

It is a true architecture leadership role rather than delivery grunt work, with complex, interesting problems and the opportunity to shape direction from the very start of the programme.



Key details

Location is Wellington only. Confidential security clearance is required. The architecture group has around five architects (not all aligned to this programme).


What success looks like

Within 6–12 months you will be a trusted adviser to programme leadership, architectural direction will be clear and socialised, architects will be aligned and working coherently, there will be less confusion around solution options, and engagement across workstreams will be strong.