Head of Business Architecture

Legal & General (L&G) is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor. 

We’ve been safeguarding people’s financial futures since 1836, and strive to build a better society, while improving the lives of our customers and creating value for shareholders. 

We are one of the world’s largest asset managers and provide powerful asset origination capabilities. Together, these underpin our retirement and protection solutions: we are an international player in pension risk transfer, in UK and US life insurance, and in UK workplace pensions and retirement income. 

L&G Institutional Retirement looks after around 700,000 institutional customers who have their retirement benefits secured with us. Operating continuously in the UK market from our entrance in 1987, we are the UK’s longest-running insurer. 

Our Institutional Retirement business is the UK’s longest-serving active bulk annuity provider.

Who we are 

Institutional Retirement is the only insurer to have been operating continuously in the UK market from our entrance in 1987 to the present day. Our UK retirement annuity book stands at an estimated £86.1 billion at 31 December 2023. 

Across our retail and institutional retirement businesses, we look after more than 1 million customers, around c.700,000 of whom are institutional customers who have had their retirement benefits secured with us. 

We are seeking an accomplished Business Architect to lead and shape the business architecture practice. This strategic leadership role will be responsible for building and evolving the practice through effective team management, defining the overarching approach, establishing methodologies, and setting the standards that guide divisional business architecture.

As a key strategic influencer, the Business Architect will translate operating strategy into the design of target capabilities and operating models that support the long-term goals of Institutional Retirement. They will also ensure that Institutional Retirement’s priorities are effectively represented at the Group Enterprise level, driving alignment and impact across the wider organisation.

What you'll be doing:

• Validating divisional strategy in partnership with the Head of Operating Strategy by assessing current and target capabilities, and defining the operating model blueprint to enable effective change delivery
• Providing thought leadership and setting the strategic direction for the Business Architecture practice, including defining approaches, methodologies, tooling, and documentation standards
• Leading a high-performing team to ensure the practice is appropriately resourced, while actively collaborating with other practice leads to support the change portfolio with aligned business architecture expertise
• Identifying, acquiring, and retaining top talent to strengthen the discipline, while continuously developing self and team capabilities in anticipation of future business needs and industry trends
• Ensuring strong governance and adherence to group and divisional standards, while maintaining alignment across business, change, technology, and risk stakeholders to support operating model plans
• Acting as the lead Business Architect on major strategic initiatives, partnering with programme leadership to ensure alignment with target architecture and the successful design of target operating models
• Managing employee-related matters with consistency and integrity, applying Group policies and the Partnership Agreement to maximise performance and engagement
• Embedding customer priorities into programme planning and resource allocation, ensuring delivery is aligned with Legal & General’s commitment to putting customers at the heart of the business

Who we're looking for:

• Degree-level education is desirable but not essential, supported by relevant experience in financial services or similarly regulated industries
• Professional certification in business architecture (e.g. CBA, TOGAF) is preferred, demonstrating strategic capability in architectural frameworks
• Recognised business analysis qualification (e.g. BCS BA Diploma, IIBA) or equivalent hands-on experience in business analysis and solution design
• Agile or SAFe certification is desirable, along with practical experience in agile delivery and transformation programmes
• Deep understanding of business architecture principles, methodologies, tools, and techniques, with the ability to apply them strategically
• Proven ability to translate business strategy and data into target operating models and capability designs that drive organisational outcomes
• Strong leadership track record, with experience in building and guiding high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across complex organisational structures, representing business needs at an enterprise level

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance -related bonus plan and valuable share schemes
• Generous pension contribution
• Life assurance
• Healthcare Plan (permanent employees only)
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, 26 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday
• Competitive family leave
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice (permanent employees only)
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart

At L&G, we believe it's possible to generate positive returns today while helping to build a better future for all. 

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming, inclusive culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views, and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We care passionately about outcomes rather than attendance and are therefore open to discussing all kinds of flexible working options including part-time, term-time and job shares. Although some roles have limited flexibility due to customer demand, we accommodate requests when we can. 

It doesn’t matter if you don’t meet every single criterion in this advert. Instead, think about what you excel at and what else you can bring in terms of strengths, potential and connection to our purpose.