Lead Architect (Managed Services)

Lead Architect - Managed Services Manchester £100,000 - £110,000 + bonus + perm benefits Need to be SC eligible We are looking for a seasoned Managed Services Lead Architect to take architectural ownership of a large, complex client account undergoing significant transformation. This is a senior, client-facing role where you will own the end-to-end architecture of contracted services, act as the ultimate technical authority on the account, and ensure the long-term integrity, stability, and evolution of the technology landscape. What You'll Be Doing Own and govern the end-to-end account architecture across Managed Services contracts Provide architectural governance of change, ensuring quality, compliance, and adherence to standards Define and maintain future-state architectures, roadmaps, and transition plans aligned to client needs and contractual commitments Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, building strong and credible relationships Provide direction and guidance to Domain Architects and Engineers, acting as a technical role model Balance innovation with operational stability, ensuring solutions are supportable, secure, and commercially viable Collaborate closely with delivery, commercial, and service leadership to manage risk and cost to serve What We're Looking For You will be a senior architect who has operated successfully in large Managed Services environments, with experience that includes: Proven ownership of end-to-end architecture for complex, multi-technology estates Experience operating as a Lead or Account Architect within Managed Services or outsourcing contracts Strong understanding of contracts, commercials, SLAs, and service economics Confidence working with legacy platforms alongside modern cloud and digital technologies Excellent stakeholder management skills, with credibility at senior client and executive level A pragmatic mindset - able to make sound architectural decisions within real-world constraints