Senior Network Architect - Security

Contract – Senior Network Security Architect 

Location: Kensington & Chelsea (onsite 3 days per week)
Contract: 6 months | Inside IR35
Rate: Up to £800/day (dependent on experience)
Start: ASAP

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Network Architect (Security) to act as the Council’s senior technical advisor across security, applications, infrastructure, data and networks. You’ll help define and govern a pragmatic enterprise architecture that supports organisational objectives, while also making rapid, high-quality design decisions to enable a safe and accelerated rebuild following a recent cyber incident.

A core part of the role is partnering with the Cyber Recovery Programme Director to set architectural standards and chair the Technical Design Authority (TDA)—providing expert guidance, constructive challenge, and delegated decision-making for major technical choices. You’ll also support the Cyber Recovery Board and senior leaders with clear, evidence-based recommendations aligned to the Council’s emerging technology strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Architecture Leadership

• Define, implement and maintain architecture standards, governance and enterprise architecture across the organisation.
• Translate strategy, vision and requirements into actionable designs, roadmaps and decision papers.
• Provide senior leadership with evidence-based options, including risk, cost, and delivery impact.
• Chair the Technical Design Authority (TDA) and ensure robust governance of key technical decisions.
• Review, challenge and approve solution designs to ensure alignment with standards and strategic direction.
• Identify and communicate technical risks clearly, with pragmatic mitigation options.
• Embed security-by-design across all technology domains.

Solution Design & Assurance

• Evaluate new technologies, tools and platforms, balancing innovation with risk and cost.
• Oversee the design of complex solutions that are secure, scalable, resilient and maintainable.
• Ensure architectural documentation, patterns and standards are current, accessible and consistently applied.
• Coach and uplift teams through “doing” — working closely with DDaT capabilities across the Council.
• Collaborate with Information Security and external partners to provide assurance for design recommendations.

Must-Have Experience

• Strong background in enterprise or solution architecture within complex, multi-technology environments (ideally within a large local authority or similarly complex public sector setting).
• Deep knowledge across:
  • Security architecture (IAM, access controls, threat modelling, compliance)
  • Applications (enterprise systems, integration patterns, cloud-native design)
  • Infrastructure (compute, storage, virtualisation, cloud platforms)
  • Networks (LAN/WAN, routing, firewalls, zero trust principles)
• Proven experience leading or contributing to a Technical Design Authority / design governance forum.
• Track record of delivering clear recommendations and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Confident providing constructive, evidence-based challenge.
• Hands-on experience designing secure solutions across cloud and hybrid environments.
• TOGAF (or equivalent) experience/qualification.
• Experience mentoring and leading technical teams.
• Clear communicator at both technical-detail level and senior leadership level.